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Brain evolution essay
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Synaptic pruning signifies the requisite process of the developing brain in which unnecessary neural interfaces within the brain are removed; it has been supported to improve energy conservation and monitor efficiency concerning the mind. Unsurprisingly, synaptic pruning tends to continue long after the brain has matured, and typically goes hand-in-hand with a process known as myelination: When remaining neurons are coated in a fatty-layer called myelin that accelerates synaptic charges and protects neural connections. "The classic 'use it or lose it' principle applies to adolescence—those circuits that are actively engaged may remain, those underutilized may be subject to systematic destruction." Based on the previous quote, the underlying
motto of synaptic pruning can be attributed to "use it or lose it." "Without a purpose, neurons die through a process called apoptosis in which neurons that do not receive or transmit information become damaged and die." The way that these neurons become damaged and "die" is also becoming more clear with recent discoveries. "[...] the developing brain treats unwanted synapses as if they were unwanted invaders. It dispatches microglial cells to survey the state of synapses in their surroundings and to dispose of the ones that are wired incorrectly or superfluous." After having learned about synaptic pruning last year during AP Psychology, it has become clear to me on which "branches" I have lost throughout my adolescence; for example, when I was younger I was more "gifted" when it came to extensive reading and other hobbies of mine, such as web development and creative writing. But, as I grew older and immersed myself in technology more, my ability to perform all of these skills has definitely decayed compared to previous years.
In Canada, over two-dozen offences in the Criminal Code carry mandatory minimum sentences. These offences include first and second-degree murder, a series of firearm-related offences, impaired driving and related offences, high treason, and gambling offences (Gabor and Crutcher 2001). Although there are so many crimes that carry mandatory minimum sentences, they are not the best way to reduce crime in Canada.
Since the 1980s, the federal prison population of the US has grown from 24,640 to 214,149 (Population Statistics 1). This figure may appear miniscule given the fact that there are over 300 million people residing within the United States. However, this is just one figure of many; currently, the United States holds the largest prison population total out of any country at 2,217,000 (Prison Population Total 1). This major increase in incarceration is not the product of a higher crime rate, but due to the creation of sentencing guidelines that followed the enactment of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. These guidelines require that certain federal and state crimes result in a set minimum of years in prison. The minimum sentencing guidelines
Whether or not Supermax prisons, short for super-maximum security prisons, are more crucial and longer lasting, the question has been if these prisons are useful in applying lessons learned into criminals. Supermax prisons hold some of the most dangerous criminals convicted. Supermax prisons have been known to have their pros and cons. The common pros of supermax prisons was the separation of gangs as well as many other prisoners who act out in violence commonly. Although many may say that these kind of prisons are considered “concentration” and “dispersion”, supermax prisons are often needed to maintain relief of the criminals not acting out. The effectiveness of supermax prisons is what many debate on, which have made many different arguments
Mandatory minimum sentencing laws have gained popularity in the United States over the last couple of decades. By the early 1990’s, these laws existed in all 50 states (Bjerk, 2005). The purpose of these laws seems to be aimed at creating lengthier sentences for repeat offenders; however, these laws have also been known to cause unintended consequences within the criminal justice system (Bjerk, 2005). Persons involved in the judicial process (such as judges and prosecutors) have come to realize these discrepancies within the mandatory minimum laws and have learned to circumvent them (sometimes causing further discrepancies). When working within the court system, a person encounters mandatory minimum sentencing laws, and on occasion, the need for mitigation/departure from the guidelines. Depending on how judicial personnel decide to “mitigate” the circumstances, one must consider ethical principles (such as formalism) in order to determine how to deal with these types of situations.
In our world, learning is more available to people. New knowledge is important for every person who like to gain information. This kind of people have their brain changing. The plasticity is responsible about that fact in the brain. The plasticity gives the brain the ability to grow up day after day. New language, dance and other activities help the brain to develop. Also, the plasticity had no limits according to time and age. We will discover the good effects of learning on brain plasticity.
Nerve cell death and tissue throughout the brain is the most significant affect over time. Naturally by age twenty-five the brain starts to decrease in size. With Alzheimer’s, the amount decrease is extremely significant. The cortex begins to shrivel up which is the part of the brain required for planning, remembering, and thinking. The most noticeable shrinkage occurs in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is responsible for the formation of new memories, it is also located inside the cortex. Upon further inspection under microscope, tissue samples are observed and synapses and nerve cell count is severely decreased. Tangles, are also found which our twisted strands of another protein due to nerve cells dying and bunching together. Plaques and tangles are prime suspects in the death and tissue loss in the Alzheimer’s brain. Beta-amyloid is a chemical and is sticky which causes it to gradually build up into plaques. This chemical derives from a larger protein found in the nerve cells with fatty membranes. These tangles destroy a vital cell transport system made of proteins.
