In the brain, a neural network is acircuit of neurons linked through chemical and/or electrical impulses. Neurons use these signals to communicate with each other in order to perform a certain function or action, for example, carrying out a cognitive task such as thinking, remembering, and learning.
The neuron sends out an electrical signal through its axon or nerve fiber. The end of the axon has many branches, called dendrites. When the signal reaches the dendrites, chemicals called neurotransmitters are released into the gap between cells. The cells on the other side of the gap contain receptors where the neurotransmitters bind to trigger changes in the cells.
Sometimes neurotransmitters cause an electrical signal to be transmitted down the receiving cell. Others can block the signal from continuing, preventing the message from being carried on to other nerve cells.
In this way, large numbers of neurons can communicate with each other, forming large-scale brain networks.
Now, this is how biological neural networks work. If we’re talking about them it’s because it’s important to understand the basic functioning of biological neural networks in order to explain the origin and functioning of artificial neural networks —a node-based computing system that somewhat imitates the neurons in the human brain to help machines learn.
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