Neurogenesis entails growth and development of the neurons or the birth of new neurons from the progenitor in the brain. However, this process is affected by many factors like environmental, biochemical and behavioral many of these have the power to influence. Research shows that neurogenesis causes changes in synapses and the neural pathways in the brain. This process occurs in two parts of the brain, the hippocampus, and the sub ventricular regions.
The hippocampus plays the role of learning and memory altering this part of the brain has many severe implications; it may lead to cognitive pathologies like depression, addiction anxiety and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. Patients with depression and other cognitive disorders have reduced the volume of the hippocampus. Exercise, diet, meditation, lifestyles also affect the brain (Home, 2010).
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The controversy of the neurogenesis is the fact that the new neurons are created throughout the life of adult mammalian brain, and these cells affect learning and memory and even the mood of an individual. Considering that these are the most important aspects of mammals, it is then said to have an ethical implication.
There are the newborn neuron and the adult neuron these two contribute in regulating the way the body responds to stress and even the learning and memory. Newborn neuron comes around with increased excitability, lower threshold, and enhanced synaptic plasticity when compared to mature neurons. The adult neurons undergo cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation and the cell survival these all can be negatively controlled by stress and other neuro diseases ( Paridaen & Huttner,2014). Though there possibilities of creating treatments to save the neurogenic potential in patients affected by brain injuries, it is important to avoid at all anything that affects the brain because it is an essential part of human being.
References
Home, T. (2010). Central nervous system.
Paridaen, J. T., & Huttner, W. B. (2014). Neurogenesis during the development of the vertebrate central nervous system. EMBO reports 15(4), 351-364.