Everyone talks about how amazing the human brain is, but you know what gets no credit?
The spine.
C’mon spine, show some backbone!
Hey there my veritable vertebrates, Julian here for DNews.
We’ve talked a lot on this show about how the human brain is incredible, It’s your
own personal computer that can solve problems and feel love.
It’s basically what I hope siri will be by the next iphone.
But the brain ain’t nothing without the spine.
It’s your spine that sends the motor signals from your brain to your limbs so you can walk
and pat yourself on the back.
Thanks spine!
Sensory signals travel back up your spine to your brain, so you can feel when you’re
getting a hug or a high five.
Way to go, spine!
The spine can even operate without the brain in some cases.
The spine can store or learn reflexes.
When the doctor makes your knee jerk, or a hockey goalie catches a puck going 100 miles
an hour, that’s all spine, baby.
Otherwise it would take too much time for the brain to react and send the signal to
the limbs, and the puck would be in the net.
So because the spine does so much more than prop you upright, it’s bad news when it
gets damaged.
The spine and the brain both exhibit neuroplasticity, meaning they can adapt and rewire themselves
when they’re injured.
By the way, longtime viewers of the show know when we say the word “neuroplasticity,”
the DNews drinking game has begun.
However the spine’s neuroplasticity is very limited compared to the brain’s neuroplasticity.
If the damage is severe enough, glial scars form that inhibit the regeneration of nerve
fibers or axons and communication with the brain is cut off past that point.
But there’s been a breakthrough.
Derek Fidyka has been paralyzed from the chest down since being stabbed in 2010.
Because our damaged central nervous system doesn’t generate new axons, scientists basically
hacked the human body to restore Fidyka’s spine.
They took Olfactory Ensheathing Glia, which stimulate the growth of Olfactory Axons in
your nose, put them in his spine, and boom!
After just 6 months of 5 hours of exercise and therapy 5 days a week, he can walk using
leg braces and parallel bars.
Ok it’s not instant gratification.
In fact it’s a lot of very hard work that’s physically and emotionally exhausting.
But it’s worth it just to be able to walk again, and to me the guy’s a hero.
He’s like, Axon Jackson.
So if you can walk, don’t take it for granted.
Be grateful and hug a spine today.
With the spine owner’s permission, obviously.
If you’d like to learn more about neuroplasticity, Anthony covers that here.
in fact learning from that video will actually make use of neuroplasticity.
What are some simple things your body does you’re grateful for?
I’m grateful to my liver every time we do a video involving neuroplasticity.
Let us know in the comments and thanks for watching DNews…
Neuroplasticity