neurons are a little different. they usually don't divide after birth, so most of the neurons in our brain we've had since birth. and we've also got helper cells that help the neurons stay alive. there are some areas of the brain that do divide like other parts of your body. you have skin cells that divide on a weekly, daily basis but your brain cells are very special. most stay with you for your entire life. the neurons have a cell body which is kind of command central and then an outgoing signal process called an axon and on the other end a receiving end which has things called receptors on it. so an axon will talk to a dendryte through a receptor and there is a synapse at the place where the two cells talk and that is the part that is the most changeable. the proteins and the molecules involved in this process of turning on the synapse and actually building it with the memory are built in at higher levels in the childhood brain and the adolescent brain compared to adults. and, of course, that's why children and a

and the neurons that stay are the ones that end up being -- they are staying because they're being used a lot. so it makes the brain more efficient. this is all meant to happen as part of brain development. >> our guest has been frances e. jensen, medical doctor associated with the university of pennsylvania. the book is called "the teenage brain." a neuroscientist's survival guide to raising adolescents and young adults. we thank you very much. >> thank you. >> for free transcripts or do give us your comments about this program, visit us at qanda.org. programs are also available as c-span podcast. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2015] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] >> all 10 years of q&a interviews are available online. if you enjoy these interviews, here are more you might like. the president of howard university. a neurosurgeon at johns hopkins university. documentary filmmaker jonathan goodman leavitt, talking about his film caller --, follow the leader. you c

the neurons have a voltage cross them. for a neuron at rest that is amound minus 80-millivolts. if it increases enough to what is call a threshold that might be around minus 60-millivolts, it makes a decision to fire an action potential. >> instead of forcing a neuron to fire, you are just tweaking how much more input it needs natural input it needs to fire on its own. >> that's a good way to put it. it took me 10 years of research to come to that. >> i figured this is the right place to try tdcs for the first time. i am rigged up and about to try in a controlled environment. don't try this at home. all right, so i'm getting 1.5 mili amps of stimulation. i can feel it on my skin. it's burnie, prickly, kind of hot and itchy like i want to scratch it. i wouldn't say it hurts. i didn't experience anything else. >> actually for the low intensity that you got, you wouldn't expect to feel like a new person or you have achieved some sort of super natural intelligence. >> no. i don't feel any different. researchers believe this barely noticeable amount can prime what is known as plastic

. >> imagine it as a sophisticated band aid on top of the retina, allowing them to stimulate the neurons. >> reporter: it's a delicate operation taking four hours as doctors must use measurement and placement. placement is tested before the eye is sown up, to prevent leakage. after a woke of healing patients like lisa are fitted with glass, with a tiny camera. they stream images in real-time. the signals are sent to a wireless transmitter, relaying the signals to the sensors

but before that it's just photographs so you have upper neurons and lower neurons much if the upper stoplity and if the lower stop working there's a softness or a wilting. and this is a combination of those two things but how it manifests is different in each other. so i took photos and the showed them to stephen. there's a wedding photo of stephen holding james hand and it looks like they're just holding hand put if you look closely his hand on top of her, there's a softness to it and he is leaning all of his way for her. >> so by that year he has lower neuron in his hand. so i would chart each muscle and when it stopped working. then i worked with a dancer, alexandria reynolds, who taught me to find that physicality in my own body so that when we came to shooting, the physicality, the illness couldn't be less important than him. he has so much -- this is not a story about a disease or an illness oar physicality. it's a love story and weeped to make sure when started freeing we could be free to play the truth. >> nightfall and character study are to foe totes of men achieved by brillian

. >> it is called motor neuron disease. also known as als, what folks in the u.s. disease. >> life expectancy is two years. >> and yet through sheer force of will and the love of those around him, hawking spent decades helping us better understand the universe, and he is still alive half-century after his diagnosis. and i wereeddie struck continually about their perseverance and determination and their unsentimentality. >> they were unsentimental enough to separate later, so don't go expecting a sappy story, although it is an uplifting one. >> where there is life, there is hope. >> more to come. animated's best, and checking into "the grand budapest hotel." >> pillsbury crescents--awesome. but now you can use them to make pizza night awesome, too. unroll, separate, add sauce, pepperoni, cheese, and fold. behold: week night crescent pizza pockets party. pillsbury crescents. make dinner pop. guess what goes really well with eggs? pillsbury grands biscuits. make breakfast even better. grands biscuits. make breakfast pop. >> the race in the category for big animated fe

