Myelination

Myelination, also known as myelinization, is a process that occurs in the brain wherein a myelin sheath is formed around a nerve fiber. Myelinated neurons are the white matter of the brain. The explosion of neurological research has increased educational psychologists’ interest in exploring how the brain works and its relationship to learning as myelination is a developmental process. Important issues of myelination include how and when it is formed rift gold and what new research says about its production and destruction. Myelin is composed of lipid fat and protein. It is produced by different cell types and varies in its chemical composition. However, although varied by cell of origin and composition, all myelin performs the same function—insulation. The process of myelination occurs when the myelin envelops the axons in the brain, thereby connecting neuron to neuron and making the brain into a singular whole. The main function of myelination is insulation and therefore it dramatically increases the speed by which electrical impulses are transmitted between nerve cells in the brain. This insulation also helps to prevent signals from leaving the axons. An additional function of myelination is the protection of axons from external danger. When a peripheral fiber is severed, the myelin sheath can help to provide a track along which regrowth can occur between axons.

Myelination is a developmental process that occurs in the brain. In fact, recent research suggests that brain development occurs throughout the lifespan of humans. The brain is composed of many regions with specific functions. The maturation of these regions and their connecting pathways is required for one to be successful in the development of cognitive, motor, and sensory functions. As the brain matures and connections are made between regions, the smooth flow of information is increased by the process of myelination. This extensive process of myelination increases information processing speed and underlies the processes of language and executive functions of the brain.

Myelination begins during the fifth fetal month with the myelination of the cranial nerves. Postmortem studies suggest that the myelination process is extensive during the first 2 years of life. The first 10 years of life are dedicated to the myelination in regions of the brain primarily responsible for vision, hearing, and motor skills as well as the areas responsible for basic thinking skills. However, the previous notion that brain development ends in childhood is disproved by recent research that instead indicates that the brain may not be fully mature into late adulthood, maybe even the entire life span. Although the timetable of myelination during childhood and adolescence is still being researched, the current research suggests a gradual maturation during late childhood and early adolescence of fiber pathways that support motor and speech functions. Portions of the brain responsible for higher thinking skills and abstract or reasoned thought appear to be myelinated in the 20s and 30s or even later in life. Maximum myelination is thought to occur around the age of 50.

The myelination process is vulnerable to genetic and environmental factors, including toxins, genetic predispositions, and even diet. The disruption of myelination is a key neurobiological component that makes the human brain susceptible to developmental disorders such as autism, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, and addiction. Also, decay of myelin due to autoimmune damage is suspected in diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The midlife breakdown of myelin could be a key to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease as well. More research is needed to determine what affects the process of myelination. Research continues to look at the role of diet rift gold and nutrition in the process of myelination. Also, the development of drugs that mimic the stimulation of cells that produce myelin may be effective in the treatment of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. It is crucial that more is known about how myelination takes place to offer insight into the learning process as myelination determines the character and nature of one’s mind and personality.