neuronal connections Flashcards
make more connections=
cortical thickening
- via typical development, enriched and stimulating environment
- via stimulus-specfic, deliberate, repetitive practice
make fewer connections =
- cortical thinning
- prune away unneeded or redundant or inefficient connections = selective thinning
arborization of dendrites
- increase receptive connectivity of each neuron
- which in turn supports development of rich neural networks and efficient connections
divergent pools
one presynaptic cell engages several postsynaptic cells
convergent pools
many presynaptic cells engage one post synaptic cell
what do neural networks do?
- engage in simultaneous firing of a group of linked neurons
- wired up to perform a specific task of cognitive or motor or sensory activity
white matter in the CNS
-axons of billions of neurons, which move away from the cell body
-trasmit neural impulses to the dendrites of other neurons which then “wire up” to form connections
which are insulated with a fatty/lipid substance called myelin
nerves in the white matter
TRACTS
where is white matter in the CNS
- cerebrum
- subcortex
- cerebellum
- brainstem
white matter in the cerebrum
connecting grey matter/ cortical structures; connecting BG and limbic system to all places they need to go
white matter in the sub cortex
running through thalamic nuclei, on way to and/or from the cortex to the brain stem or cerebellum
white matter in the cerebellum
moving to/from thalamus, limbic, cortex
white matter in the brainstem
movong to/from cranial nerves, or to/from spinal cord, to connect with spinal nerves
DTI imaging of white matter in the CNS
- can isolate the direction that the fibers are moving
- can determine what structures are coming from and moving to
- can determine what networks are operating in certain testing circumstances
projection fibers
- travel in a vertical manner; carry motor and sensory
- project “far away” in the CNS
- axons are relatively long
- many are heading down/up from either spinal or cranial nerves
association fibers
- bidirectional channels of communication bw areas of one hemisphere
- “shorter” one exist within one lobe
- “longer” ones move between lobes