Path Finding in the Brain: A Fish and Bird’s Eye View

Synopsis

The nervous system consists of millions of nerve cells that are connected to one another in a very precise fashion via long processes called axons. How do nerve cells become connected up correctly during development; what guides the growing axons to make the right connection? Looks at experiments on the nature of the cues that guide growing axons from nerve cells in the eye to their destinations in the brain. The ‘behaviour’ of these axons is observed using special dyes as they grow to their targets in living fish embryos. By growing nerve cells in tissue culture, it is possible to investigate the factors that guide axons. One may conclude that growing axons are guided by repulsion as well as attraction, and that the factors involved may be similar in different animals, including humans.

Series

Biology, Brain and Behaviour, Course Sd206

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 24 min.

Year of production

1992

Availability

Off-air recording licence
Sale; 2000 sale: £145.00 (+VAT +p&p)

Subjects

Biology

Keywords

axons; brain; embryonal development; nerve cells; neurons; physiology - animal; physiology - human; retinas; visual system

Credits

Producer

Rissa de la Paz

Cast

Julie Berry

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

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