In 1962, scientist Joseph Altman challenged this belief when he saw evidence of neurogenesis (the birth of neurons) in a region of the adult rat brain called the hippocampus. However, scientists believed that once a neural circuit was in place, adding any new neurons would change the flow of information and break the brain’s communication system As children, we might grow some new neurons to help build the pathways-called neural circuits-that act as information highways between diﬀerent areas of the brain. Until recently, most neuroscientists (scientists who study the brain) thought we were born with all the neurons we were ever going to have.

Slowest axonal transport (0.2-2 μm/m, 0.Neurons are nerve cells that send messages all over your body to allow you to do everything from breathing to talking, eating, walking, and thinking.

actin, soluble metabolic enzymes (glycolysis,.

Slow axonal transport (≈7 μm/m, ≈10 mm/day).

mainly vesicles carrying signaling molecules from the.

– + – + polarized microtubules (+ ends distal )įast anterograde axonal transport (≈300 μm/m, ≈400

vesicles toward the cell soma (proximal).

In axons, kinesin moves vesicles towards.

Terminal Soma axon – + + – + – + + – K – D Transport iin neurons In axons, all MTs are oriented so that the plus ends are distal (away from cell body).

regarding the experience of the synapse?.

How does information get back to the soma.

Contact with other neurons occurs at the synapses.

supplied with new proteins and organelles?.

Most protein synthesis occurs in the soma or.

arrows show bridges between microtubules star shows bridge between microtubule and vesicle.

Projection end crosslinks MTs to neuro-filaments to membranes or to other MTs.

Tublin-binding end facilitates assembly and stabilizes MT.

Microtubule polymerization & depolymerization

Growth & plasticity: Ĭrosslinking provides strength and stiffness.

Structure: focus on neurofilaments (axons) and microtubules.The neuronal cytoskeleton Cytoskeletal components Growth & plasticity: How does a neuron acquire and modify its shape ?.Transport: How are materials transported long distances from the cell soma?.Structure: How does the neuron maintain its complex extended shape?.

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