Brain-ology

How well do you know your brain? Above all else, know thyself. -Socrates -Socrates

The Spinal Cord Reflexes Relay Routine tasks

The Hind Brain Medulla & pons –H–Heartbeat, breathing, paralyzes your muscles while you sleep –R–RASscreens incoming sensory info Relates to ADD –P–Priorities of the RAS Physical need Novelty Self-made choice

Our Brain Needs… 1. Oxygen Just standing, after being seated, adds >15% more Oxygen 2. Glucose 2 ounces of Fruit (raisins) increases long term memory by 35% & working by 20% (lasts 30 minutes) 3. Water We need 8 ounces of water for every 25 pounds of body weight

The Limbic System Thalamus –Switchboard for sensory data Hypothalamus Amygdala –Sophisticated emotions & memory making Pituitary gland –Hormones for growth, etc. Hippocampus –Forms memories for us –Separates during Alzheimers disease

The Hypothalamus Fully functioning at birth Controls: –Fear –Anger –Aggression –Fight/flight response –Hunger –Thirst –Water balance –Body temperature –Hormones –E.K.S.

The amygdala Plays important role in emotions Later development Adult part of the brain that brings empathy to the adolescence brain Puts warm fuzzies on the hypothalamus

The Cortex Makes up 85% of our brain Only 6 cells thick Where we store knowledge Creativity Humor Problem solving Burns 1.5 calories/minute –75% of blood sugar & 20% of oxygen

So, just what is our brain made of? Neuronsaka brain cells –Timeline of neurons 525 billion 200 billion 100 billion Were born with ½ of our brains already gone!!

What does a mighty oak and a Charlie Brown Christmas tree have to do with our brains?

If we cant grow new neurons, how do we store more in our brains? Dendritesthe branches of the neurons Learn something new, grow a new branch –Growth takes place while you sleep Dont use them, you lose them Once you grow one you can keep it forever

Sleep Requirements 3-5 years11 hours 5-9 years10.5 hours years10 hours years8.5 hours Adults7 hours