Basic Training Series: Nervous System Principle #8: CHEMICAL MESSAGE CODING

OKAAAAYYYY...

Here's the last one according to Angevine. Before I get into it, I want to say thanks to those who have been reading these posts. It's been a tremendous education for me to learn these principles. Now that I have them under my belt, so to speak, I will get more detailed with form and function.


"Chemical Message Coding
The basic function of the nervous system, from which all others derive, is communication, performed (with unsung neuroglial support) by neurons. It depends on special electrical, structural,and chemical properties of these diversified cells with their long processes, on their exploitation and refinement of two basic protoplasmic properties, irritability and conductivity, on their external and internal neuronal morphology featuring multipolar shape and integrative design, almost infinite modes of dendritic and axonal branching, widespread, diversified connections, and specialized organelles, and on their use of chemical substances to encode, deliver and decipher messages of their own and other neurons.

Neural circuits are chemically coded. Neuroanatomy encompasses interneuronal connections and also chemical mediators and transmitters. Neuroactive substances comprise neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and neurohormones. Their definition in contexts other than site of action, postsynaptic neuronal activity, and corelease of one or more additional neuroactive substances can be misleading. Neurotransmitters are small molecules acting swiftly, locally, and briefly on target cells. Neuromodulators are very small (peptides), regulating but not effecting transmission, and neurohormones are also small, with intrinsic activity mediated by neuronal and other cells, exerting slow, widespread, and enduring influence via the extracellular fluid or bloodstream.

Neurons releasing hormones are quasi-endocrine cells, liberating secretory products from axonal endings into the perivascular space to be conveyed to blood vessels and thence to target organs. The provincial concerns of neurophysiology and endocrinology have fused into neuroendocrinology, as psychoneuroimmunology has united psychobiology, molecular neurobiology, and immunology."

Last one but so important as it deals with how the Neuromatrix sends signals all over the body. 

1) I love that Angevine says that "The basic function of the nervous system, from which all others derive is COMMUNICATION (with unsung neuroglial support) by neurons." 

2) These neuromodulators, neurohormones and neurotransmitters are essential to every function in the body. From all my research we are JUST starting to understand how powerful and influential these are. Of course pharmacology has been dealing with them for a while but the extent to which all of the above neurochemicals are affected is not fully known. 

For a GREAT book that is easy to understand, see Robert Sapolsky's "Why Zebras don't get ulcers". This book talks about Prof. Sapolskys favorite topic "glucocorticoids."

Honestly, this topic can is become complicated quickly, so I'm going to leave it at that. I look forward to learning more about them as it's important to trainers and therapists to understand that while we cannot directly affect the chemical coding, the process can be affected by something as simple as proper nutrition. 

Well, that's all for the Principles of the Nervous System.


Again, thanks for reading, and if you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate to post them.

In mind, body and spirit,

Will