Share about a time when you were hit with a major bolt of insight, an amazing, exciting idea, a sudden burst of creativity, or when you otherwise were experiencing something meaningful or profound in your life. Walk us through what was happening in your central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves) at the time. What lobes were activated? Support structures? Hemispheres? Describe how that information flowed through the central nervous system (CNS) and your subjective experience of how it felt to you at the time. Use this as an opportunity to showcase your knowledge of neuroanatomy!
Part 2: Synaptic Survival
In this unit, you learned about synaptic survival. As Lyons et al. (2014) describe it in order for a synapse to survive, it must be used by the organism on a fairly regular basis. Regular use reinforces the synaptic connection and ensures the survival of that connection and the neuron itself. This is true in the early developmental period and throughout our lives as well (forming the basis of what is called neuroplasticity).
In the context of your unique cognitive and physical strengths, think back over your life and consider the habits you practiced in order to retain dense neural connections.
What were the activities/habits you performed to create that strength?
What neural structures (lobes, hemispheres, cortexes, etc.) are denser and stronger now as a result?
How does that work to make you good at what you do?
In addition to practice and habit, do you think genetics played a role in you developing this strength, too? You learned about epigenetics in your Hedges (2022) reading. Briefly, discuss how your genetic background coupled with practices, habits, and other more environmental factors have shaped your particular set of strengths. If this is a challenging exercise, you can consider how epigenetics manifest in someone elses life a friend, a person in popular culture, etc.
Full Answer Section
- Temporal lobes: Involved in memory and language, these lobes would be crucial for retrieving and manipulating information related to the story.
- Amygdala: While primarily associated with emotions, the amygdala could play a role in the emotional intensity of the breakthrough.
- Neurotransmitters: Dopamine, often associated with reward and motivation, might be released in significant amounts, contributing to the feeling of exhilaration.
Information Flow and Subjective Experience
The writer's brain would be in a state of heightened activity, with multiple neural networks communicating rapidly. Information from long-term memory, stored in various cortical regions, would be retrieved and processed in the prefrontal cortex. The DMN might have identified unexpected patterns or connections, triggering a burst of neural activity. This information would then be integrated with existing knowledge, leading to the formation of a new idea.
Subjectively, the writer might experience a sense of euphoria, accompanied by a feeling of sudden clarity and excitement. The brain's reward system, involving dopamine, would reinforce this experience, making it more likely to be remembered.
Synaptic Survival: A Hypothetical Case
Let's consider a professional musician. Years of practice have honed their skills to a high level.
Activities and Habits
- Deliberate practice: Consistent, focused practice on specific techniques and skills.
- Immersion: Exposure to a wide range of musical styles and genres.
- Experimentation: Trying new approaches and techniques.
- Physical training: Maintaining physical fitness to support overall brain health.
Neural Structures
- Cerebellum: Crucial for motor control and coordination, this area would be highly developed in a musician.
- Auditory cortex: Responsible for processing sound, this area would be extensively connected to other brain regions involved in music.
- Motor cortex: Controlling muscle movements, this area is essential for playing an instrument.
- Prefrontal cortex: Involved in planning, decision-making, and creativity, this region is crucial for musical interpretation and improvisation.
Impact on Skill
Dense neural connections in these areas allow for rapid information processing, complex motor patterns, and a deep understanding of music. The musician can effortlessly execute intricate pieces, improvise creatively, and intuitively respond to musical cues.
In essence,
synaptic survival through consistent practice has created a specialized brain capable of extraordinary musical abilities.