Chemicals That Fix the Brain :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Chemicals That Fix the BrainThe disc everywherey of how the mind heals itself began, as discoveries lots do, with a question Why do children who suffer brain victimize often recover fully, tour adults with the said(prenominal) kind of damage atomic number 18 permanently incapacitated? University of Wisconsin neurobiologist Ronald Kalil was among those who pursued the question (15). His studies in young cats showed that broad(a) networks of brain jail cells could be routed around damage areas. Young animals whose primary muckle centers were destroyed could still learn to see normally, he found, because cells in some other part of their brains took up the job of processing vision. Yet, adult animals suffering the same destruction had no such luck (7). What was the difference? Kalil finally dictated that young animal brains are awash in chemicals called return factors, while adult brains have far lower levels (11). He surmised that the abundance of gain factors helps the n ew brains organize themselves. When damage occurs, the growth factors simply start over and rebuild damaged networks. Adults have someer growth factors because their brains, although they constantly suffer changes, are, for the most part, completed. each of which led to another question Would adding extra growth factors prevent permanent damage in adult brains? Soaking midget sponges with a variety of growth factors, Kalil placed them inside newly damaged brain areas of adult cats. He and his colleagues found that these adult brains acted more alike infant brains Instead of suffering permanent damage, the adult brains repaired themselves. This ability of the brain to rewire itself, grow new parts for damaged cells, and even cite new cells-its plasticity, was thought to be impossible only a few years ago (4). Brain cells, medical students were taught, were hardwired like so numerous computer transistors. Once they burned out, that was the end. Brain cells certainly could not sprout new communications lines to take over the jobs of nonfunctioning cells, it was said. Nor could they regenerate themselves after macrocosm hurt. Moreover, they absolutely could not divide to replenish the brain with new cells. All those truths are being tossed out as brain research undergoes a revolution fueled by molecular biologys remarkable ability to expose the secrets of cells. Scientists now can hunt down and copy genes that govern cell reassembly and harness them for use in repairing damaged brains (3). The power of these tools was stunningly demonstrated with the discovery of a gene called NeuroD, which plays an essential role in the embryonic development of the brain and nervous system (6).