Parts of the Brain

There is more than one way to understand the structure of the brain. It has two hemispheres with separate functions, bridged by the corpus callosum; It has three main parts- the brain stem, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex; The cerebrum has four lobes with specific functions. Objectives to post

If you looked at it from the top down, you would see it has two halves, or sides. These are called hemispheres. Your brain has 2 hemispheres, just like the earth. Hemi means “half.” Sphere means a sphere. Since your brain is roughly the shape of a sphere, the two halves are called hemispheres. If you saw a real brain, you could easily tell where the dividing line is between hemispheres. It’s like a large crease that goes right down the middle. Use your hands to make a model of the brain. The division between your knuckles is like the division in your brain.

Two Hemispheres “One hundred years ago it was discovered that our speaking and writing abilities came from the left brain in most people. Now we know that, in addition to reading, talking, and writing, our left brain also does basic mathematics. It sees everything in parts rather than looking at the whole. It puts things in order and categories. It is good at remembering people’s names. It comes up with logical answers to problems. The left side does everything step by step. The left brain loves a game of chess or checkers. Your left brain is kept very busy when you are in school. You use it when you read, memorize your spelling, write a story, learn your multiplication tables. It also remembers the sequence of events in social studies and learns step by step experiments in science. Question: Which of Howard Gardner’s Eight Intelligences do you think are connected to the left brain’s functions? The right brain is very different. It is artistic and creative. It is visual and sees things as a whole. rather than in part like the left brain. It gives you an understanding of location and direction. The right brain loves art, colors, and shapes. It also enjoys music. It is good at recognizing people’s faces. It can think up great new ideas to solve problems, but it is not able to read, talk, or write.. It cannot put its great ideas into words by itself. The right brain loves jigsaw puzzles and mazes.” Question: Which of Howard Gardner’s Eight Intelligences do you think are connected to the right brain’s functions? From Your Two Brains by Patricia Stafford, 1986.

Two Hemispheres Functions: Let’s label our handout with the functions of each hemisphere of the brain. Use the column on the left to note functions for the left brain, and the column on the right to note right brain functions. Just notes or phrases, not sentences. Review aloud while students label their drawings. Left: Putting things in order—Reading—Speech—Writing—Math—Reasoning—Logic—Analysis—Numbering--Putting things in categories--Thinking in a straight line--Thinking in words--Doing things in steps, in order—arranging things in an order, no matter how it looks in the end. Right: Wholeness---Seeing the big picture--Seeing “globally”—Feelings--Expressing yourself—Music--Visual art-----Thinking in images--Creative thinking--Arranging things so it looks good at the end--Dreaming in your sleep—Daydreaming—Rhythm—Intuition; just getting a hunch --Solving problems in life or in math.

3 Dimensional Brain Website http://www.g2conline.org/?gclid=CMDW6vf-_6QCFUIUKgodykw2iA The corpus callosum is a band of brain tissue that extends into both hemispheres of the brain. It is like a bridge that makes it possible for your right and left hemispheres to coordinate with each other. Even if you are using your left hemisphere for something, your right hemisphere knows about it, and helps out, because the corpus callosum keeps both sides working together. If the corpus callosum was damaged, and I showed you something on your left side, your might not be able to say the name of it. That would be because the image would be sent to the right hemisphere of your brain, and language is controlled in the right side of your brain. If your corpus callosum was not letting both sides communicate, you would have some problems! Open the 3-D Brain website by double-tapping the hyperlink on this slide. Slide must be in “slideshow” format for the link to operate. Focus on showing and discussing the Corpus callosum, and its role in brain functioning. Then put the window down in the bar at the bottom to pull up as needed. Teacher background information: A patient with a split brain, when shown an image in his or her left visual field (the left half of what both eyes take in, see optic tract), will be unable to vocally name what he or she has seen. This is because the speech-control center is in the left side of the brain in most people, and the image from the left visual field is sent only to the right side of the brain (those with the speech control center in the right side will experience similar symptoms when an image is presented in the right visual field). Since communication between the two sides of the brain is inhibited, the patient cannot name what the right side of the brain is seeing. The person can, however, pick up and show recognition of an object (one within the left overall visual field) with their left hand, since that hand is controlled by the right side of the brain. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-brain http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ibiblio.org/rcip//images/corpuscallosum.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ibiblio.org/rcip//dyslexia.html&h=404&w=344&sz=26&tbnid=RATltUXD3786zM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=77&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcorpus%2Bcallosum%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=corpus+callosum&docid=dSu6_NFnG60EHM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1DowTqmbHK610AH26MiFAw&sqi=2&ved=0CDQQ9QEwBA&surl=1&safe=active

Your Brain Has 3 Main Parts Distribute 3 Main Parts of the Brain handout to students to label as we discuss. Use this slide to indicate the position of the brain in a human head.

