Human Brain Function: Neural conduction & Synaptic transmission, G Proteins, glial cells & dendrites

Dendrites and glial cells are some hot subjects of neuro-scientific research. Glial cells comprise a little over 90% of the brain, or 10/11 parts of the brain are glial cells. There are glial cells which bring nutrition such as zinc, potassium, calcium, and sodium to and through the brain. There is also waste that has to be removed from the brain, and that is collected by other glial cells that takes it away. The glial cells are the delivery trucks and garbage trucks of the brain.

Dendrites are little hairs at the end of each neuron that have receptors, which accepts the neurotransmitter, lets in zinc and other minerals and lets out waste.

The neurotransmitter is like a key which unlocks the hole to the dendrites, allowing waste to go out and new food to be delivered. The way this whole process works is a fascination for many.

Drugs pollute the body and poison the brain. Nutrients feed it and make it healthy. We want fatty acids such as omega-3 from fish. This is all learnt from research.

If the neurotransmitter locks into the receptor, then the gates are open, and the delivery and waste is going back and forth. If the brain doesn't have nutrients (like fuel), then it can't function. Everything collapses and there is less energy in the brain. This happens in different ways, such as in drug users, malnourished people, Alzheimer's etc. When it happens in Alzheimer's, plaque builds up, and this creates a gummy substance that clogs up the brain, causing thinking and memory to be extremely difficult. This causes dementia. The axons collapse, causing neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Vitamin D helps the brain absorb vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

The discovery that neurotransmitters can act directly on DNA via G proteins uncovered a mechanism through which experience and genes can interact.

What is DNA? DNA holds our genes which makes our personality and looks, among many other things.

Neurotransmitters interact and affect DNA through hitting the G-protein which hits the DNA. If neurotransmitters are affected by drugs, then this affects the whole interaction differently based on different drugs. If a pregnant woman takes cocaine, this affects her DNA which is given to the child, the child inherits deformed DNA. The child is born crack-addicted with messed up and affected DNA. The DNA will stay deformed even if the child is weaned off of the crack addiction. This is a big problem.

It is important for bio-psychologists to understand neural conduction and synaptic transmission, and would certainly be helpful if all psychologists would have such knowledge, in order so that they will understand the causes and know what's happening when people function well or don't function well.

When a person is high or low, it would be helpful to know what's happening in the brain and where in the brain it's happening, and in that way understand what drug they are on, or what to expect of the person, and identify what's happening in the brain by the person's behavior.

For example, a person with very yellow teeth and other symptoms is exhibiting the sign of being addicted to marijuana/weed, which is eating up the brain.

This person would need to join the 12-step program to get better.

Understanding neural conduction and synaptic transmission helps identify causes of behavior and feeds professionals as to what's going on behind the scenes and how the individual can be helped.

Image Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cerebral_lobes.png

Description=Human brain, Source=derivative work - Gutenberg Encyclopedia