. >> imagine it as a sophisticated band aid on top of the retina, allowing them to stimulate the neurons reporter: it's a delicate operation taking four hours as doctors must use measurement and placement. placement is tested before the eye is sown up, to prevent leakage. after a woke of healing patients like lisa are fitted with glass, with a tiny camera. they stream images in real-time. the signals are sent to a wireless transmitter, relaying the signals to the sensors implanted on the rhett juna. they stimulate the retina with electric impulses. they send messages to the visual cortex portion of the brain. after lisa receives the argus ii system it will be weeks before she outlines the system. why? her brain adds have yousual cortex has not been used -- have not been used in years. >> a lot of patients have not seen for 30, 40, 50 years. you have to start with the stimulation and getting the brain to be able to interpret the signals and start to understand and start to be able to use and see again. so that period takes a while. the relearning. here we are. a week after your surgery. t

because he was so shocked by the job that was done portraying him, showing the weakness and the motor neurons, the central nerves that lead directly to these muscles, atrophy, they die off and then the muscles die off. we've made very little progress in this except to emphasize the point that was just made, now we're figuring out which mutations occur, which genes are involved. it's often familial, it often runs in families. and we're going to end up with -- >> what should you look for? >> well, here's what i look for, first and foremost in the office, the tongue that is literally vibrating, that's very tell-tale. if someone is having sudden weakness or falling like they show in the film, you're walking along and you start falling and i test you and find your muscle strength has diminished and you're like 30, 40 years of age -- >> if there's no cure, is there something that can help slow it down? >> no. there are no medications. there is a medication that only adds maybe three more months. but there's no real cure. and this is about 10% genetics, 90% we really don't know the cause. and this i

the neurons usually turn off. but hunger pangs are turned ravenous after the lab rats hit the bong.cience class for today, kids. now, time for the news. >>> we begin in libya, from the rising threat of the islamic state. the country is asking the u.n. to lift an arms embargo. and they asked that because they say it's the only way they can fight i si. and it comes after militants beheaded 21 egyptian christians over the weekend. and new fears, that the lead executioner may be american. as nbc's richard engel reports, now, the italian government is boosting security amid threats that italy could be the terror group's next target. >> reporter: i.s.i.s. is spreading like a virus. and months of air strikes don't seem to be containing it. in libya, i.s.i.s. is showing its strength. the group beheaded

. >> i have motor neurone disease, it has taken over most of my life. i need around the clock care just to breathe. >> this is how steve talks. the computer tracks eye movement and turps it into a voice. he kept physically move himself. >> i have tried foot controls. i didn't know i was capable of controlling a wheelchair it's different to move myself around without having to book a helper. >> so could this transform steve's life from a lab nearby a creation called revolutionary. an electric wheelchair moved by following the user's eye. >> i look to the right and be move right. i look to the left and move left. >> there's no doubting this is a prototype. spot the sticky tape holding it toot. >> the eye movements we got off the web. the device holding it was laying around the lab. the wheelchair was out of the skip. >> it comes in under $200. >> what is fascinating is not the technology even though eye tracking is phenomenal. it's the way it's implemented using cheap equipment that any of us could get hold of if we put our mind to it. what it does is ope

watched saliva drops and try to reason into the inner life you and i can look at the oxygenation of neurons on an mri when they person experiences love or fear or a monkey reaches for a banana and it's very striking that you see that movement right before the monkey reaches but what's the relationship between the two two? so his methods the use of the conditional reflexes a tool to analyze and treat such things as depression or drug addiction and does it certainly sheds a lot of important light on us as organisms. but his overall quest the quest to understand human consciousness and its relationship to bodily processes processes, what i found most inspiring was not just the amazing science he did but at age 86 a few weeks before he died that second manuscript that i mentioned before coming was changing his mind on a bunch of important things. so for me pavlov is a model for thinking individual that however and he was always certain in public but in private he had his doubts. he was alive intellectually to the end and that's something that scientists or historians can learn a lot from. >> ho

