Monday, July 10, 2006
What Makes People Different?
What Makes People Different?
Nerve cells are the same in all humans. It is clear that the merging of our parents’ genes, shaped by experience and culture, ultimately molds each one of us into a distinct individual. But though each one of us has an identifiable set of traits, outcomes & behavior can be variable – sometimes predictable, sometimes erratic. This is because the brain is not unchanging and rigidly logical like a computer, but ever evolving in response to life’s demands. Unlike a digital device, the brain operates more like an orchestra which is complex and interactive. To reach an understanding of illness and treatment, we need knowledge of neuroanatomy and physiology, which are the study of the parts of the nervous system, their functions and how they interact to generate behavior. Although there is still much to be learned, a growing body of scientific evidence has laid the foundation for a true understanding of the biology of illness.
Nerve cells are the same in all humans. It is clear that the merging of our parents’ genes, shaped by experience and culture, ultimately molds each one of us into a distinct individual. But though each one of us has an identifiable set of traits, outcomes & behavior can be variable – sometimes predictable, sometimes erratic. This is because the brain is not unchanging and rigidly logical like a computer, but ever evolving in response to life’s demands. Unlike a digital device, the brain operates more like an orchestra which is complex and interactive. To reach an understanding of illness and treatment, we need knowledge of neuroanatomy and physiology, which are the study of the parts of the nervous system, their functions and how they interact to generate behavior. Although there is still much to be learned, a growing body of scientific evidence has laid the foundation for a true understanding of the biology of illness.
