Welcome to Biology Ms. Grant Room 1207

Neural Connections Create Learning big idea today: teaching will change the brain

A Tour of the Brain: Brain Facts There are two kinds of brain cells: neurons and glia. 90% of brain cells are glia cells 10% of brain cells are neurons. We’re going to talk about neurons

Glial cells play three important roles: 1. Transport needed nutrients to the neurons 2. Dispose of dead neurons Provide raw materials for the insulation of the neurons Used for support, in the background working

Neurons have a cell body and fibers which extend from them called dendrites and axons. These fibers are the key to learning because they are the connectors between cells.

Create a Model of a Neuron Grab a piece of paper, and create a neuron! Don’t forget to add labels and your name

Brain Wiring

A Tour of the Brain: Neuron Facts A single cubic millimeter of brain tissue has more than 1 million neurons. Babies are born with about 100 billion neurons, each of which has an average of 10,000 branches. One hundred billion neurons with 10,000 branches = about one quadrillion connections!

In the beginning . . . Only has about 17% a newborn’s neurons are linked. As the baby grows: It grows new neurons And all those billions of neurons get wired together!

The dendrites connect to axons of other neurons to create a NEURAL PATHWAY. Connections are how information is incorporated into the brain Connections = learn

Create a Model of a Neuron Grab a piece of paper, and create a neuron! Don’t forget to add labels and your name With your partner, show learning!!!

start of education

Elementary school

Middle school

Entering high school

graduation

Neural connections are like a freeway with many connections and interchanges Neural connections are shaped by individual experiences, even identical twins have different connections

Neural Connections are Vital for Learning CONNECTIONS are VITAL

Example: My grandma’s stroke Several years before she passed, my grandma had a stroke. A stroke takes blood away from the brain, and some of the neurons whither and die Connections are lost, so learning is lost! My grandma lost connections for conversations!

Example: My grandma’s stroke She remembered how to converse with pleasantries. So conversations when a little something like this: LJ: “Hi grandma! How are you!” G: “Oh, I’m fine, thank you. How are you?” LJ: “I’m good, I’m in school for teaching.” G: “That’s nice. How are you?”

Learning physically changes the brain. Every new experience we encounter as a child creates new connections. The more new & challenging the experience, the more likely it will be to create a new pathway! So the more you try and fail, the more you learn!

Create a Model of a Neuron Grab a piece of paper, and create a neuron! Don’t forget to add labels and your name With your partner, show learning!!! Now demonstrate more learning, with more classmates! Add your pathways to the brain poster!

Every time you use a neural pathway, myelin sheaths are added. This protects the neuron and makes it stronger Signals move through stronger neurons faster! Think of singing the song “twinkle twinkle little star.” The very first time you sing the song, you don’t know the words because no neural pathway exists. The next time you sing it, it is easier to remember the words because you have started to create a neural pathway. Eventually, all you need to hear is “twinkle twinkle…” and the rest just comes into your brain. This happens because you have forged a strong neural pathway through the repetition of singing the song.

Use It or Lose It Neurons that fire most frequently become wired into the brain’s networks. During puberty, your brain begins to “prune” away unused neurons!

Exit Slip One thing you learned.