. >> i have motor neurone disease. it's taken over most of my life. i need around the clock care. >> reporter: this is how steve talks, the computer tracks eye movement turning it into a voice. he cannot physically move himself. >> i tried foot controls but cannot manage them. earlier i was capable of controlling a wheelchair. it's different to move myself around without having to book a helper. >> could this transform steve's life. from a lab nearby a creation you could call revolutionary. an electric movement that moves using the eyes. >> reporter: there's no doubting this is a prototype. spot the sticky tape holding it together. >> this came off the web. the device holding it was from the lab. the wheelchair from the skip. >> reporter: it comes in at a little under $200. what is fascinating is not the technology even though eye tracking is phenomenal it's the way it's been implemented using equipment that anyone of us could get hold of. what it does is opens up the possibilities for millions of disabled people all over the world who ordinarily woul

the clusters of neurons in the brain that make you feel full they're instead activated to promote hungeren they're under the effects of marijuana. they say the discovery can pave the way for better obesity drugs because it helps to explain why people eat when they're not hungry. >>> speaking of people who don't eat when they're hungry -- or not hungry. >> i solved that problem. >> are you eating now? >> i'm trying. >> have you stepped on a scale lady? >> got 132 right now. enough personal information. we have a big news day straight ahead. john mccain weighs in on the threat of i.s.i.s. why he says things will only get worse before they get better. >>> fortune" magazine is out with the list of the world's most admired companies. we'll show you if apple kept the top spot. and why this year's list is all about impact. >>> plus we're just four days out from the academy awards. janice minn of "the hollywood reporter" breaks down the favorites for oscar gold. and i'm going to speak to rocco dispirito. i'm skeptical about losing a pound a day. i feel that's too fast. you need to lose weight sl

they alter the dna in your neurons in your brain so the light that creates the stuff you see is readectly from your brain. they are at the animal testing phase. >> so am i. i think it sounds cool as hell. >> it seems like a long way to go. >> it is good for blind people. james cameron has predicted everything that is going to happen in the world. >> his divorce? >> not his divorce. >> this is more of a williams gibson thing. >> we are going down like the titanic. >> he should be the secretary of state, james cameron. >> no he shouldn't? >> kirk cameron? >> i would vote for kirk cameron. >> he loves jesus. >> is there anything wrong with that? >> he just loves aim a little more. carly, sherrod small, andy levey, why do i have hiccups? that does it for me. i'm greg gutfeld. i can read. i can't read without these. new amopé pedi perfect foot file gives you soft beautiful feet effortlessly. its microlumina rotating head buffs away hard skin even on those hard-to-reach spots. it's amazing. you can see it and feel it. my new must-have for soft, beautiful feet. amopé pedi perfect. find it i

region of the core text significantly fewer brain tangle markers, and very large supply of a specific neuron linked to higher social intelligence. >> interesting. >>> so you have noticed that i'm wearing red, aaron is wearing red, melissa, tom, a mealmelia. it's national wear red day to raise awareness for heart disease. >> there is an effort this day every year to get people to talk more about heart health and to make sure you're paying attention to your heart and getting it checked out on a regular basis. so the red is to raise awareness. >> and people always talk about bred cancer but it is really heart disease that is the leading cause for death in women and men. not that breast cancer is not an admirable charity to support. but it's also stress factor. which is one of the big thicks about heart disease. >> lifestyle changes and education, the best ways to get a hang on your heart health. >>> gearing up to take on isis. the request president obama is expected to make in the coming days and what it means for u.s. military forces. >>> a live look at reston virginia right now on what is the

