Nervous System Neuroscience Can Be Essay

What happens is this over production of neurons results in a kind or "pre-programmed 'suicide' mechanism called apoptosis" (Marino, 2010). So if the brain kills off these neurons on purpose, what happens to the dead neurons? Journalist Melissa Marino asserts that the body must dispose of the dead neurons or else the body's immune system is in trouble.

Interestingly, Dr. Bruce Carter (a biochemistry professor) of Vanderbilt has discovered the brain's "clean-up crew" and the protein that is important to that clean-up crew (disposing the dead neurons) is called "jedi-1" (not to be confused with the science fiction movie "Star Wars"). If jedi-1 is not doing its job, the body may suffer from "autoimmune conditions." So there are many interesting things going on with our central nervous system that most people aren't aware of, but are important for good physical and psychological health.

Childhood Survivors of Central Nervous System Cancer Suffer Later: Another article related to the central nervous system, published in Science Daily, reports that children who suffered from cancer of the central nervous system (brain cancer in many instances) have a problem in school later in life. In fact they "achieve lower-than-expected educational success compared with the general public," Science Daily reports, based on an article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Children who had central nervous system cancer and were treated with radiation "performed worse than the general population," according to a study of 10,000 5-year survivors conducted by the University of Birmingham in the UK.

Stresses of Police Work: Harold E. Russell and Allan Beigel published the book Understanding Human Behavior for Effective Police Work, a helpful tool for those wishing to relate to law enforcement-related psychological stress and how it effects the central nervous system. When a police officer encounters a dangerous or threatening situation, he reacts much like primitive man when confronted by a large animal, Russell et al. explain (Russell, 1990, p. 346). The nervous system automatically secretes "more adrenaline," the person's breathing changes into a more rapid breathing, digestion "dramatically" stops, the spleen produces more red blood cells so more oxygen can be carried through the body.

When a police officer receives a call to rush to a serious auto accident (with injuries) his nervous system "immediately, simultaneously" and automatically switches into "code 3," Russell explains (p. 346).After arriving at the accident scene and taking appropriate measures to resolve the emergency situation, the officer goes into "code 4," Russell goes on (p. 347). However, the body doesn't just shut off the code 3 conditions, but rather the "parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system takes longer to come down from its level of tension" (p. 347). Later in the day the officer is called to a "bad family fight" and is nearly knifed by "an irate husband." The officer arrests the suspect, puts him in handcuffs, but once again that officer is in code 3.

When the suspect has been safely put into incarceration, the officer moves into code 4 but his "level of tension" is still "considerably higher" than when he started his day. It is vitally important, Russell continues on page 347, that psychological counselors who work with law enforcement officers -- and families -- understand "code 3 biology." In fact, if an officer's home life isn't calm and sympathetic to his stressful profession, he may prefer not to go home right away but rather "stay at the station and exchange war stories with other squad members." Because biologically, that officer needs to "gradually" release tension before going home.

Works Cited

Chudler, Eric. "Neuroscience For Kids." Washington University. Retrieved January 30, 2010,

From http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nsdivide.html.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute. "Childhood Survivors of CNS Cancer and Leukemia

Have Lowered Educational Attainment." Retrieved January 30, 2010, from Science Daily

http://www.sciencedaily.com.

Marino, Melissa. "Jedi' Enlisted to Help Clean Up Dead Neurons." Reporter. Retrieved January 30, 2010, from http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html.

Russell, Harold E., and Beigel, Allan. Understanding Human….....