Making your Mind: Molecules, Motion, and Memory

Lecture 2 - Building Brains: The Molecular Logic of Neural Circuits

2008 30min.
Outline
I.

How to understand Neural Circuits

a. Neural circuits are formed by interconnected networks of nerves.
b. The lecturer (Thomas M. Jessell) compares the brain to a cellphone.
i. To understand both of these things the lecturer believes that they should be
explored at a more fundamental level.
ii. Thus, instead of looking at certain areas such as the sulci and gryi the
composition of these areas should be looked at. These would be neurons.

II.

Neurons
a. Neurons contain a nucleus and dendrites.
i. Dendrites are receptive branches that stem from neurons that receive
information.
b. Another aspect of neurons are axons.
i. Axons seek outputs for passing information to other neurons
ii. These outputs are called synapses
c. There are about 1015 synapses in the brain. These synapses send electrical signals to
each other
i. Synaptic channels allow the flow of calcium ions within the nerve fiber.
ii. Other channels exist as well, these include leakage channels and sodium
channels.
d. There are 5000 different classes of neurons in the brain.
e. From birth to adulthood the number and shape of neurons change.
i. As a child the neurons in the cortical region grow more greatly then neurons
in other regions.
ii. By nine months the brain of most children began to resemble the classical
shape imagined to be a brain.
iii. Neurons are constantly being added to the brain, even to the age of adulthood.

III.

Brain Development and genes

a. The brain even at an early age plays vital roles
b. This includes all regions
c. Foxgl is a class of proteins that are called transcription factors
i. These genes are early aspects of development
d. The central nervous system is reflection of the expression of transcription of factors
e. At birth neurons arent specified. All cells are equivalent.
f. Specification of neurons appear when they interact with signals from other cells.
i. Through different concentrations of secreted proteins and signaling molecules
the brain is devolved as such.
ii. At birth the different concentrations allow for the activation of different genes
bring forth different identities to the brain.

IV.

Different neurons
a. The canonical circuit controls movement
b. The Neuron important in this circuit is the motor neuron
c. Other circuits also exist and play a role in motor control

This lecture by Thomas Jessel (neuroscientist) talks about neurons. This lecture can be related to
my topic. My topic (Deep Brain Stimulation) involves the ideas of stimulation of neurons to help
patients who suffer from Parkinsons disease. However the aspects involved in my topic barely

mentioned. This lecture barely goes in to the idea of the electrical properties of the nerve fiber.
There was a slight mention of the calcium and sodium ion channels which are quite important in
mapping out the electrical properties of the neuron. However it misses the idea of leakage
channels which area also essential aspects linked with neurons.

Instead of going over the ideas of the properties of the neurons the lecture goes over the creation
of them. Though, this was repeated many times. This occurred in the case of describing the gene
sonic hedgehog. After the name was brought up the lecturer just described what he had
previously said. There was a lack of information about the roles of the brain.

Few parts of the brain were described, however this could be because it appeared in another
lecture. This lecture was part of a series of about five lectures and another lecture may have gone
into more detail of the different cortexes of the brain. There was also a lack of information about
neural circuits. In fact only the superficial definition of what a neural circuit was given. Plus,
only one neural circuit was given.

One thing that was done quite well was how the lecturer present the concepts. The lecturer was
able to explain concept quite clearly. He used many analogies that worked quite well. For
example he made a connection between the brain and a cellphone. However as noted the lecturer
lacked details. No information on topics such as neural stimulation were given. There wasnt any
information regarding neuron models.

Dr. Thomas Jessel

Dr. Thomas Jessel is a neuroscientist at Columbia. He has been awarded the Kavli prize in
neuroscience. He has worked at Columbia for 25 years.