Cerebrum The Cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. It controls all voluntary muscles- the muscles you can move by deciding to move them. It controls thinking. It houses your memory. It is where your emotions come from. It processes information from your senses. (Students should label their drawings as you present information.)

Cerebellum The Cerebellum’s functions: Also has two hemispheres. Allows you to learn habits. Helps you develop motor skills (movement) Controls your sense of balance.

Brain Stem Brain Stem’s functions. Controls involuntary muscle movements, such as blinking. Regulates heartbeate. Regulates breathing. Regulates blood circulation. Regulates digestion. Works while you are asleep. Brain Stem

Instruct students to turn to the page in their packets showing a drawing of the cerebral cortex. Students should label the drawing as you present the information. Remind students that the drawing shows one half of a brain, from the side. Everything the drawing shows is duplicated on the other side. Now we will focus just on the cerebrum, also called the cerebral cortex. There are four lobes, or sections, of the human cerebral cortex in each of your two brain hemispheres. Teacher notes: “The cerebral cortex is like the surface of the Earth, made up of valleys and mountains. The continents on “Planet Brain” are called lobes. Each one it associated with a certain function.” From “Brian’s Brain”

If you tap your forehead, you are showing where your frontal lobes are located. Your personality lives here. If you get mad, or fall in love, or feel worried, your frontal lobes are making that happen. When you are awake and thinking, your frontal lobes are at work. When you are trying to solve a problem, guess which lobes are active? Teacher notes: Concerned with … emotions, and problem-solving. Conscious thought; damage can result in mood changes. …determines and shapes an individual's personality. In human beings, the frontal lobe attains maturity when the individual is around the age of 25. This means that by the time we are 25 years of age, we have achieved a level of cognitive maturity. The frontal lobe relates to planning, decision making, and self-awareness and personality. From “Brian’s Brain”

If you accidentally put your hand on something hot, your parietal lobes process that information so you realize you need to move your hand. If someone gives you a hug, its your parietal lobes that pick up that information. During math time your parietal lobes help you understand the concepts. Reading and writing are possible because of these lobes. Techer notes: “The parietal lobe receives sensory input from the body and is the location of reading and writing and the logic of mathematics.” From “Brian’s Brain” Concerned with perception of stimuli related to touch, pressure, temperature and pain. Also has language functions. Any damage to the parietal lobes result in abnormalities in spatial processing.

As you look at this picture, your occipital lobes are taking that information and using it to tell you what you are seeing. When you look in the mirror, you can tell it’s you, and not someone else, because your occipital lobes help you recognize faces. If they were damaged, you might see things that aren’t really there (hallucinations.) “Your ability to see and to recognize what you see is in the occipital lobe at the back of your head.” From “Brian’s Brain” Lesions on this lobe can produce hallucinations . The occipital lobe is involved with the brain's ability to recognize objects, based on sensory input from the eyes.

The temporal lobes are responsible for hearing, memory, meaning, and language. They take what you hear and help you recognize what it is. They help you access your memories and make sense out of them. If your mom calls you from somewhere in the house, your temporal lobes help you figure out who is calling your name. Teacher notes: “The temporal lobes are especially important for the sense of hearing. They also play a role in memory, learning, and emotion..” From “Brian’s Brain” Concerned with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli (hearing) and memory (hippocampus).

Name:_____________________________Date:_______________ The Cerebrum is divided into four main parts, called lobes. Label each lobe, and color each one with a separate color. Four lobes drawing. Print this slide only and copy per student for labeling during lesson.

Functions of the Two Hemispheres of the Brain. Right Hemisphere Left Hemisphere Functions of the Two Hemispheres of the Brain. Name:_____________________Date:_______ Two Hemispheres drawing. Print this slide only for students to label during lesson.

Take notes about each section to Show What You Know. Parietal Lobe Frontal Lobe Occipital Lobe Functions of Four lobes drawing. Print this slide only and copy per student for labeling during lesson. Temporal Lobe