Today is a great day to learn about your

BRAIN!!!

Human Brain

How do we know about the brain?

• EEG- electrical activity of brain

• CAT- 3D images • MRI- image of radio waves/

Hydrogen atom energy• PET- visual image of trace

chemical activity after injection of radioactive substance

• Electroencephalogram (EEG)

• Electrodes are placed on the scalp that amplify recordings of the waves of electrical activity across the brain’s surface

• Computed Tomography (CT or CAT Scan)

• A series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of the brain

• Position Emission Tomography (PET Scan)

• A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that allow us to see structures within the brain

• Accidents• Case study analysis of victims

of suffer from a brain injury, resulting in variations in normal behavior

• IE. Phineas Gage

• Lesions• Lesioning is the removal or

destruction of part of the brain.• IE. Lobotomy

Let’s Review• Get the most important idea

worksheet• At your tables come up with

what you think is the most important idea and then 5 supporting ideas

THE BRAIN AND ITS

FUNCTIONS

• Brain Stem• Medulla• Pons• cerebellum• Reticular Formation• Spinal cord

Spinal cord• Connects the brain to the body• Spinal reflexes occur here

Brainstem• The oldest part of the brain• Is responsible for automatic survival

functions• Located where the spinal cord swells

and the brain just begins

Midbrain•The MIDBRAIN is also responsible for behaviors associated with hearing and sight

•Pupil dilation and eyeball movement

PONS• The PONS is responsible for helping to regulate breathing, to help with sleep and wake cycles, and controls facial expressions

Medulla• The base of the brainstem• Controls life-supporting functions like

heartbeat and breathing• Damage to this area can lead to death.

Medulla• The point at which the

spinal cord enters the skull is called the MEDULLA

• The MEDULLA controls heartbeat and breathing, blood pressure, and attention

Cerebellum• Latin for the “little brain”• Located in the rear of the brain• Helps coordinate voluntary movements

and balance• If damaged, the person could perform

basic movements but would lose fine coordination skills.

Reticular formation• The major area of the Midbrain

is the RETICULAR FORMATION

• The RETICULAR FORMATION extends from the spine to the thalamus, and is responsible for arousal/wakefulness and attentiveness

•The MIDBRAIN is also responsible for behaviors associated with hearing and sight

•Pupil dilation and eyeball movement

Okay let’s teach• Time to move• Shake hands with 4 different

people. • Next touch 6 different walls• Stop await instructions

Partner Up• Get a simile summary for the

group of two• You may pick any part of the

hindbrain and make up a simile

• Have fun with this!

• Welcome to the Limbic System

Limbic System• A ring of structures around the

thalamus; at the border of the brainstem and cerebral cortex

• Helps regulate memory, aggression, fear, hunger, and thirst

• Includes the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala

Hypothalamus• Located directly under the front of the

thalamus• Regulates eating, drinking, body

temperature, and the fight or flight reactions to stress

• Plays a role in emotions, pleasure, and sexual function

Pituitary Gland • Master gland• Part of the endocrine system• Regulates all glands within the body

Hippocampus• Wraps around the back of the thalamus• Plays a role in processing new memories

for permanent storage• Looks something like a seahorse

–Hippo is Greek for “horse.”

Amygdala• Two almond shaped structures• Controls emotional responses such as

fear and anger

Thalamus• Sits atop the brainstem• The brain’s sensory switchboard --

directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex

• Thalamus is Greek for “inner chamber.”

Cerebrum / Cerebral Cortex

Cerebrum• Longest part of brain• Two hemispheres• Responsible for voluntary movement,

speech, emotion, memory intelligence and memory processing

Cerebral Cortex• The body’s ultimate control and

information processing center• Covers the brain’s lower level structures• Contains an estimated 30 billion nerve

cells• Divided into four lobes

Frontal Lobes• The portion of the cerebral cortex lying

just behind the forehead• Is involved in making plans and

judgments

Occipital Lobe• The primary visual processing area• Located in the back of the head

Parietal Lobes• Regions available for general

processing, including mathematical reasoning

• Designated as the association lobes• Behind the frontal lobes• Processes taste, smell, and feeling• Motion – motor cortex

Temporal Lobes• Includes the auditory cortex where

sound information is processed• Memories are processed and stored here• Located roughly above the ears

Motor Cortex• Area at the rear of the frontal lobes• Controls voluntary movement• Different parts of the cortex control

different parts of the body.• The motor cortex in the left hemisphere

controls the right side of the body and visa versa.

Somatosensory Cortex• Located in the front of the parietal lobes• Registers and processes body senses• Soma is Greek for “body.”

Hemispheric Differences

Module 8: The Brain

Hemispheric Differences• “Left-brained” and “right-brained”

debunked• Brain is divided into two hemispheres

but works as a single entity.• Both sides continually communicate via

the corpus callous, except in those with split brains.

Hemispheric Differences:

Language and Spatial Abilities

Module 8: The Brain

The Brain’s Left Hemisphere• For most people, language functions are

in the left hemisphere.• For a small percentage of people,

language functions are in the right hemisphere.

Broca’s Area• Located in the frontal lobe and usually

in the left hemisphere• Responsible for the muscle movements

of speech• If damaged the person can form the

ideas but cannot express them as speech

PET Scan of Broca’s Area

Wernicke’s Area• Located in the temporal lobe• Involved in language comprehension

and expression; our ability to understand what is said to us

• Usually in the left temporal lobe

PET Scan of Wernicke’s Area

The Brain’s Right Hemisphere• Houses the brain’s spatial abilities• Our spatial ability allows us to perceive

or organize things in a given space, judge distance, etc.

• Helps in making connections between words

Brain Plasticity

Module 8: The Brain

Plasticity• The ability of the brain tissue to take on

new functions• Greatest in childhood• Important if parts of the brain are

damaged or destroyed

The End