BrainFacts-org, Neurobiologia
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
A Companion Publication to
BrainFacts.org
A PRIMER ON THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM
A PRIMER ON THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM
A companion to BrainFacts.org
A PUBLIC INFORMATION INITIATIVE OF:
P
reface
Over the past two decades, scientiic knowledge about the structure and function of the brain and
nervous system and understanding of brain-based disorders have increased exponentially. Neuroscientists
are using remarkable new tools and technologies to learn how the brain controls and responds to the body,
drives behavior, and forms the foundation for the mind. Research is also essential for the development of
therapies for more than 1,000 nervous system disorders that affect more than 1 billion people worldwide.
As these strides occur, it is crucial that scientists communicate with the general public, helping
students, teacher, parents, medical caregivers, policymakers, and others stay informed of developments in
neuroscience. In particular, students — the scientists, policymakers and scientiically literate citizens of the
future — need access to clear, easy-to-use information on this important topic.
As part of its enduring commitment to public education and outreach, the Society for Neuroscience
(SfN) is pleased to present the seventh edition of
Brain Facts: A Primer on the Brain and Nervous
System
. This edition has been substantially revised. Research progress has been updated throughout the
publication, and a new section on animal research added. The information also has been reorganized into
six sections to make it easier for readers to glean the “big ideas” covered, and the speciic topics that fall
under each category.
The publication of the
Brain Facts
seventh edition coincides with the launch of
BrainFacts.org
,
a public information initiative of The Kavli Foundation, The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and
SfN.
BrainFacts.org
brings to digital life the historic
Brain Facts
book, and augments it with hundreds
of additional, scientiically vetted public information resources available from leading neuroscience
organizations worldwide.
BrainFacts.org
is envisioned as a dynamic and unique online source for
authoritative public information about the progress and promise of brain research. It will be updated
frequently with the latest neuroscience information from around the globe, while the
Brain Facts
book will
continue to be a vital teaching and outreach tool.
We encourage you to visit
BrainFacts.org
frequently to supplement information found within this
companion book, and to join us in the quest for continuing revolutionary advances in understanding the
brain and mind.
S
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euroScieNce
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Introduction ..................................................................................................................4
Part 1: Introduction to the Brain
Chapter 1: Brain Basics ..................................................................................................6
Chapter 2: The Developing Brain ................................................................................... 13
Part 2: Sensing, Thinking, and Behaving
Chapter 3: Senses and Perception .................................................................................. 18
Chapter 4: Learning, Memory, and Language .................................................................. 25
Chapter 5: Movement................................................................................................... 29
Chapter 6: Sleep ......................................................................................................... 32
Part 3: Across the Lifespan
Chapter 7: Stress ......................................................................................................... 36
Chapter 8: Aging ........................................................................................................ 39
Part 4: Brain Research
Chapter 9: Kinds of Research ........................................................................................ 42
Part 5: Diseases and Disorders
Chapter 10: Childhood Disorders ................................................................................... 49
Chapter 11: Addiction .................................................................................................. 52
Chapter 12: Degenerative Disorders ............................................................................... 57
Chapter 13: Psychiatric Disorders................................................................................... 62
Chapter 14: Injury and Illness........................................................................................ 66
Part 6: Treating Brain Disorders
Chapter 15: Potential Therapies ..................................................................................... 73
Chapter 16: Neuroethics............................................................................................... 76
Glossary .................................................................................................................... 80
Neuroscience Resources ............................................................................................... 86
Index......................................................................................................................... 88
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The huMAN BRAIN
— a spongy, three-
pound mass of tissue — is the most complex living structure
in the universe. With the capacity to create a network
of connections that far surpasses any social network and
stores more information than a supercomputer, the brain
has enabled humans to achieve breathtaking milestones —
walking on the moon, mapping the human genome, and
composing masterpieces of literature, art, and music. What’s
more, scientists still have not uncovered the extent of what
the brain can do. This single organ controls every aspect
of our body, ranging from heart rate and sexual activity to
emotion, learning, and memory. The brain controls the
immune system’s response to disease, and determines, in part,
how well people respond to medical treatments. Ultimately,
it shapes our thoughts, hopes, dreams, and imaginations. It is
the ability of the brain to perform all of these functions that
makes us human.
Neuroscientists
, whose specialty is the study of the
brain and the nervous system, have the daunting task of
deciphering the mystery of how the brain commands the
body. Over the years, the ield has made enormous progress.
For example, neuroscientists now know that each person
has as many as 100 billion nerve cells called
neurons
, and
the communication between these cells forms the basis of all
brain function. However, scientists continue to strive for a
deeper understanding of how these cells are born, grow, and
organize themselves into effective, functional circuits that
usually remain in working order for life.
