Total Number of Synapses in the Adult Human Neocortex

Authors

Thai Nguyen, University of South Florida

Publication Year

2010

Abstract

The brain is composed of glial cells and neurons where synapses form connections between neurons and other cells. Since synapses are very small, so either a light or electron microscope is required to see them. Unlike other mammals, synapses in the human brain deteriorate rapidly upon death making them difficult to study. This project constructs a simple model for the number of synapses in the human neocortex by age and sex based on the amount of neurons. This hypothetical model can also be used to study the impact of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia that are marked by a decreased number of synaptic connections.

Erratum

This article was previously called Article 26.

Recommended Citation

Nguyen, Thai (2010) "Total Number of Synapses in the Adult Human Neocortex," Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 14.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/2326-3652.3.1.26
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ujmm/vol3/iss1/26

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