the brain how does learning take place and where is it stored?
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The BrainThe Brain
How does learning take place and where is it stored?
How does learning take place and where is it stored?
Just the FactsJust the FactsThe brain and spinal cord make up the
Central Nervous SystemAverage human brain weighs 3 poundsBy age 6, human brain is full size40% = gray matter 60% = white matterBrain uses 20% of the oxygen supplyLack of oxygen for 3 to 5 minutes causes
brain cells to die
The brain and spinal cord make up the Central Nervous System
Average human brain weighs 3 poundsBy age 6, human brain is full size40% = gray matter 60% = white matterBrain uses 20% of the oxygen supplyLack of oxygen for 3 to 5 minutes causes
brain cells to die
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chmodel.html
NeuronsNeurons Born with about 100 billion
neurons Send and receive electro-
chemical signals to and from the brain and nervous system
Cannot regrow after being damaged, unless in hippocampus
Born with about 100 billion neurons
Send and receive electro-chemical signals to and from the brain and nervous system
Cannot regrow after being damaged, unless in hippocampus
http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_58_student_st.php?id=040428102710
NeuronsNeurons
Dendrite: Brings information to the
cell Many dendrites branch off
from cell body No myelin insulation
Dendrite: Brings information to the
cell Many dendrites branch off
from cell body No myelin insulation
http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_58_student_st.php?id=040428102710
NeuronsNeurons
Axon: Takes information away
from the cell Usually only one Myelin insulation
Axon: Takes information away
from the cell Usually only one Myelin insulation
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NeuronsNeurons
Myelin Sheath
Coating on axon Protects neuron Increases the electrical
transmission speeds along the axon
More myelin the better
Myelin Sheath
Coating on axon Protects neuron Increases the electrical
transmission speeds along the axon
More myelin the better
http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_58_student_st.php?id=040428102710
Three Main SectionsThree Main SectionsHindbrain
Midbrain
Forebrain
Hindbrain
Midbrain
Forebrain
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Learning and Memory: The Brain in Action p.34 Copyright 1999
Hindbraincontrols involuntary systems
Hindbraincontrols involuntary systems
controls heart rate and breathing
regulates flow of information
controls dreaming and waking
controls heart rate and breathing
regulates flow of information
controls dreaming and waking
Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 35 copyright 1999
HindbrainHindbrainCerebellum
Controls movement and balance
Stores lots of neuronsHelps form memoriesHolds/stores procedural
memories such as“how to”“ABC’s, basic facts”
CerebellumControls movement and
balanceStores lots of neuronsHelps form memoriesHolds/stores procedural
memories such as“how to”“ABC’s, basic facts”
Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 35 copyright 1999
MidbrainMidbrain
Small area that controls eye movement and opening and closing of the pupils
Small area that controls eye movement and opening and closing of the pupils
Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p.34 Copyright 1999
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The Forebraincontrols parts essential to memory and learning
The Forebraincontrols parts essential to memory and learning
Thalamus Size of a walnut Information sorter like
the post office Keeps brain updated
like a software update on a computer
Thalamus Size of a walnut Information sorter like
the post office Keeps brain updated
like a software update on a computer
Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999
HypothalamusHypothalamus
Sends information from the body to the brain
Keeps the body in balanceMaintains body temperatureControls appetiteWorks with the pituitary
gland
Sends information from the body to the brain
Keeps the body in balanceMaintains body temperatureControls appetiteWorks with the pituitary
gland
Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999
Pituitary GlandPituitary Gland
Pea-sizedAt the base of the brainControls growth and
developmentRegulates hormones
Pea-sizedAt the base of the brainControls growth and
developmentRegulates hormones
Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999
Pineal GlandPineal Gland
Regulates flow of Melatonin, the chemical that helps you to fall asleep
Regulates flow of Melatonin, the chemical that helps you to fall asleep
Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999
HippocampusHippocampus
Seahorse shapedBrain’s file cabinetPuts information in correct
spot for easy retrievalSends information to long
term memory
Seahorse shapedBrain’s file cabinetPuts information in correct
spot for easy retrievalSends information to long
term memory
Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999
AmygdalaAmygdala
Almond shapedControls emotional
memoryIts response can change
how you react to a situation
Almond shapedControls emotional
memoryIts response can change
how you react to a situation
Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999
CerebrumCerebrumTop brain layerCovered by gray matter
Left side: looks at partstime orientedsequential
Right side: looks at wholesspatialcreative
Top brain layerCovered by gray matter
Left side: looks at partstime orientedsequential
Right side: looks at wholesspatialcreative
Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999
A Day in Life of a Brain:
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chmodel.html
Stress and Your BrainStress and Your Brain
Stress chemicals block the synapses so electrical impulses cannot get through.
