DC Chapter 2 Summary

Myelin is the deep practice cell. It wraps itself in layers around the synapses to insulate them and regulate the speed of the neurons traveling through them. Each time an action is repeated, or a challenge is adjusted to, another layer of myelin wraps itself around the group of synapses involved. The thicker the myelin, the faster or more properly controlled neuron speed becomes. The more efficient the speed of the neuron, the better the skill.


Key Concepts:

1) Growth of myelin optimizes the firing efficiency of neurons in the synapses.

2) Myelin is where the biological magic happens for building new skills.


Key words:

Myelin
Insulation
building
layers


Making Connections:

Explaining this concept of actual building of layers in the myelin and what it does would be very useful to change the attitude of a student who finds practice boring.

Students need to understand how important it is to add and maintain myelin through practice.