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Neural tracts are bundles of axons. Axons are wire-like extensions of nerve cells or neurons. Like electric wires, axons transmit electrical impulses. For example, neuron A, when activated, fires a burst of electrical impulses via its axon to help activate neuron A prime, which when activated, transmits impulses via its axon to help activate neurons that are downstream from it.
This downstream neuron is a member of a group of neurons. A group of neurons is referred to as a neuronal circuit—such as, C and D.
Activation of particular neuronal circuits in the brain is where short-term and long-term recordings and what to do with such recordings are thought to be located. Earlier, in my book—The Conscious Mind—I showed how Piaget’s scheme can be translated as a pattern of activated neuronal circuits. It is difficult to believe that Piaget did not have this in mind. But he never said so. I will use neuronal circuits and schemes interchangeably.
The axons of the peripheral sensory tracts are myelinated. Myelin is a fatty substance that forms a sheath around an axon. Myelin is shown as bubbles around the axon of neuron A. Myelin is much like insulation around an electric wire. However, unlike insulation, myelin merely speeds the transmission of electrical impulses along the axon.
Nonetheless, until a tract is FULLY myelinated, transmission of impulses, by that tract, will be unstable.
For example, consider neighbor cells A and B. Cell A’s axon connects to cell A prime. And cell B connects to cell B prime.
If A’s axon is myelinated and B’s axon is not, A’s impulses will get to A prime and B prime first. And A’s impulses will activate both of them, and will also tend to activate both circuits—C and D.
Later, when Cell B is myelinated, things will change. A will activate A prime and circuit C, and B will activate B prime and circuit D.
This very simplified example shows how, until a neural tract is fully myelinated, activation of downstream circuits or schemes will be unstable.
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