How the Brain works

The brain performs an incredible number of tasks including the following: It controls body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. It accepts a flood of information about the world around you from your various senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching). It handles your physical movement when walking, talking, standing or sitting. It lets you think, dream, reason and experience emotions.

Tasks are coordinated, controlled and regulated by an organ that is about the size of a small head of cauliflower. Your brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves make up a complex, integrated information-processing and control system known as your central nervous system. The scientific study of the brain and nervous system is called neuroscience or neurobiology. Because the field of neuroscience is so vast -- and the brain and nervous system are so complex -- this article will start with the basics and give you an overview of this complicated organ.

Neuron Structure Your brain is made of approximately 100 billion nerve cells, called neurons. Neurons have the amazing ability to gather and transmit electrochemical signals (like wires in a computer) Neurons share the same characteristics and have the same makeup as other cells, but the electrochemical aspect lets them transmit signals over long distances and send messages to each other. Neurons have three basic parts: Cell body or soma. Axon . This long, cablelike projection of the cell carries the electrochemical message (nerve impulse or action potential) along the length of the cell. Dendrites or nerve endings. These small, branchlike projections of the cell make connections to other cells and allow the neuron to talk with other cells or perceive the environment. Dendrites can be located on one or both ends of a cell.

Brain Parts

Lobes of the Brain The average human brain weighs about 1,400 grams (3 lb). The brain looks a little like a large pinkish-gray walnut. It can be divided down the middle lengthwise into two halves called the cerebral hemispheres. Each cerebral hemisphere is divided into four lobes by sulci and gyri. The sulci (or fissures) are the grooves and the gyri are the "bumps" that can be seen on the surface of the brain. The folding created by the sulci and gyri increases the amount of cerebral cortex that can fit in the skull.

FRONTAL LOBE Located in front of the central sulcus. Concerned with reasoning, planning, parts of speech and movement (motor cortex), emotions, and problem-solving. PARIETAL LOBE Located behind the central sulcus. Concerned with perception of stimuli such as touch, pressure, temperature and pain. TEMPORAL LOBE Located below the lateral fissure. Concerned with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli (hearing) and memory (hippocampus). OCCIPITAL LOBE Located at the back of the brain, behind the parietal lobe and temporal lobe. Concerned with many aspects of vision.

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