For longer sounds, the cell is inhibited for a longer time and that counteracts the excitation, so the cell doesn’t respond to longer sounds. The researchers found that for a frog brain cell to recognize a short sound, it is inhibited from firing a nerve signal while the sound is occurring, then is excited into firing when the sound ends. It was already known that short sounds are discriminated from longer sounds by individual brain cells in the inferior colliculus, the auditory part of the midbrain. Rose and neuroscience doctoral student Rishi Alluri used a novel combination of recording electrical activity of single brain cells and blocking neurotransmitter chemicals that carry nerve signals from one nerve cell or neuron to the next. “But we didn’t know until now how they computed the lengths of sounds.” Researchers long ago discovered that different neurons or nerve cells in the brain “selectively respond to sounds of a certain duration,” he says. It’s important to all animals that use sound to communicate.” In addition to pitch and loudness, “sound duration is of universal importance,” says biology professor Gary Rose, senior author of the study published today by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. By studying frogs, University of Utah researchers figured out how certain brain cells compute the length of sounds and detect short ones. Use your eyes, use your ears.For humans to understand speech and for other animals to know each other’s calls, the brain must distinguish short sounds from longer sounds. 'You really need to get a variety of stimulations during the day. 'That's a reason not to be isolated and not to be sitting at home in the corner with the screen,' Daniels said. These things really build your neural connections.'Įven social contact has a surprisingly strong effect. 'Not something you've done a million times - something that takes a little bit of work to master.

'Particularly if you're learning a new skill,' Daniels said.

Playing games, taking classes and other mental exercises can ward off cognitive decline too. Physical exercise - like walking, swimming and tai chi - stimulates our most important organ.

Daniels, a National Geographic contributing author who explored how brain health influences the senses for the publication's Mind Body Wonder series. That's one reason why we really need to be upbeat and positive about taking care of it,' said Patricia S. 'The brain is a very healthy and resilient organ. Here's how.Īging comes with many trials and tribulations, including the decline of the senses: sight, hearing and even smell, taste and touch.įortunately, exercising the brain strengthens these senses - just like exercising the muscles strengthens the rest of the body. Even though the five senses decline with aging, maintaining a healthy brain can keep them sharp.

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