Page 56 - Course 4 Strengths & Skills.
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Neuroplasticity: Brain Building
1
Our brain is made up of lots of 4
Myelin
brain cells called ‘neurons’. axon coating When we think, do or say
anything, lots of neurons fire
Neurons are shaped a bit like a signals at the same time to
tree. They have a trunk (called create a ‘neural circuit’ or
the ‘axon’) and branches ‘brain circuit’.
(called ‘dendrites’).
5
dendrites
2 A neural circuit is a bit like
Whenever we think, do or say axon road system, but instead of
anything, neurons pass roads, there are electrical
information to each other synaptic gap signals linking neurons in
through an electrical signal. different parts of our brain.
3
The electrical signal is passed 6
down the axon of the neuron.
The brain cell then releases Every time we do the same
synapse
special chemicals called thing, the brain circuit gets
neurotransmitters which help stronger and faster.
the signal travel over a gap The stronger the circuit, the
(known as the ‘synaptic gap’) neurotransmitters better we get at that task.
to the next neuron.
