Planet Wissen - Alles Nervensache, wie Reize unser Leben steuern

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The nervous system is crucial for controlling movement, coordination, and responses to stimuli, as explained by Dr. Arne and illustrated through the performance of acrobats, highlighting the importance of training for skill automation. Research shows that the adult brain remains plastic and can grow through continuous learning, as evidenced by studies on brain cell formation in older adults, underscoring the importance of lifelong learning for cognitive health.

Insights

  • The nervous system is a complex and vital system that governs all human activities, as explained by Dr. Arne, emphasizing its role in movement, coordination, and emotional responses, distinguishing it from simpler organs like the heart and stomach.
  • Intensive training is crucial for acrobats, as demonstrated through Johannes Binder's experiment with Alona, where the speed of nerve signal transmission was measured; this highlights the necessity of repeated practice to automate movements in the nervous system, allowing for fluid and precise performances without conscious thought.
  • Research indicates that lifelong learning can lead to the formation of new brain cells in older adults, as shown in studies involving participants like Uta von Mickwitz, reinforcing the idea that engaging in new skills, such as learning a language or juggling, can promote brain health and counter the belief that the adult brain only declines in size with age.

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Recent questions

  • What is the nervous system's function?

    The nervous system controls movement and coordination.

  • How does learning affect the brain?

    Learning can lead to new brain cell growth.

  • What causes chronic pain in individuals?

    Chronic pain can arise from various conditions.

  • What is mirror therapy used for?

    Mirror therapy helps reduce phantom pain.

  • How does stress impact the nervous system?

    Stress triggers the fight-or-flight response in the body.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Understanding the Complexities of the Nervous System

  • The discussion begins with a focus on the nervous system, highlighting its importance in controlling various aspects of life, including movement and coordination, and how nerves contribute to feelings of excitement and stage fright.
  • Dr. Arne, a neurologist from the Institute for Systemic Neurosciences at the University Hospital in Hamburg Eppendorf, explains that the nervous system is complex and essential for all human activities, unlike simpler organs like the heart or stomach.
  • The concept of systems neuroscience is introduced, which studies how the brain processes sensory information and coordinates responses, emphasizing the roles of the visual, motor, and sensory systems.
  • The performance of acrobats from the Flickflag Circus is showcased, illustrating how their nervous systems enable precise movements through a network of nerve pathways that transmit commands to muscles.
  • Neurologist Johannes Binder conducts an experiment on Alona, an acrobat, using electrodes to measure the speed of nerve signal transmission, which is crucial for her performance; impulses can travel from the brain to the hand in just 5 microseconds.
  • Intensive training is necessary for acrobats to develop their skills, as they must practice movements repeatedly to automate them in their nervous system, allowing for fluid performances without conscious thought.
  • The nervous system is divided into three main parts: the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and the autonomic nervous system, each serving distinct functions and working together.
  • Afferent pathways carry sensory information to the brain, while efferent pathways send commands from the brain to the muscles, allowing for coordinated movement and feedback about body position.
  • The importance of sensory organs, particularly vision, is emphasized, as they play a critical role in how humans interpret their environment and react to stimuli without conscious effort.
  • The examination process for diagnosing nerve disorders is described, including tests for sensitivity and reflexes, such as the Romberg test, which assesses balance and coordination by having patients stand with their eyes closed.

15:34

Nervous System's Role in Balance and Stress

  • The text discusses the role of the nervous system in balance and spatial awareness, emphasizing that visual input is crucial for maintaining stability, especially when standing with legs apart, as it minimizes sensory input from the legs.
  • When a person closes their eyes, they may begin to sway slightly, indicating that the brain is compensating for the lack of visual input; this swaying is a normal response if the nervous system is functioning properly.
  • The cerebellum processes sensory information from the legs and compares it with visual cues to determine spatial orientation; if the visual system is removed and swaying occurs, it suggests a problem with leg input.
  • The text draws a parallel between the nervous system's response to stress and the effects of substances like drugs, which can impair the cerebellum's ability to process information, leading to difficulties in balance and coordination.
  • The autonomic nervous system, which regulates organ function and emotional responses, is activated during stressful situations, triggering a fight-or-flight response characterized by the release of adrenaline and norepinephrine.
  • In a dangerous scenario, such as a bank robbery, the sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate and blood circulation to muscles while diverting blood from extremities, causing cold and tingly sensations in fingers and toes.
  • If escape is not possible, the parasympathetic nervous system may activate, leading to a state of paralysis or "playing dead," which is a survival instinct observed in both humans and animals.
  • The text explains that both the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems work simultaneously, influencing bodily responses to stress and relaxation, with the sympathetic system primarily responsible for immediate reactions to threats.
  • The autonomic nervous system operates unconsciously, allowing individuals to focus on immediate threats without worrying about bodily functions like digestion or heart rate.
  • An example of the autonomic nervous system's influence in everyday life is blushing, which occurs involuntarily due to the parasympathetic system's effect on blood vessels, demonstrating how emotions can affect physical responses.

