A thought that arises every time in the brain (let's call it a mental event) is, in fact, instantaneous and significant changes both inside a large number of neurons and outside them, in the intercellular space, in synaptic connections between nerve cells, as well as in so on. n. glial cells (The glial cells of the brain include all other, except for the neurons themselves, cells of the brain tissue. These are auxiliary cells that create a microenvironment and perform supporting, nutritional and a number of other functions necessary for nerve cells. Their number in the brain is tens of times greater than the number neurons. Approx. per.)
Surprisingly, these molecular changes occur simultaneously and with lightning speed throughout the brain, in specific areas and circuits, using many different mechanisms.
A network of neurons connected to each other from different, sometimes relatively distant regions of the brain. Glial cells support, nourish and constitute the myelin sheath. "Trails" of axons are the processes of neurons through which the signal is transmitted, dendrites are the processes of neurons that receive the signal through the synapses (characteristic tubercles are visible on the terminals of axons and dendrites).
Every single mental event uses the same neurons, which can form their networks in completely different areas. Signals in these networks occur simultaneously with other types of electrical interactions, including synchronous oscillations and changes in electrical potential in the intercellular substance of the brain. Also, with each new assimilated event, new cells emerge from the stem progenitors and are incorporated into neural circuits. And this is only part of the mechanism of the existence of thought in the brain.
Neurons themselves are extremely complex cells - in fact, a separate civilization, producing with the participation of cell nuclei its product and a massive system of transit microtubules and mitochondria with a complex set of engines for transporting material data. The protein actin, which forms the basis of the cytoskeletal tubules, quickly organizes, breaks down and rebuilds into extremely complex structures like scaffolds inside the cell to support new dendrites and synaptic plaques. tubercles at the endings of axons (In order for a nerve impulse to be transmitted from the process of one cell to the body or the process of another cell, a synapse must form - a terminal - special thickening-tubercles that are connected from both sidesform a synaptic cleft with a complex mechanism of regulation, opening and closing of channels through which a signal, for example, in the form of a depolarization wave of excitation, acquires the properties of a neurotransmitter - a molecule that is captured by receptors of the postsynaptic membrane. Approx. lane).
The relatively tiny nuclei of neurons support and provide material for transport for giant axons, sometimes reaching more than half a meter in length (and more in the fibers of the spinal cord to the lower extremities) and having up to hundreds of thousands of connections with dendrites of other cells along their way. These synapses constantly form and disintegrate, among about 100 billion neurons, with their outgrowths forming a network of trillions or more of such nodes. (There are more than 2 dozen neurotransmitters, the role of which in synaptic signal transmission has been studied. Therefore, trillions (and more) of neural connections can be raised to the power of the number of known neurotransmitters. It turns out a completely unimaginable number of options. Approx. Trans.).
The role of such cascade structures is immensely great, but the neurons themselves, in one way or another, also take part in the analysis and transmission of information and values.
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Despite the fact that every detail of this process is not fully known, recent research shows that simply mentally switching attention from one to another visual image immediately rearranges synaptic connections. Changes arise by changing the load on presynaptic events (A chain of intracellular reactions that precede the production of a sufficient amount of neurotransmitter by neurons to transmit the signal further, through the synapse to another neuron, so that an action potential will arise in another cell or not. Approx. Trans.) - increasing or by weakening the sensitivity in order to recognize a signal significant for attention from the general noise coming from other sensitivity receptors.
This is, in brief, an extremely dense series of large-scale events that happen in milliseconds with every thought event in the brain.
It is the values that activate specific neurons and affect immune processes.
Just as thought represents specific changes in the neurons of the brain, some of these changes also cause very specific transformations in the rest of the body, and especially in the immune system. Surprisingly, it is the content of the mental event, of the thought itself, that determines the meaning and nature of many specific molecular cascades throughout the body.
Embodiment of genome information into complex protein complexes acting separately or together
Recent studies show that the joy and pleasure obtained as a result of discovering and finding meaning, or pleasure from the support and approval of society, are accompanied by significant changes in the expression of the genome. involved in this process, starting from the cell nucleus. See figure.). These changes relate to enhancing antiviral protection and increasing the activity of anti-inflammatory factors. Both of these aspects are fundamentally involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases. What is especially surprising, the pleasure received from such ordinary benefits as delicious food or the possession of any significant property did not have such an effect on the body. It follows that the content of thought,the nature of the mental event drives the expression of thousands of different genes using a delicately coordinated and extremely complex set of processes.
By the way, concentrated reflection on the meaning of what I just read also caused the activity of the expression of genes responsible for the synthesis of anti-inflammatory and antiviral factors of the immune system.