The Smart Gene
The human brain has approximately 100 billion nerve cells, or neurons that are linked in networks to give rise to a variety of mental and cognitive attributes, such as memory, intelligence, and personality. These networks include the nerve cells. At the synapse, information in the form of chemicals called neurotransmitters flows from the so-called presynaptic cell to the postsynaptic cell. These nerve cells become more tightly linked when stimulated by a series of high-frequency electrical pulses. This increase in synaptic strength is know as long-term potentiation (LTP) just as the decrease in strength is known as long-term depression (LTD). LTP is found in the hippocampus, which is a crucial brain structure for memory formation. Research has indicated that “the induction of the major forms of LTP and LTD requires the activation of NMDA (N-methyl-D-asparate) receptors, which sit on the cell membranes of postsynaptic neurons (see Fig 3) (Tsien 2000).” The NMDA receptor, a synaptic coincidence detector, acts as a switch for memory formation, enhancing the signal detection by NMDA receptors should enhance learning and memory. Protein subunits called NR2B are part of the complex of proteins that form the
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Hebbs Rule, Tru Scan, Joe Tsien, NMDA N-methyl-D-asparate, Overall Tsien, Gene Guynup, DNA DNA, Smart Gene, Meaning NR2B, NR2B NR2A, learning memory, nmda receptors, transgenic mice, ya-ping 1999, wild-type mice, activation nmda, tsien 2000, activation nmda receptors, nmda receptor, conditioned stimulus, fear conditioning, mice compared wild-type, compared wild-type mice, learning memory experiments, wild-type mice learning,
Approximate Word count = 2376
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)
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