The motivation of researchers is to further our
understanding of human behavior, including how we read
and speak and why we form relationships; to discover ways
to prevent or cure many devastating disorders of the brain as
well as the body under the brain’s control; and to advance
the enduring scientiic quest to understand how the world
around us — and within us — works.
The importance of this research cannot be overstated.
More than 1,000 disorders of the brain and nervous system
result in more hospitalizations than any other disease group,
including heart disease and cancer. Neurological illnesses
affect more than 50 million Americans annually and
cost more than $500 billion to treat. In addition, mental
disorders strike 44 million adults a year at a cost of $148
billion. Advances in research could reduce these costs. For
example, discovering how to delay the onset of
Alzheimer’s
disease
by ive years could save $50 billion in annual health
care costs.
In the past two decades, neuroscience has made
impressive progress in many of the ield’s key areas. Now,
more than ever, neuroscience is on the cusp of major
breakthroughs.
Recently, signiicant indings have been documented in
the following areas.
Genetics
Disease genes have been identiied that
are key to several disorders, including the epilepsies,
Alzheimer’s disease,
Huntington’s disease
,
Parkinson’s disease
,
and
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS). These discoveries
have provided new insight into underlying disease
mechanisms and are beginning to suggest new treatments.
With the mapping of the human genome, neuroscientists
have been able to make more rapid progress in identifying
genes that either contribute to or directly cause human
neurological disease. Mapping animal genomes has aided
the search for genes that regulate and control many
complex behaviors.
Gene-environment Interactions
Most major
diseases have a genetic basis strongly inluenced by the
environment. For example, identical twins, who share the
same DNA, have an increased risk of getting the same
disease compared with nonidentical siblings. However, if
one twin gets the disease, the probability the other will
also be affected is between 30 percent and 60 percent,
indicating that there are environmental factors at play
as well. Environmental inluences involve factors such as
exposure to toxic substances, diet, level of physical activity,
and stressful life events.
Brain Plasticity
The brain possesses the ability
to modify neural connections to better cope with new
circumstances. Scientists have begun to uncover the
molecular basis of this process, called
plasticity
, revealing
how learning and memory occur and how declines might
be reversed. In addition, scientists have discovered that
the adult brain continually generates new nerve cells — a
4
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actS
|
introduction
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ociety
for
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euroScieNce
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl lemansa.htw.pl
A Companion Publication to
BrainFacts.org
A PRIMER ON THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM
A PRIMER ON THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM
A companion to BrainFacts.org
A PUBLIC INFORMATION INITIATIVE OF:
P
reface
Over the past two decades, scientiic knowledge about the structure and function of the brain and
nervous system and understanding of brain-based disorders have increased exponentially. Neuroscientists
are using remarkable new tools and technologies to learn how the brain controls and responds to the body,
drives behavior, and forms the foundation for the mind. Research is also essential for the development of
therapies for more than 1,000 nervous system disorders that affect more than 1 billion people worldwide.
As these strides occur, it is crucial that scientists communicate with the general public, helping
students, teacher, parents, medical caregivers, policymakers, and others stay informed of developments in
neuroscience. In particular, students — the scientists, policymakers and scientiically literate citizens of the
future — need access to clear, easy-to-use information on this important topic.
As part of its enduring commitment to public education and outreach, the Society for Neuroscience
(SfN) is pleased to present the seventh edition of
Brain Facts: A Primer on the Brain and Nervous
System
. This edition has been substantially revised. Research progress has been updated throughout the
publication, and a new section on animal research added. The information also has been reorganized into
six sections to make it easier for readers to glean the “big ideas” covered, and the speciic topics that fall
under each category.
The publication of the
Brain Facts
seventh edition coincides with the launch of
BrainFacts.org
,
a public information initiative of The Kavli Foundation, The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and
SfN.
BrainFacts.org
brings to digital life the historic
Brain Facts
book, and augments it with hundreds
of additional, scientiically vetted public information resources available from leading neuroscience
organizations worldwide.
BrainFacts.org
is envisioned as a dynamic and unique online source for
authoritative public information about the progress and promise of brain research. It will be updated
frequently with the latest neuroscience information from around the globe, while the
Brain Facts
book will
continue to be a vital teaching and outreach tool.
We encourage you to visit
BrainFacts.org
frequently to supplement information found within this
companion book, and to join us in the quest for continuing revolutionary advances in understanding the
brain and mind.
