Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Further Understanding Of Neuroscience

Neuroscience is the very interesting science behind the nervous system and one of the most fabulous tools that we have, our brain. There are three main parts of neuroscience. The central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system and the endocrine system are the three main parts of neuroscience. Obviously, you can classify the brain and neuroscience in many different ways as our understanding of the mind is still very limited. We are discovering everyday exciting things about our abilities and how they play out in the brain.

The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord. You brain with the help of the nervous system controls all of your body and organs and makes everything do the job it is supposed to. The brain communicated with the rest of the body throughout the spinal cord and the nerve system. Your spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves that carries information throughout the body for the brain.

The peripheral nervous system is made up of nerve cells or neurons that are wired together through the body like a communication system. Neurons carry messages around th body in the form of electrical and chemical impulses. Unlike other body tissues neurons have a limited ability to repair themselves. Over time if your brain loses neurons they are usually never replaced in your body. Still, because of neurogenesis, depending what do you do with your brain and how often you challenge it, you could start to re-create new neurons. This is part of what we is called brain plasticity, or the capacity of the mind to rewire itself.

The endocrine system works with the brain and nerves to keep the body functioning. It controls how we grow, our feelings, our hunger and temperature. The endocrine system also controls our hormones. All three of these parts of the nervous system are studied in neuroscience as well as other specific diseases and disorders that affect the brain and nervous system.

In the past neuroscience was a part of biology. However over time it has become an interdisciplinary science that coordinates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics and psychology. Neuroscience uses several different approaches to study the nervous system. It can be studied on a molecular, cellular, developmental, structural or functional level.

The history of neuroscience dates back to ancient Egypt. Manuscripts dating back to as far as 1700 BC show that the ancient Egyptians understood the concept of brain damage even if there understanding was elementary compared to our knowledge today. Studies of the brain and neuroscience became much more sophisticated after the invention of the microscope.

There are several important neuroscience organizations in the United States and abroad. Some of the most prominent include The International Brain Research Organization, The International Society for Neurochemistry and the Society for Neuroscience. Through advancement of individual doctors and collaboration the world of neuroscience has become very advanced in the last 20-30 years. We are learning so much about the nervous system and the important functions it handles in our bodies.

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