full transcript

From the Ted Talk by Seena Mathew: How fast is the speed of thought?

Unscramble the Blue Letters


This is consistent with research findings that the average individual neuron sdens signals at around 180 kilometers per hour. But sepeds can be boosted with myelination and increased axon diameter. Myelin is a fatty sheath that insulates an axon, preventing electrical crruetns from leaking out. Meanwhile, axons with larger diameters offer less internal resistance. These compounded frtaocs can rsaie the speed of an action potential as high as 432 kilometers per hour. There’s pnltey of variation: some pleope think faster than others, and your own speed of thought changes throughout your lifetime. In particular, as you raceh old age, the myelin sheath covering your axons wears down, and other neuronal structures degrade.

Open Cloze


This is consistent with research findings that the average individual neuron _____ signals at around 180 kilometers per hour. But ______ can be boosted with myelination and increased axon diameter. Myelin is a fatty sheath that insulates an axon, preventing electrical ________ from leaking out. Meanwhile, axons with larger diameters offer less internal resistance. These compounded _______ can _____ the speed of an action potential as high as 432 kilometers per hour. There’s ______ of variation: some ______ think faster than others, and your own speed of thought changes throughout your lifetime. In particular, as you _____ old age, the myelin sheath covering your axons wears down, and other neuronal structures degrade.

Solution


  1. plenty
  2. people
  3. currents
  4. raise
  5. sends
  6. factors
  7. reach
  8. speeds

Original Text


This is consistent with research findings that the average individual neuron sends signals at around 180 kilometers per hour. But speeds can be boosted with myelination and increased axon diameter. Myelin is a fatty sheath that insulates an axon, preventing electrical currents from leaking out. Meanwhile, axons with larger diameters offer less internal resistance. These compounded factors can raise the speed of an action potential as high as 432 kilometers per hour. There’s plenty of variation: some people think faster than others, and your own speed of thought changes throughout your lifetime. In particular, as you reach old age, the myelin sheath covering your axons wears down, and other neuronal structures degrade.

Frequently Occurring Word Combinations


ngrams of length 2

collocation frequency
initial action 2
action potential 2
axon diameter 2


Important Words


  1. action
  2. age
  3. average
  4. axon
  5. axons
  6. boosted
  7. compounded
  8. consistent
  9. covering
  10. currents
  11. degrade
  12. diameter
  13. diameters
  14. electrical
  15. factors
  16. faster
  17. fatty
  18. findings
  19. high
  20. hour
  21. increased
  22. individual
  23. insulates
  24. internal
  25. kilometers
  26. larger
  27. leaking
  28. lifetime
  29. myelin
  30. myelination
  31. neuron
  32. neuronal
  33. offer
  34. people
  35. plenty
  36. potential
  37. preventing
  38. raise
  39. reach
  40. research
  41. resistance
  42. sends
  43. sheath
  44. signals
  45. speed
  46. speeds
  47. structures
  48. thought
  49. wears