ALPHABETICAL BRAIN™ VOCABULARY DETAILS ABOUT YOUR AXONS Brain Flash Card #4 April 27, 2016 WHAT ARE YOUR AXONS AND WHY ARE THEY SO IMPORTANT? BRAIN SCIENCE FACTS What is the purpose and function of your axons? Your axons are the thin threadlike fibers called axon filaments, which extend from each cell body of your 100 billion neurons to other neurons, senses, internal organs, glands, and your muscles through special end terminals known as axon terminal buttons. It is helpful to simplify the most complex three pounds of matter in the universe (your brain) by integrating the idea of axons with the overall concept of the global connectivity of your brain's structures and their functions. You can explore how the brain idea of axons relates to the new idea about your brain's global connectivity by momentarily focusing your attention on the following circular symbol and the #4 red arrow: See #4 = AXONS THIS SYMBOL REPRESENTS A SIMPLIFIED HOLISTIC VIEW OF THE GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY NECESSARY FOR HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS This circular symbol was created to convey a powerful visual image of the previously unimaginable coalescence of the many diverse and interactive physical brain structures that form the wonderful new idea of your self-manifesting holistic brain. The symbol of 14 red arrows pointing toward the circle of human consciousness, depicts a conscious living human brain that is made up of many parts with a sum total of meaning that is greater than all of its separate parts. Each of the 15 brain ideas in the image can converge and merge in your mind to produce the process of your self-directed neuroplasticity or, more simply, your mental force. Each of the 15 primary brain ideas in the image, which are emphasized on this website, can converge and merge in your mind to produce the mental force (brainpower) that can empower you to stand up for your self-beliefs. An axon's filament attaches to a neuron's cell body and its function is to carry a biochemical current or signal from the cell body to the end terminals (extensions) at the other end of the neuron. The terminals attach through biochemical junctions (electro-chemical switches) known as synapses, which relay ionic signals from neuron to neuron, and from your neurons to all of the other organs, glands, senses, and muscles in your body. The signals can flow through very short or very long filaments. For example, your sciatica nerve, which is the longest nerve in your body, sends biochemical signals from the cell bodies in the neuron fibers of your lower back down your two legs to the terminal extension buttons at the other end of the neuron's filament, which terminate at the back of the heals of your feet. Typically, at least 10,000-15,000 synapses are attached to the end terminals of a neuron's filament, but there can be as few as a single one for memories of some celebrities or revered relatives such as parents and grandmothers. Printable PDF Form DETAILS ABOUT AXONS (for your own editing and memory consolidation) RECOMMENDATION: Print this PDF version and read it. Underline or highlight with colors the most important new brain ideas to save them in your long-term memory. Then edit this text to personalize it and read your edited version of these ideas in a few hours and in a few days and then a week later to take advantage of the spaced-repetition method of learning. instantly return to: 15 STEPS ON THE STAIRWAY TO ENLIGHTENMENT or instantly return to: ALPHABETICAL BRAIN™ VOCABULARY INDEX produced by Infinite Interactive Ideas™