31:02

Lifelong Learning Enhances Adult Brain Health

  • Adult brains can change and grow even after the age of 20, particularly when learning new skills, as evidenced by studies on musicians, chess players, and taxi drivers from the 1990s, which showed increased brain size in specific areas related to their activities.
  • Research indicates that new brain cells can form in older adults, such as those aged 60 and above, when they engage in learning, suggesting that brain plasticity persists throughout life and can lead to growth in areas necessary for new skills.
  • A study demonstrated that after three months of training, new brain cells formed in older adults in the same regions as in younger individuals, but these cells regressed if training ceased, highlighting the importance of continuous learning for maintaining brain health.
  • Uta von Mickwitz, a 60-year-old participant, exemplifies the benefits of lifelong learning by studying Spanish, reinforcing the idea that seniors should actively challenge themselves to learn new things to promote brain health.
  • The study aimed to challenge the long-held belief that the adult brain can only decrease in size after a certain age, using juggling as a practical example to show that learning can lead to measurable changes in brain structure.
  • Juggling was chosen as a learning task because it can be mastered relatively quickly and effectively demonstrates the brain's ability to adapt and grow in response to new challenges, rather than focusing solely on the act of juggling itself.
  • The research revealed that learning leads to increased connections between nerve cells, with the potential for new synapses to form, which is crucial for enhancing cognitive functions and adapting to new tasks.
  • Neurotoxins, such as alcohol and nicotine, can negatively impact the nervous system, leading to the destruction of nerve cells and impairing functions like coordination and digestion, emphasizing the importance of avoiding harmful substances for brain health.
  • Chronic pain, which affects over 8 million Germans, can arise from conditions like herniated discs and can lead to changes in the nervous system that perpetuate pain, highlighting the need for effective management strategies to prevent pain from becoming chronic.
  • Pain serves a protective function, alerting individuals to danger, but when it becomes chronic, it loses its warning function and can severely impact quality of life, necessitating a focus on prevention and management to avoid long-term suffering.

45:59

Understanding Chronic Pain and Its Treatments

  • Chronic pain syndrome affects approximately 1 in 15 individuals, but the exact reasons for its development remain unclear, highlighting the need for early intervention when pain becomes frequent to prevent chronicity.
  • Women may develop chronic pain more rapidly than men due to their brain's greater plasticity, which allows for quicker adaptation and response to pain signals, suggesting a biological difference in pain processing between genders.
  • Pain memory can form in the brain, leading to chronic pain even without ongoing peripheral input, indicating that the brain's plasticity can result in self-sustaining pain signals over time.
  • Phantom pain, experienced by individuals who have lost limbs, is primarily generated by the brain, which can reassign functions among brain areas, necessitating targeted brain interventions to alleviate this type of pain.
  • Mirror therapy, used at the Bergmanns Heil Clinic in Bochum, involves patients observing a mirrored image of their healthy limb to create the illusion of the missing limb, which can help reduce phantom pain by altering the brain's perception of the missing limb.
  • While mirror therapy can be effective for many, it does not work for everyone and is not a permanent solution, as phantom pain can occur episodically, requiring alternative therapies for those who do not respond to this method.
  • For further information on chronic pain and relaxation techniques, individuals can visit planetbwissen.de, which provides resources on the origins of chronic pain and various methods to manage it.
  • Recommended reading includes "Phantoms in the Brain" by V.S. Ramachandran, which explores neurological phenomena related to phantom limbs, and "Anatomy and Physiology for Dummies," which offers a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the nervous system and sensory functions.
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