High stress levels may cause brain damage. Coritsol is a very destructive stress chemical.
FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS WILL ALWAYS TAKE PRIORITY OVER EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR BRAINS.
Stress chemicals block the synapses so electrical impulses cannot get through.
High stress levels may cause brain damage. Coritsol is a very destructive stress chemical.
FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS WILL ALWAYS TAKE PRIORITY OVER EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR BRAINS.
Memory LanesMemory Lanes
Memory lanes contain the files in which a memory is stored.
Learning happens when neurons communicate with each other.
Memory lanes contain the files in which a memory is stored.
Learning happens when neurons communicate with each other.
How learning worksHow learning works
Information enters through brain stemGoes to thalamus - sorterTravels to hippocampus - organizerGoes to STM If connection made to other memories
than it goes to working memoryThrough more connections over time
information travels to LTM
Information enters through brain stemGoes to thalamus - sorterTravels to hippocampus - organizerGoes to STM If connection made to other memories
than it goes to working memoryThrough more connections over time
information travels to LTM
Short term vs. Working Memory
Short term vs. Working Memory
Short term= lasts for only secondsMaximum information in STM = 7 items
Working = lasts for few hoursLeads to information being in LTM
Short term= lasts for only secondsMaximum information in STM = 7 items
Working = lasts for few hoursLeads to information being in LTM
Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes
LTM = stored foreverLearning has to follow certain lanes for
it to be permanentFive lanes =
SemanticEpisodicProceduralAutomaticEmotional
LTM = stored foreverLearning has to follow certain lanes for
it to be permanentFive lanes =
SemanticEpisodicProceduralAutomaticEmotional
Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 55 copyright 1999
Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes
Semantic LaneStored in the hippocampus (file
cabinet/organizer)Information learned from wordsTakes several repetitions for learning to occurCan hold unlimited amount of information
Semantic LaneStored in the hippocampus (file
cabinet/organizer)Information learned from wordsTakes several repetitions for learning to occurCan hold unlimited amount of information
Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes
Episodic LaneStored in the hippocampus (file
cabinet/organizer)Deals with locationWhere you learn the information is
important to making it a memory and reaching LTM
Recalling where you sat, where it was written on the board or in the book, what place you were at
Episodic LaneStored in the hippocampus (file
cabinet/organizer)Deals with locationWhere you learn the information is
important to making it a memory and reaching LTM
Recalling where you sat, where it was written on the board or in the book, what place you were at
Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes
Procedural Lane“muscle memory”Cerebellum used for these memories
(back of head, movement and balance)Memory is stored when it becomes routineBrushing teeth, riding a bike, tying shoesAllows us to do two things at once because
we use different areas of the brainGoofy body movements/dances to help
recall information
Procedural Lane“muscle memory”Cerebellum used for these memories
(back of head, movement and balance)Memory is stored when it becomes routineBrushing teeth, riding a bike, tying shoesAllows us to do two things at once because
we use different areas of the brainGoofy body movements/dances to help
recall information
Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes
Automatic LaneA stimulus automatically triggers the recall
of the memoryLocated in the cerebellum
(back of head, movement and balance)ABC’s, math facts, sight words, songs,
oppositesNo comprehension - just information (trivia)Can trigger other lanes to open and recall
learning
Automatic LaneA stimulus automatically triggers the recall
of the memoryLocated in the cerebellum
(back of head, movement and balance)ABC’s, math facts, sight words, songs,
oppositesNo comprehension - just information (trivia)Can trigger other lanes to open and recall
learning
Long Term Memory andthe Five Memory LanesLong Term Memory andthe Five Memory Lanes
Emotional LaneOpened through the amygdalaMost powerful kind of memoryStress hormones can make it impossible to
recall memories/learningAnother lane can trigger emotional memory
which can than stop the memory process
Emotional LaneOpened through the amygdalaMost powerful kind of memoryStress hormones can make it impossible to
recall memories/learningAnother lane can trigger emotional memory
which can than stop the memory process
ImportantImportant
When memories are stored in more than one memory lane, they become more powerful.
Learning = Memory The more memory lanes we use to store
information, the more powerful the learning becomes.
Every day our brain prunes away neuronal connections that are not being used.
Keep those brain cells active!!!!!!!!!!
When memories are stored in more than one memory lane, they become more powerful.
Learning = Memory The more memory lanes we use to store
information, the more powerful the learning becomes.
Every day our brain prunes away neuronal connections that are not being used.
Keep those brain cells active!!!!!!!!!!