Mandatory minimum sentencing is the practice of requiring a predetermined prison sentence for certain crimes. The most notable mandatory minimums are the ones implemented in the 70’s and 80’s, hoping to combat the rising drug problem. Mandatory minimum sentencing has existed in the United States nearly since its very birth, with the first mandatory minimums being put into place around 1790. Recently, as the marijuana laws of many states have scaled back in severity, the issue of mandatory minimums has caused controversy in the US. There are two distinct sides to the argument surrounding mandatory minimum sentencing. One group believes we have a moral obligation to our country requiring us to do no less than lock up anyone with illegal drugs
Some of the key distinctions are that the young brain is largely not myelinated. Myelin is the coating of nerve fibers that connect nerve cells, similar to coating on a telephone wire, it helps transmission but it also gives strength. And so when you violently shake the young brain, you have a much greater chance to disrupt nerve fibers and their connections than you do an adult brain.
The cell having lost all its dendrites and nucleus soon disintegrates. entirely, vanishing into the body's waste disposal system. With the depletion of enough nerve material the brain actually shrinks, sometimes by as much as ten. percent5. The number of percent.
The brains of children are still developing; however, constant stressful conditions can stun or slow down the development of the brain. Furthermore, high levels of cortisol have shown to convert the stems cells present in the brain to mature into oligodendrocytes, a type of glial cell responsible for producing the myelin sheath (a type of fatty covering for the nerve cells), instead of maturing into mature neurons or astrocytes. Even though myelin sheath is important, astrocytes are needed for the formation of connections to the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, resulting in issues with memory and learning. Additionally, high levels of cortisol have shown to destroy the nerve cells present in the hippocampus resulting in a decrease in size. Consequently, these children suffer intellectual, memory, and spatial learning
According to Berlucci and Butchel (2009), plasticity describes an alteration in neural organization. Plasticity may be to blame for several types of behavior changes both short-term and permanent, such as growth, learning, injury, aging, and adaption to various settings. While several authors have attempted to more appropriately define the term, researchers are inclined to relate the theory to essentially any deviation found within the nervous system. Today, the method of behavior change can mostly likely be described by the alteration of synaptic transmission amongst neurons.
At the heart of Neuroplasticity is the idea of synaptic pruning. It is the ability to prune away unused connections, as well as to form new connections. The term is probably best explained in the aphorism, “Neurons that fire together, wire together” (Doidge, 2007, p. 63). The idea being that if two or more neurons fire simultaneously on a continual basis, they will eventually fire on the same cortical map, thus strengthening the connection. The reverse is true in that if two or more neurons begin firing separately, they will eventually form separate cortical maps. In the words of Donald Hebb:
As the human body goes through different experiences, the brain grows, develops, and changes according to the environmental situations it has been exposed to. Some of these factors include drugs, stress, hormones, diets, and sensory stimuli. [1] Neuroplasticity can be defined as the ability of the nervous system to respond to natural and abnormal stimuli experienced by the human body. The nervous system then reorganizes the brain’s structure and changes some of its function to theoretically repair itself by forming new neurons. [2] Neuroplasticity can occur during and in response to many different situations that occur throughout life. Some examples of these situations are learning, diseases, and going through therapy after an injury.
Synaptic transmission is the process of the communication of neurons. Communication between neurons and communication between neuron and muscle occurs at specialized junction called synapses. The most common type of synapse is the chemical synapse. Synaptic transmission begins when the nerve impulse or action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal. The action potential causes depolarization of the presynaptic membrane and it will initiates the sequence of events leading to release the neurotransmitter and then, the neurotransmitter attach to the receptor at the postsynaptic membrane and it will lead to the activate of the postsynaptic membrane and continue to send the impulse to other neuron or sending the signal to the muscle for contraction (Breedlove, Watson, & Rosenzweig, 2012; Barnes, 2013). Synaptic vesicles exist in different type, either tethered to the cytoskeleton in a reserve pool, or free in the cytoplasm (Purves, et al., 2001). Some of the free vesicles make their way to the plasma membrane and dock, as a series of priming reactions prepares the vesicular ...
...e in the neurodevelopment cycle, such as increased neuronal dysfunction with decreased connectivity and increases in loss of neuropril and extrinsic factor like substance abuse, developmental stress, relationship problem(Elder, Evans and Nizette, 2007).