Brain Cell Growth and Degeneration - Essay Example

Brain Cell Growth and Degeneration Brain Cell Growth and Degeneration Psychological studies indicate that human brain is an essential organ that controls all activities that an individual do. Biological process that occurs in the human brain influence human behavior as explained in the study of Biopsychology. Conversely, development of the neuron system in the brain helps to explain psychological disorders attributed to brain damage (Hayashi, 2007). Human physical activities depend on brain development or damage. Sometimes psychologists tend to study factors, which contribute to certain characteristics they observe in human being. Brain cell grow and degenerate thus influencing psychological ability of an individual. What facilitate the growth process? Scientific research indicate brain cell develop during embryogenesis. During this process, a fertilized cell develops to fetus. Brain cell formation during this stage is at a rate of 250,000 brain cells per minute (Hayashi, 2007). After embryogenesis, the next vital step that follows is neurogenesis. Studies show that during this process, brain cell form at a rate of 50,000 brain cells in a second (Hayashi, 2007). This multiplication of cells during this stage is quite astounding. However, not all cell formed during this early stage of brain development survive. Fifty percent of the total cell formed during the previous processes survives during development and growth of the newborn child. Scientists believe that over production of neurons during the early developmental stages will make it possible for the newborn to adapt to new environment. Scientists have discovered factors that facilitate cell growth. These factors are either biological factors (chemically motivated) or physical factors (environmentally motivated). Largely, psychologists and pharmacologists use information about brain cell development to prescribe or to develop drugs, which treat complexity in the brain. Physical exercise facilitates brain cell growth in hippocampus region. Dentate gyrus is the specific place where neurogenesis occurs in the hippocampus region (Ali-Osman, 2005). Research on the kind of food that people consume indicates that some fruits of foods that people consume can trigger new brain cell growth. It is important to note that food that people take contain chemicals, which have influence on cell activity. Studies show that fruits of food that contain anthocyanin can trigger growth of brain cell (Hayashi, 2007). The genetic programs in the brain facilitate brain cell growth. Another factor that facilitates brain growth is the environment where an individual lives. Scientists believe that as a child grows from birth, brain cell grow until a certain age. Cognitive development theory argues that brain development occurs in stages. This factor relies on biological process that is responsible for growth of the brain cell. What happen when brain cell die? Scientists have argued about what occurs when brain cell dies. This argument has led to a research on the human brain specifically, hippocampus region, which is responsible for the development of new brain cell. It is important to know factors that lead to brain cell death. Scientists have observed that neurotoxins presence alter normal cell activities or kill neurons (Pinel, 2009). This action impairs the function of the neurons leading to inactivity in the human brain. Each neuron in the human brain has a specific duty to perform. Exposure to chemical substances, which are toxic, is one of the causes of brain cell damage. Research studies indicate that Beta Amyloid concentration in the brain lead to cell death (Pinel, 2009). The death of brain cell leads to mutation of the protein chain the brain. This explains why people who take toxic substances such as cocaine, sniffing of paint, alcohol, and other drugs, which lead to neurotoxicity, show psychological disability. It is important to note that human body functions depend on the activity of the human brain. Mutation of the brain cells, which occur due to exposure of brain cells to toxic substances, poses a great threat to normal psychological processes of biological functions of the human body (Pinel, 2009). In some extreme cases, brain cell death may lead to subsequent death of the individual. Scientists elude such a condition to failure of the neurons to support important functions in the body. Brain coordinates new all body functions. For instance, when the body needs water a relay of information from the brain through the neurons would cause a feeling of thirst. It is apparent from this fact that when the brain cells in the brain fail to discharge their functions an abnormal psychological or biological disorder will occur (Pinel, 2009). It is arguable that people are able to control to activities or taking substances that contain toxins. For instance, people take cocaine or alcohol at their own volition. It is apparent that physical damage that occurs in the brain may have a long-term effect depending on the extent of the damage. What impact do brain cell growth and degeneration have on the brain and human function? Human development theory argue that brain development occur in stages. According to the cognitive development theory, each stage in brain development leads to changes in observable behavior. It is observable that children act or observe the world differently from adults. These observable attitudes occur because of cognitive developmental stages. Brain cell growth that occurs in early stages of human life influences brain activity (Ali-Osman, 2005). This in turn influences the number of tasks that a human brain can be able to do. Brain memory increases as the number of brain cell grow (Pinel, 2009). Observable characteristic in human development stages as put by psychosocial theory of Erickson argue that human brain memory depend on the cognitive development. It is evident that human brain cell growth would influence brain activity as well as human functions. Adults perform different duties in the society because of the extent of their brain development. Theories in human development argue that brain stops growing at adult stage. This explains why adults are able to observe the environment differently from children or adolescent. When brain cell degeneration occurs, an individual would show abnormal characteristics. For instance, degeneration of brain cell, which occur at adult stage, explain lack of creativity in adult, ineffective, and childish behavior. It is apparent from observation made on adult persons that brain cell degeneration is responsible for poor performance experienced (Pinel, 2009). Many people are unable to do many things unassisted thereby explaining the effects of brain degeneration. Scientists have observed that prognosis influence the rate of brain cell degeneration (Pinel, 2009). People who expose the brain cell toxins may fail to attain a certain age because of deaths caused to their brain cells or amount of mutation that occur in the brain cell. Psychologists argue mental disability to brain cell degeneration citing inefficiency of neurons responsible for various functions. Scientifically, mutilated neurons cannot perform desired functions in the human body(Ali-Osman, 2005). Mutilated cells can lead to abnormal brain cell growth, which is dangerous to the human brain. It is important to not that apoptosis is responsible for eliminating mutilated cells. It failure is dangerous to the normal function of the cell. Example of a disorder caused by disturbance of brain cell growth is Krabbe disease (Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy). Deficiency of galactosylceramidase enzyme, which is responsible in cell growth, leads to Krabbe disease (Ali-Osman, 2005). The characteristics observed in Krabbe disease indicates that it belong to group of leukodystrophies. Scientifically, lack of myelin in the cell is responsible for its cause. Research studies indicate that the disease begin at infant stage. The disease may affect the mental ability of an individual. Largely, it affects the development of the brain cells thus influencing physical activities that an individual can perform. Example of disorder caused by brain cell degeneration Parkinson disease. When the brain cell degenerates, neuron functions in the brain will fail to occur, thus influencing cell activity of various parts of the body (Ali-Osman, 2005). The disease occurs at old age. Any process that leads to death of neurons influences human cognitive ability, physical ability and other biological functions. The disorder is common among old persons. In conclusion, brain cell growth and degeneration are functions, which directly influence individual ability. Scientifically, brain cell growth or death influences the ability of neurons to transmit information. Mutilation of brain cells can occur when cell growth become abnormal. Conversely, brain cell death influences an individual ability to attend to various psychological or physical activities. Psychologically, brain development influences various functions in the human body such as behavior and physical ability. Scientific research argue that factors affecting brain cells growth or degeneration influence psychological, biological or physical functions of the human body. Work cited Ali-Osman, F. (2005). Brain tumors. New York: Humana Press. Hayashi, T. (2007). Progress in Cell Growth Process Research. New York: Nova Publishers. Pinel, J. P. J. (2009). Biopsychology. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Read More