. >> it's called motor neuron disease. >> reporter: outside hawking and redmayne were favorites of theress nominee reese witherspoon found herself drowned out by the chant and looked over for the title of leading lady which went to julianne moore for her performance in "still alice." for many the baftas are a good indicator of who may go on to win at the oscars. the chief executive of bafta says 9% of the times in the last -- 69% of the times in the last ten years those who win at the baftas go on and win at the oscars. while not exactly the same it is a good indicator what might happen in just two weeks' time. isa suarez cnn london. >> there you go. issa suarez isa suarez in a cape looking wonderful. thanks for watching. i'm errol barnett. >> i'm rosemary church. stay tuned for cnn "newsroom." have a great day. we give you a better night. you're a better you all day. tylenol®. >>> happening now, u.s. and world leaders mapping out a peace plan for ukraine as the violence escalates with the country's military and pro-russian rebels. this morning how president obama will get involved. we

>> reporter: from there, the mr i-team measured activity in the part of the brain that -- >> the neurons firing, the blood is gushing. and hey, we see a signal. >> reporter: yes, you're looking at love. [ indiscernible ] >> something really romantic. >> reporter: we start with the guy who loves his newborn cousin. >> i got second place. just below a couple who has been married for 50 years. >> reporter: after 50 years their love endures. so strong, you can actually see it. >> a deep response. a deep respect. i think that's the most important thing. >> it doesn't hurt that she is as beautiful today as she was the day i met her. [ laughter ] >> oh. >> amazing. he couldn't resist her. she had those gogo boots on. >> she did. >> gets you every time. >> that's it. that film the love competition is available online. >>> well, coming up in our next half-hour, she has been stealing jewels around the world for decades. >> now she may be in the bay area. the encounter with this notorious thie >>> now at 6:30, a notorious international jewel thief spotted in san francisco! she was even caught on ca

. >> from there, the mr i-team measured activity in the part of the brain that -- >> the neurons arelood is gushing and see a signal. >> yes you're looking at love. >> something really romantic. >> as for the result, we start with the guy who loves his newborn cousin. >> i got second place. just below couple of who has been married for 50 years. >> yes, after 50 years their love endures. so strong, you can actually see it. >> a deep respect, a deep respect, i think that's the most important thing. >> and it doesn't hurt that she is as beautiful today as she was the day i met her. >> and that is a smart man. that was elizabeth cook reporting, that film called the love competition is available on line. so romantic, right? >> hey speaking of romance and valentine's day and cupid, runners all across the country stripped down to their undies yep all for a great cause. thank goodness. it is the annual cupid's under you run. local event takes place in south philadelphia, this is actually video from last year's run where they raised get this $2.8 million all to benefit the children's tumor f

and they came along with neuron -- strong american leadership here it if we had it, we have a better chance of outcome. thank you. >> two questions from the audience. raise your hand if you are in favor of arming ukraine. ok, and if you changed your mind, keep your hands up. [laughter] ok, a couple. how many people are on the fence? all right. i want to think carnegie for hosting this. i want to thank that for panelists --the 4 panelists. mr. ambassador, thank you for coming. thank you to our staff. [applause] our month block visit to historical universities concludes. washington journal's live every morning at 7 a.m. eastern you can join the conversation with your calls facebook comments and tweets. today, speakers include doug stone, the former commander who saw detainee operations in iraq >> here are some of our featured programs for this weekend. saturday morning starting at 10:00 our nation's governors get together to discuss issues affecting our cities. guest include danny meyer. sunday morning at 11:00, we continue live coverage of the national governors association meeting fe

and they came along with neuron -- strong american leadership here it if we had it, we have a better chance of outcome. thank you. >> to questions from the audience. raise your hand if you are in favor of arming ukraine. ok, and if you changed your mind, keep your hands up. [laughter] ok, a couple. how many people are on the fence? all right. i want to think carnegie for hosting this. i want to think that for panelists --the 4 panelists. mr. ambassador, thank you for coming. thank you to our staff. [applause] -- to your staff. >> coming up on c-span, new jersey governor chris christie speaking at the reagan dinner in new hampshire. a look at the white house summit on combating violent extremism. first remarks by president obama. then secretary of state john kerry and you and secretary-general ban ki-moon. -- you and secretary-general on chemo and. on the next washington journal, the national resources defense council discusses the train accident in west virginia that spilled crude oil and caused a massive fire. after that, a month-long visit to historically black colleges and univers