micro mods to neurons

[kenneth paul collins]

Craig Hull wrote:
> 
> OK, I've been following the dialogue between Ken And Colleen with some
> interest, and have some questions. Exactly what are the physically
> real modifications to the neural circuitry that Ken mentioned happens
> during learning? Are they within the neurons themselves, or between
> synapses? Have the changes been noted with electron microscopy or
> specific markers? And more importantly, if such changes occur, are
> they retricted to neurons within central nervous systems, or can they
> also occur in peripheral sensory neurons? (Any references would be
> appreciated).

Craig, there's a huge body of literature pertaining to your questions... 
the "micro mods" occur in numerous forms, from the enlargement of 
dendritic spines and synapses through the focusing of the neurochemistry 
to the death of central neurons that are "trimmed" from the net due to 
their relative inactivity... 

...I've not explored the literature with respect to micro mods in the 
PNS... but if such occur there, such occur in only a 
relatively-primitive way because, although central neurons cannot heal 
themselves following injury, peripheral neurons can, to a degree, heal 
themselves following injury... if "memory" was significant in PNS, it 
would get skrewed up during such healing... so why have it...? (Note: 
this last stuff is =hypothetical=... it's logic is sound, but don't 
quote it without stating clearly that it is hypothetical)...

...if you really want to know about "micro mods", get thee to the 
Neuroscience stacks, and look things up beginning with "long term 
potentiation"... (don't look up "microscopic trophic modifications" 
that's terminology that I coined, and my work is not yet published... 
ken collins
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