Hello!,
I have a question about communications and nerve
cells. The following excerpts refer to neurons and glia
cells, both suggest that the cells could be equally
important to thinking and learning.
Scientific American. 4.2004. pp29
Quote:-
'GLIA AND NEURONS
work together in the brain and spinal cord.
A neuron sends a message down a long axon
and across a synaptic gap to a dentrite on
another neuron. Astrocyte glia bring nutrients
to neurons as well as surrond and regulate
synapses. Oligodendrocyte glia produce myelin
that insulates axons. When a neuron's electrical
(action potential) reaches the axon terminal--
the message induces vesicles to move to the
membrane and open, releasing neurotransmitters
(signaling molecules) that diffuse across a
narrow synaptic cleft to the dendrite's receptors.
Similar principles apply in the body's peripheral
nervous system, where Schwann cells perform
myelination duties.'
Message-ID: <3977d48e.0 at oracle.zianet.com>
20.7.2000
"These findings suggest that this recently identified
signaling pathway involving astrocytes may modulate intercellular
communication in the brain under normal conditions and even play a role in
information processing."
My quesion is,
Per cell, is there an avarage or maximum (dendrite)
connections that they will make?, and are the connections
permanent or fixed or will they periodically disconnect and
reconnect to another axon?
thank you,
N.