The Brain The Parts, Memory & Why Use it

Memory As a definition is… As a definition is… –The way in which we record the past and later refer to it so that we may affect the present Without it there would be no past (only a present / now) no ability, no recall of names, no recognition of faces/place, no reference of time or even self

Three stages to the act remembering Acquisition – one must first have learned. the subject must have encountered the object or idea to leave a record in the nervous system called a “memory trace” Acquisition – one must first have learned. the subject must have encountered the object or idea to leave a record in the nervous system called a “memory trace” Retention – the information is filed away for later use Retention – the information is filed away for later use Retrieval – the point at which when you remember, to dredge up the particular “memory trace” from all the others Retrieval – the point at which when you remember, to dredge up the particular “memory trace” from all the others –Many failures to remember are from failures of retrieval and not of storage

Previously acquired items can be retrieved in two ways…. (1) Recall (1) Recall –The ability to produce an item or set of items –Ie. Where did you park your car? –Who did you sit beside in the third grade? –What was the third thing you did this morning? –Recall is not just verbal can be motor as well; ie. Golf swing or playing guitar (2) Recognition (2) Recognition –A person is shown an item and must answer if they have seen it before –Ie. Have you ever seen this face? –One of these girls played on your high school hockey team? (context)

On Tests and Exams Recall types of questions – essay, short answer, fill in the blanks Recall types of questions – essay, short answer, fill in the blanks Recognition types of questions – true/false, multiple choice (where the correct item can be mixed in with false items) Recognition types of questions – true/false, multiple choice (where the correct item can be mixed in with false items)

The Human Brain The brain performs an incredible number of tasks: The brain performs an incredible number of tasks: It controls body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. 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 (eyes, ears, nose, etc.). –It handles physical motion when walking, talking, standing or sitting. –It lets you think, dream, reason and experience emotions All of these tasks are coordinated, controlled and regulated by an organ that is about the size of a small head of cauliflower: your brain. All of these tasks are coordinated, controlled and regulated by an organ that is about the size of a small head of cauliflower: your brain.

Parts of the Brain Frontal Lobe Parietal Lobe Occipital Lobe Temporal Lobe Cerebellum Somatosensory Cortex Motor Cortex Brain Stem

Parts of the Brain Cerebellum Cerebellum –The cerebellum integrates information that indicates position and movement and uses this information to coordinate limb movements. –Controls bodily functions; consciousness – sleep, wakefullness & alertness Brainstem Brainstem –The brainstem consists of the medulla (an enlarged portion of the upper spinal cord), pons and midbrain (lower animals have only a medulla). –The brainstem controls the reflexes and automatic functions (heart rate, blood pressure), limb movements and visceral functions (digestion, urination

Frontal lobe Frontal lobe –The frontal lobe is involved in motor skills (including speech) and cognitive functions –Pre learned motor skills (ie. Throwing, guitar playing) are controlled from here (motor cortex) –Cognitive functions such as planning your future, thinking about consequences or immediate steps of action –An area on the left side of the frontal lobe, called Broca's area, processes language by controlling the muscles that make sounds (mouth, lips and larynx) – Damage to this area results in "motor aphasia," in which patients can understand language but cannot produce meaningful or appropriate sounds. –Remaining areas of the frontal lobe perform associative processes (thought, learning, memory)

Occipital lobe –T–T–T–The occipital lobe receives and processes visual information directly from the eyes –r–r–r–relates this information to the parietal lobe (Wernicke's area) and motor cortex (frontal lobe). –O–O–O–One of the things it must do is interpret the upside- down images of the world that are projected onto the retina by the lens of the eye –R–R–R–Recognition of an object or person is registered here Temporal lobe –T–T–T–The temporal lobe processes auditory information from the ears ( appreciation of language or music ) –r–r–r–relates it to the parietal lobe and the motor cortex of the frontal lobe

Parietal lobe Parietal lobe –The parietal lobe receives and processes all somatosensory input from the body (touch, pain) –All the data gathered from our environment by our five sense is processed here – affected by stimulus –Fibers from the spinal cord are distributed by the thalamus to various parts of the parietal lobe Limbic system –The limbic system is important in emotional behavior –Generation & retrieval of memory traces –controlling movements of visceral muscles (muscles of the digestive tract and body cavities –Surrounds the “corpus callosum”

Left & Right Sides of the Brain Left Side Left Side –Logical operations –Analytical operations –Sequential operations –Speech / Math Right Side Right Side –Visual spatial operations –Face Recognition –Art, Music, Creativity Corpus Callosum Corpus Callosum –Connects the two sides of the brain, allows for communication –Determines which hemisphere will receive the incoming data