Summary of Lecture: The Brain & Mind by Mriganka Sur

Brain cells (neurons) are unique in that they are semi-permeable, can have around 100+ dendrites and have enough synapses on those dendrites to communicate with 10,000 + other neurons. The genes of the cells determine the type of cells that are formed and the pathways between the sensory organs and the sensory areas in the brain. The neurons of the auditory system are the same as the neurons of the visual center. The function of a particular area of the brain is due to networks forming and those networks form due to interactions with the environment.

Dr. Sur rewired the eyes of a ferret to the auditory center of the brain before the areas of the brain became specialized. Testing of which groups of neurons in the auditory system were activated by the eyes viewing edges of various orientations indicated that the neurons of the auditory system formed networks that were normally found in the visual centers of the brain.

 

Sur, M. (2003). MIT World Lecture Series: Fundamentals of the brain and mind: A short course in neuroscience. The brain and mind. Video retrieved on 13 July 2009 from http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/194