The word “dendrite” is derived from the Greek word for “tree.” Dendrite is so named because it is branch-like in appearance. The presence of dendrites is what makes neurons (nerve cells) different from any other type of cell.

Neuron cells have tens of thousands of dendrites protruding from its core. Dendrites serve the purpose of receiving and transmitting electrical impulses from neurons. Neuron cells comprise approximately 10% of the 100 billion cells that make up the brain.

Scientists have discovered that there is a direct relationship between the composition of a person’s brain and the work that they do. According to, “How The Brain Learns,” By: David A. Sousa: “Recent studies of neurons in people of different occupations (e.g., professional musicians) show that the more complex the skills demanded of the occupation, the more dendrites were found on the neurons. This increase in dendrites allows for more connections between neurons resulting in more sites in which to store learnings.”

I wonder how much my dendrite count has increased since I started studying steno. The aforementioned quote from “How The Brain Learns” also makes me wonder if the high dendrite count on neurons in the brain of musicians is the reason why it is often said that people who play a musical instrument are likely to learn steno at a faster rate than people who don’t.