REFLECTION 4
For this reflection, we answered the questions that we were given on our last reflection. The only difference was that we had more experience and learning on how to answer the questions. We also had one more reading that we could reference- The Anatomy of Violence: Chapter One by Adrian Raine.
Below is my reflection.
Below is my reflection.
Monica Morales
November 16, 2013
11th Grade Biology
Reflection of Learning #4
In class, we have been focusing a lot more on how the different parts of the brain and damage done to them can have negative, and sometimes positive effects on a human’s behavior or state of health. Previously, we had focused on the different types of neurons and cells and their affiliation with the basic behaviors of an organism. For example, we learned that a neuron is characterized by a nucleus, the surrounding dendrites, axons, the myelin sheath, and terminal buttons. We also learned how if some of these characteristics are missing, it would possible disturb the effectiveness of the neurons, therefore causing these neurons to not perform the tasks they were meant to do and send out incorrect signals to the brain. However, there are certain circumstances or diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis, in which the human body, or in this case the immune system, is the one that is hurting itself by stripping away the myelin sheath of the neurons on accident.
Some of the different types of cells that we have previously learned about include somatic cells,which are the cells that responsible for the reproduction of living organisms. These cells can be either eukaryotic, which means they can have more than one chromosome, or prokaryotic, meaning they only have one chromosome. We learned about the two ways in which these different neurons can communicate with other neurons in order to carry out the needed functions. Chemical signals, which send signals from one neuron to another, occur when the terminal buttons at the ends of one neuron touch that of another neuron, therefore sending messages through the synapse. They can also send electrical signals, that send signals within the neurons; so in specific, it would be when they use the neurotransmitters to send signals.
The main types of neurotransmitters that we are learning about include amino acids, acetylcholine, serotonin, norepinephrine, peptides, and dopamine. There are a lot of mental illnesses and diseases that can come about if something goes wrong with any of these neurotransmitters. For example, when an excessive amount of dopamine is released within the brain, it may lead to a shortage in these neurotransmitters. Dopamine is the chemical responsible for making you happy basically, and if you use up all of your dopamine too fast, it may result in depression or other serious mental problems. There are also a lot of mental illnesses that are in relation to neurotransmitters. Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and Ecstasy Abuse are only some of the different illnesses that can occur.
Speaking of mental and brain illnesses, we have been starting to touch base and go into depth on a lot of these different illnesses. I am personally very interested in learning a bit more about how strokes can occur and possibly be prevented, mostly because my grandmother died of a stroke years ago. I never really understood what had happened to her, but now that I am at that level as a scientist where I am capable of understanding this illness on a deeper level of complexity. I really do hope that we can learn more about the different mental and brain disorders that are out there and get to do deeper research on how they relate to our behavior.
November 16, 2013
11th Grade Biology
Reflection of Learning #4
In class, we have been focusing a lot more on how the different parts of the brain and damage done to them can have negative, and sometimes positive effects on a human’s behavior or state of health. Previously, we had focused on the different types of neurons and cells and their affiliation with the basic behaviors of an organism. For example, we learned that a neuron is characterized by a nucleus, the surrounding dendrites, axons, the myelin sheath, and terminal buttons. We also learned how if some of these characteristics are missing, it would possible disturb the effectiveness of the neurons, therefore causing these neurons to not perform the tasks they were meant to do and send out incorrect signals to the brain. However, there are certain circumstances or diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis, in which the human body, or in this case the immune system, is the one that is hurting itself by stripping away the myelin sheath of the neurons on accident.
Some of the different types of cells that we have previously learned about include somatic cells,which are the cells that responsible for the reproduction of living organisms. These cells can be either eukaryotic, which means they can have more than one chromosome, or prokaryotic, meaning they only have one chromosome. We learned about the two ways in which these different neurons can communicate with other neurons in order to carry out the needed functions. Chemical signals, which send signals from one neuron to another, occur when the terminal buttons at the ends of one neuron touch that of another neuron, therefore sending messages through the synapse. They can also send electrical signals, that send signals within the neurons; so in specific, it would be when they use the neurotransmitters to send signals.
The main types of neurotransmitters that we are learning about include amino acids, acetylcholine, serotonin, norepinephrine, peptides, and dopamine. There are a lot of mental illnesses and diseases that can come about if something goes wrong with any of these neurotransmitters. For example, when an excessive amount of dopamine is released within the brain, it may lead to a shortage in these neurotransmitters. Dopamine is the chemical responsible for making you happy basically, and if you use up all of your dopamine too fast, it may result in depression or other serious mental problems. There are also a lot of mental illnesses that are in relation to neurotransmitters. Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and Ecstasy Abuse are only some of the different illnesses that can occur.
Speaking of mental and brain illnesses, we have been starting to touch base and go into depth on a lot of these different illnesses. I am personally very interested in learning a bit more about how strokes can occur and possibly be prevented, mostly because my grandmother died of a stroke years ago. I never really understood what had happened to her, but now that I am at that level as a scientist where I am capable of understanding this illness on a deeper level of complexity. I really do hope that we can learn more about the different mental and brain disorders that are out there and get to do deeper research on how they relate to our behavior.