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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of dendrites in a neuron?
What is the primary function of dendrites in a neuron?
- To receive electrochemical input signals from other neurons (correct)
- To transmit signals away from the neuron cell body
- To form synapses with target neurons
- To connect neurons over long distances
What term is used to describe collections of dendrites?
What term is used to describe collections of dendrites?
- Dendritic cones
- Dendritic trunks
- Dendritic arbors (correct)
- Dendritic roots
What structure at the distal tip of an axon guides it to the targeted brain regions?
What structure at the distal tip of an axon guides it to the targeted brain regions?
- Neural progenitor
- Dendritic arbor
- Growth cone (correct)
- Synapse
Where do synapses form in the structure of neurons?
Where do synapses form in the structure of neurons?
What do axons primarily do in the nervous system?
What do axons primarily do in the nervous system?
Which part of the neuron is responsible for the transmission of signals?
Which part of the neuron is responsible for the transmission of signals?
What characterizes the appearance of dendrites?
What characterizes the appearance of dendrites?
In the context of neuron structure, what does the term 'neocortex' refer to?
In the context of neuron structure, what does the term 'neocortex' refer to?
What is the significance of the primitive node during embryonic development?
What is the significance of the primitive node during embryonic development?
What event marks the beginning of neural tube development?
What event marks the beginning of neural tube development?
What happens to the ridges that form during neural plate development?
What happens to the ridges that form during neural plate development?
How is gene expression in migrating cells triggered during neural development?
How is gene expression in migrating cells triggered during neural development?
Where does fusion of the neural tube begin during development?
Where does fusion of the neural tube begin during development?
What shape does the hollow center of the developed neural tube resemble?
What shape does the hollow center of the developed neural tube resemble?
What ultimately forms as the brain becomes larger and more complex?
What ultimately forms as the brain becomes larger and more complex?
Which cell populations are involved in the differentiation of neural progenitor cells?
Which cell populations are involved in the differentiation of neural progenitor cells?
What is the process by which the earliest produced neurons migrate by extending a long basal process?
What is the process by which the earliest produced neurons migrate by extending a long basal process?
Which type of migration is characterized by the neuron traversing long distances along the pial surface?
Which type of migration is characterized by the neuron traversing long distances along the pial surface?
Where is the second proliferative zone located during embryonic development?
Where is the second proliferative zone located during embryonic development?
What significant class of interneurons is derived from the compartments of the ganglionic eminences?
What significant class of interneurons is derived from the compartments of the ganglionic eminences?
What morphological change occurs to the nucleus during somal translocation?
What morphological change occurs to the nucleus during somal translocation?
What do the terms medial, lateral, and caudal refer to in the context of the ganglionic eminences?
What do the terms medial, lateral, and caudal refer to in the context of the ganglionic eminences?
What happens to the pial process as the nucleus migrates during somal translocation?
What happens to the pial process as the nucleus migrates during somal translocation?
Which statement is true about the distances neurons must traverse during migration from the ventral zone?
Which statement is true about the distances neurons must traverse during migration from the ventral zone?
What does the extrapolation from species such as rodents suggest regarding human development?
What does the extrapolation from species such as rodents suggest regarding human development?
Which of the following roles are suggested for oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs)?
Which of the following roles are suggested for oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs)?
What is indicated about transient connections during early brain development?
What is indicated about transient connections during early brain development?
How does the late maturation of glial populations likely affect brain function?
How does the late maturation of glial populations likely affect brain function?
Which brain pathways have been documented for exuberant connectivity during development?
Which brain pathways have been documented for exuberant connectivity during development?
What plays a significant role in the retention or elimination of neural pathways?
What plays a significant role in the retention or elimination of neural pathways?
What is a common characteristic of brain development mentioned regarding glial cells?
What is a common characteristic of brain development mentioned regarding glial cells?
What is the significance of molecular interactions between neurons and glial cells?
What is the significance of molecular interactions between neurons and glial cells?
What is the main observation about proton diffusion in the cerebral white matter of human newborns?
What is the main observation about proton diffusion in the cerebral white matter of human newborns?
How does the directionality of diffusion in fiber bundles behave compared to gray matter voxels?
How does the directionality of diffusion in fiber bundles behave compared to gray matter voxels?
What key relationship is suggested between cortical thinning and fiber tract myelination?
What key relationship is suggested between cortical thinning and fiber tract myelination?
Which method is mentioned for measuring directional diffusion in the brain?
Which method is mentioned for measuring directional diffusion in the brain?
What happens to proton diffusion and anisotropy as fiber tracts mature?
What happens to proton diffusion and anisotropy as fiber tracts mature?
Which factor influences the change of fractional anisotropy during development?
Which factor influences the change of fractional anisotropy during development?
What is indicated by isotropic diffusion in specific brain areas?
What is indicated by isotropic diffusion in specific brain areas?
What is a potential outcome of maturation of fiber tracts as mentioned in the content?
What is a potential outcome of maturation of fiber tracts as mentioned in the content?
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Study Notes
Neuron Anatomy
- Dendrites are the short branches of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons. They form complex arrays called dendritic arbors.
- Axons are long fibers that transmit signals from the neuron.
- The synapse is a point of connection between axons and dendrites, transmitting signals via electrochemical mechanisms.
Neural Tube Development
- The neural plate is a region of the embryo that contains neural progenitor cells which will develop into neurons.
- Two ridges appear on the neural plate (approximately E21) and fuse together to form a hollow tube. The fusion starts in the center and proceeds towards both ends.
- The anterior neuropore at the rostral (head) end closes on E25, and the posterior neuropore at the caudal (tail) end closes on E27.
Neuron Migration
- Early neurons use somal translocation to migrate. This process involves the neuron extending a long basal process towards the outer surface of the brain (pial surface). The nucleus of the cell then moves up the basal process and migrates out of the ventricular zone (VZ).
- Later, as the brain grows, neurons use tangential migration to move. This mode of migration is observed in neurons originating from the ganglionic eminences, which contribute to the formation of inhibitory cortical interneurons.
Postnatal Development
- Glial precursor proliferation and differentiation, including astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, primarily occur postnatally, and play a significant role in the functional maturation of neural circuits.
- There is evidence that neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes interact and influence each other.
Regressive Events in Postnatal Period
- The brain overproduces neurons and glial cells, neural processes, and synapses during development.
- Subsequent removal of excess components is a crucial part of development. This process is driven by factors like competition for resources, activity-dependent pruning, and specific molecular signals.
- The abundance of transient connections in the early stages of development is known as exuberant connectivity. This phenomenon has been documented in many brain pathways.
- The competition for resources, such as neurotrophic factors, plays a role in the retention or elimination of pathways.
Myelination and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
- Myelination, the process of wrapping axons in myelin, increases the speed of signal transmission.
- Myelination is a gradual process during development.
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a technique used to study the directionality of water diffusion in the brain.
- DTI reveals that proton diffusion in the cerebral white matter is high and isotropic (non-directional) in newborns.
- As myelination progresses, diffusion declines, and anisotropy (FA) increases, indicating a more directional flow of water along the myelinated axons.
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