Regeneration of Brain Cells

Regeneration of Brain Cells For almost 100 years, it had been a mantra of biology that  brain cells or neurons  do not regenerate. It was thought that all your significant brain development happened from conception to age 3.  Contrary to that widely held popular belief, scientists now know that neurogenesis continuously occurs in specific regions in the adult brain. In a startling scientific discovery  made in the late 1990s, researchers at Princeton University found that new neurons were continually being added to the brains of adult monkeys. The finding was significant because monkeys and humans have similar brain structures. These findings and several others looking at cell regeneration in other parts of the brain opened up a whole new line of research about adult neurogenesis, the process of the birth of  neurons from neural stem cells in a mature brain.   Pivotal Research on Monkeys Princeton researchers first found  cell regeneration in the hippocampus  and the subventricular zone of the  lateral ventricles  in monkeys, which are important structures for memory formation and functions of the central nervous system.   This was significant but not quite as important as the 1999 finding of neurogenesis in the  cerebral cortex  section of the monkey brain. The cerebral cortex is the most complex part of the brain and scientists were startled to find neuron formation in this high-function brain area. The lobes of the cerebral cortex  are responsible for higher-level decision making and learning. Adult neurogenesis was discovered in three areas of the cerebral cortex: The prefrontal region, which controls decision-makingThe inferior temporal region, which plays a role in visual recognitionThe posterior parietal region, which plays a role in 3D representation Researchers believed that these results called for a fundamental reassessment of the development of the primate brain. Although the cerebral cortex research had been pivotal for advancing scientific research in this area, the finding remains controversial since it has not yet been proved to occur in the human brain. Human Research Since the Princeton primate studies, newer research has shown that human cell regeneration occurs in  the olfactory bulb, which is responsible for sensory information for the sense of  smell, and the dentate gyrus, a part of the hippocampus responsible for memory formation. Continued research on adult neurogenesis in humans has found that other areas of the brain may also generate new cells, particularly in the amygdala and the hypothalamus. The amygdala is the part of the brain governing emotions. The hypothalamus helps maintain the  autonomic nervous system and the hormone activity of the pituitary, which controls body temperature, thirst, and hunger and is  also involved in sleep and emotional activity. Researchers are optimistic that with further study scientists might one day unlock the key to this process of brain cell growth and use the knowledge to treat a variety of psychiatric disorders and brain diseases, like Parkinsons and Alzheimers. Sources Fowler, C D, et al. â€Å"Estrogen and adult neurogenesis in the amygdala and hypothalamus. Brain research reviews., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2008.Lledo, P M, et al. â€Å"Adult neurogenesis and functional plasticity in neuronal circuits. Nature reviews. Neuroscience., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2006.â€Å"Princeton - News - Scientists Discover Addition of New Brain Cells in Highest Brain Area.†Ã‚  Princeton University, The Trustees of Princeton University.Vessal, Mani, and Corinna Darian-Smith. â€Å"Adult Neurogenesis Occurs in Primate Sensorimotor Cortex following Cervical Dorsal Rhizotomy. Journal of Neuroscience, Society for Neuroscience, 23 June 2010.

6 traits of great managers

6 traits of great managers Want to be boss at being a boss? It’s not as simple as just being a good listener and making sure everyone shows up on time. Truly great managers attract the best workers. If you’re good at being in charge, you  hold onto star employees and advance their careers right along with yours. Managing is not an easy skill, but it is possible to build. Even if you think you’re pretty great already, take a look at these tips and see whether you can improve in any particular area. Your employees will thank you, and so will your boss.1. Have your employees’ backs.Bad bosses throw their employees under the bus. Don’t be that boss. When your team exists within a bubble of trust and has faith in its leader, all the members will want to work together to meet professional goals. Show off your employees’ successes and provide cover for them when you need to. When you build an environment of respect, your job will be so much easier.2. Be generous with your t ime.Even if you see the people who report to you directly all the time in the hall or during casual drop-ins, it’s still important to devote some of your weekly schedule to one-on-one meetings with your team. Even just 15-30 minutes of dedicated check-in time per person lets your employees know you’re there to address concerns and check in on their progress.3. Give productive feedback.Giving feedback is important, but go out of your way to make sure you give great feedback. Don’t just tell someone they did a â€Å"great job,† tell them why what they did was so great. If you receive work that’s sub-par, speak up- don’t just hope things improve the next time. Constructive criticism along the way for the small stuff helps employees reach their professional goals. When your employees know you’re invested in them doing well, they’ll step up their game for every task.4. Empower employees to reach for the stars.Push your team to do st ellar work (and letting them know you think they’re capable of it)- don’t let them settle for merely okay. Not only will this lead to results you and your team can flaunt, but it also will instill confidence that makes employees want to go above and beyond all the time. Expect top notch work, and people will adjust to meet your expectations.5. Build trust.Having a genuine relationship with your employees is a great thing. You definitely don’t have to be too casual and buddy-buddy- your style can remain strictly professional and still be built on trust. Create a rapport so people feel they can come to you with problems and mistakes- or great ideas! Don’t wall yourself off in some boss turret and forget to build relationships with the people you’re tasked to lead.6. Stay humble.Remember, even if you’ve climbed high up on the ladder you’re still paying your dues. You’re still learning too- about your industry and about the art of managing people. Don’t just sit back on your laurels. Figure out how your team can help you learn and build your career, and then help them in return.