1. It’s everything that you are!
The Brain
It’s everything that you are!

2. Some brain facts… Approximately 1.5 kg in an adult
Only 350g - 400g in a newborn
750 – 1000mL of blood flow through the brain every minute
Neurons send messages in the brain at 415 km/h (or faster!)
The brain will die in 4 – 6 minutes without oxygen

3. How did we learn about the brain?
Phineas Gage
Railway worker, 1848
Accidentally had an iron rod explode through his skull and he lived
Major personality differences afterwards
Lobotomies
A spike was used to destroy the front part of the brain
Brain damage used to “cure” mental illness (severe side effects)
Different parts of the brain do different jobs!

4. Some parts of the brain…
Parts you need to know
(Specifically… the Cerebral Cortex!)
Stay tuned for more on the pituitary soon (Reproductive System)

5. Use a chart to organize your notes…
Part of the Brain
What it does
Cerebral Cortex
Occipital Lobe
Parietal Lobe
Temporal Lobe
Frontal Lobe
Corpus Callosum
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Pituitary Gland
Cerebellum
Brain stem

6. Cerebrum Largest part of the brain
Receives sensory input, integrates it and controls voluntary muscle responses
Outside layer = cerebral cortex
Highly folded for greater surface area
Responsible for all conscious thought

7. Two hemispheres… Right and Left
An experiment:
Move your RIGHT foot in a clockwise circle
Draw a “6” in the air with your RIGHT hand
Was it easy to do?
Move your LEFT foot in a clockwise circle
WHY?

8. Corpus Callosum
Allows right and left hemispheres to communicate

9. You use both hemispheres, but in different ways…
Pop culture idea: that someone is “right- brained” or “left-brained”
Does that make sense?
Do you use only half of your brain?

10. Each lobe of the cerebral cortex does a different job

11. Functions of Cerebral Cortex Lobes
Prefrontal cortex (for good decision making) only fully developed by age 24
Why hitting the back of your head can make you see “stars”

12. Controling moving and sensing Primary Motor and Somatosensory Cortices

13. Defining brain area functions…
Hard to define
Brain maps made using different methods don’t always match up
New map shows 180+ distinct areas of the brain (July 20, 2016)
Using data from 300 pairs of twins and their non-twin siblings
Link to full article and video clip:

14. Thalamus and Hypothalamus
Receives information from spinal and cranial nerves
Sends it to the right area of the cerebral cortex
Hypothalamus
Maintains homeostasis
Regulates hunger, thirst, sleep, body temperature…

15. Pituitary Gland Releases hormones to control body activity Examples:
ADH (acts on kidney to regular water balance)
Gonadotropins (act on gonads to release hormones coordinating reproduction)

16. Cerebellum Controls balance and coordination
Receives sensory information from joints / muscles
Receives motor input from cerebral cortex
Used when learning new physical skills

17. Brain Stem Pons and Medulla oblongata Controls vital signs Heart beat
Respiration
Blood pressure
Coughing, sneezing, hiccupping, vomiting

18. Quick quiz… What part of the brain is working to do this?
It could be more than one!

19. Synesthesia Integration of senses in people with synesthesia
One sense causes a reaction in another sense in the brain
“Hear” colours - Each musical note is its own colour
See colours with each letter / number
“Taste” textures
“Smell” sounds
Helps memory
Evolution of metaphors?

20. A little test…
Where are the 2s in this picture?

21. Use your knowledge of the brain…
What could be causing Synesthesia?