Blissful Brain

The Blissful Brain is published by Gaia Thinking. For more information on how to order your copy, please click here.

Guardian G2: Mind over matter by Andy Darling

"Neuroscientist Shanida Nataraja has proven meditation does more than clear your head, it can put both halves of your brain to work, improving your concentration, memory, and decision-making...". To read more, please click here.

Upcoming talk: Yoga Ananda, Reigate, Surrey on Friday the 4th of June

Shanida Nataraja will be speaking at a seminar on The Blissful Brain on Friday, 04th June 2010 at 19:30 at Yoga Ananda Ltd. 46 Albert Road North, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 9EL. For more information, please click here.

Neuronal Communication

The gap between neurones is referred to as a synapse. Neurones have developed two main ways of communicating with each other across this gap. Some neurones communicate by means of protein pores built into their membranes. These pores form open channels through which ions, such as sodium and potassium, can freely move. These so called electrical synapses allow the activity in one neurone to directly drive activity in neighbouring neurones. Communication across these synapses is therefore very quick and is ideal for groups of neurones whose function dictates that their activity be synchronised and coordinated, such as the nuclei in the more primitive brainstem that control our automated, instinctual behaviour.

However, the majority of the neurones in the human brain communicate by means of chemical signals. The neurone broadcasting the signal, referred to as the pre-synaptic neurone, releases a chemical transmitter, such as glutamate or dopamine, into the gap between the two neurones. These chemicals bind to special receptors on the neurone receiving the signal, referred to as a post-synaptic neurone, triggering a cascade of events in that neurone, the nature of which depends on the type and quantity of chemical released. As mentioned before, some chemical transmitters are excitatory, such as glutamate and serotonin. In other words, when bound to the appropriate receptor, they mediate the flow of positively charged ions, such as sodium or calcium, into the post-synaptic neurone. This triggers a spike in electrical activity in the post-synaptic neurones that, in most cases, travels the entire length of the neurones, relaying the excitatory signal to all the neurones downstream in the network.

When the stimulus is particularly strong, huge quantities of chemicals are released into the synapse, thereby triggering a prolonged period of electrical activity in the post-synaptic neurone. Waves of electrical activity ripple through the neurone, communicating the strength of the stimulus in the size and frequency of these waves. Other chemical transmitters are inhibitory, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In other words, when bound to the appropriate receptor, they mediate the flow of negatively charged ions, such as chloride, into the post-synaptic neurone. This dampens electrical activity in the post-synaptic neurone and, as a consequence, all the neurones downstream in the network are also silent, inactive. When the stimulus is particularly strong, once again, large quantities of chemical are released into the synapse, thereby completely dampening electrical activity in the post-synaptic neurone. Even some time later, any received stimulus will therefore fail to evoke a response in the post-synaptic neurone. It is effectively sedated, asleep, as are all the neurones downstream.

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