S
ociety
for
N
euroScieNce
2
c
oNteNtS
c
N
NtS
Introduction ..................................................................................................................4
Part 1: Introduction to the Brain
Chapter 1: Brain Basics ..................................................................................................6
Chapter 2: The Developing Brain ................................................................................... 13
Part 2: Sensing, Thinking, and Behaving
Chapter 3: Senses and Perception .................................................................................. 18
Chapter 4: Learning, Memory, and Language .................................................................. 25
Chapter 5: Movement................................................................................................... 29
Chapter 6: Sleep ......................................................................................................... 32
Part 3: Across the Lifespan
Chapter 7: Stress ......................................................................................................... 36
Chapter 8: Aging ........................................................................................................ 39
Part 4: Brain Research
Chapter 9: Kinds of Research ........................................................................................ 42
Part 5: Diseases and Disorders
Chapter 10: Childhood Disorders ................................................................................... 49
Chapter 11: Addiction .................................................................................................. 52
Chapter 12: Degenerative Disorders ............................................................................... 57
Chapter 13: Psychiatric Disorders................................................................................... 62
Chapter 14: Injury and Illness........................................................................................ 66
Part 6: Treating Brain Disorders
Chapter 15: Potential Therapies ..................................................................................... 73
Chapter 16: Neuroethics............................................................................................... 76
Glossary .................................................................................................................... 80
Neuroscience Resources ............................................................................................... 86
Index......................................................................................................................... 88
S
ociety
for
N
euroScieNce
3
i
N troductioN
i
N troductio
troductio
troductio
troductioN
The huMAN BRAIN
— a spongy, three-
pound mass of tissue — is the most complex living structure
in the universe. With the capacity to create a network
of connections that far surpasses any social network and
stores more information than a supercomputer, the brain
has enabled humans to achieve breathtaking milestones —
walking on the moon, mapping the human genome, and
composing masterpieces of literature, art, and music. What’s
more, scientists still have not uncovered the extent of what
the brain can do. This single organ controls every aspect
of our body, ranging from heart rate and sexual activity to
emotion, learning, and memory. The brain controls the
immune system’s response to disease, and determines, in part,
how well people respond to medical treatments. Ultimately,
it shapes our thoughts, hopes, dreams, and imaginations. It is
the ability of the brain to perform all of these functions that
makes us human.
Neuroscientists
, whose specialty is the study of the
brain and the nervous system, have the daunting task of
deciphering the mystery of how the brain commands the
body. Over the years, the ield has made enormous progress.
For example, neuroscientists now know that each person
has as many as 100 billion nerve cells called
neurons
, and
the communication between these cells forms the basis of all
brain function. However, scientists continue to strive for a
deeper understanding of how these cells are born, grow, and
organize themselves into effective, functional circuits that
usually remain in working order for life.
The motivation of researchers is to further our
understanding of human behavior, including how we read
and speak and why we form relationships; to discover ways
to prevent or cure many devastating disorders of the brain as
well as the body under the brain’s control; and to advance
the enduring scientiic quest to understand how the world
around us — and within us — works.
The importance of this research cannot be overstated.
More than 1,000 disorders of the brain and nervous system
result in more hospitalizations than any other disease group,
including heart disease and cancer. Neurological illnesses
affect more than 50 million Americans annually and
cost more than $500 billion to treat. In addition, mental
disorders strike 44 million adults a year at a cost of $148
billion. Advances in research could reduce these costs. For
example, discovering how to delay the onset of
Alzheimer’s
disease
by ive years could save $50 billion in annual health
care costs.
In the past two decades, neuroscience has made
impressive progress in many of the ield’s key areas. Now,
more than ever, neuroscience is on the cusp of major
breakthroughs.
Recently, signiicant indings have been documented in
the following areas.
Genetics
Disease genes have been identiied that
are key to several disorders, including the epilepsies,
Alzheimer’s disease,
Huntington’s disease
,
Parkinson’s disease
,
and
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS). These discoveries
have provided new insight into underlying disease
mechanisms and are beginning to suggest new treatments.
With the mapping of the human genome, neuroscientists
have been able to make more rapid progress in identifying
genes that either contribute to or directly cause human
neurological disease. Mapping animal genomes has aided
the search for genes that regulate and control many
complex behaviors.
Gene-environment Interactions
Most major
diseases have a genetic basis strongly inluenced by the
environment. For example, identical twins, who share the
same DNA, have an increased risk of getting the same
disease compared with nonidentical siblings. However, if
one twin gets the disease, the probability the other will
also be affected is between 30 percent and 60 percent,
indicating that there are environmental factors at play
as well. Environmental inluences involve factors such as
exposure to toxic substances, diet, level of physical activity,
and stressful life events.
Brain Plasticity
The brain possesses the ability
to modify neural connections to better cope with new
circumstances. Scientists have begun to uncover the
molecular basis of this process, called
plasticity
, revealing
how learning and memory occur and how declines might
be reversed. In addition, scientists have discovered that
the adult brain continually generates new nerve cells — a
4
B
raiN
f
actS
|
introduction
S
ociety
for
N
euroScieNce
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]