1. BRAINS!!!!

2. The Human Brain

3.  Despite extensive research on the brain, we still know surprisingly little about it. We are still unsure of the specific functions of various areas and how many processes work.  The brain uses 20% of the body’s oxygen and runs on 20 watts of electricity.

4. A quick virtual tour……….

5. Exterior of the Brain

6. Frontal Lobe: Contains both the frontal association area as well as the motor strip. Higher reasoning occurs here such as recognizing consequences from current actions and determining our (best) responses in social situations. The Frontal generally reaches maturity in humans during a person’s early 20’s.

7. Exterior of the Brain Parietal Lobe: Contains the sensory strip and is important in helping us to understand the sensory information we receive. Also, this area of the brain helps us in understanding representation of numbers, manipulation of objects, and spatial sense.

8. Exterior of the Brain Occipital Lobe: The visual processing center of the human brain. Damage to the occipital lobe may cause visual hallucinations.

9. Exterior of the Brain Temporal Lobe: Involved in auditory processing as well as some visual and speech processing. The temporal lobe also plays a vital role in forming long term memory. Examples include: speech comprehension, verbal memory, and recognizing complex visual images such as faces.

10. Exterior of the Brain Cerebral Cortex: Name given to the outer brain, including the four lobes which covers the inner and lower brain. Higher level thought and processing occurs here.

11. Exterior of the Brain Motor Strip Controls movement throughout the body and is found in the frontal lobe.

12. Exterior of the Brain Sensory Strip Responsible for sensation and touch.

13. Exterior of the Brain Central Fissure Divides the two hemispheres Left Hemisphere Right Hemisphere More responsible for logic and problem solving More responsible for imagination, feelings, and spatial relations

14. Exterior of the Brain Cerebellum: Latin for “little brain”. Helps in coordinating balance, calculates speed and distance of objects, and some motor learning. Cerebellum

15. Interior of the Brain

17. Thalamus Considered the “traffic cop” of the brain as it directs all messages to and from the brain. Helps to regulate sleep and wakefulness

18. Interior of the Brain

19. Hypothalamus Plays a role in regulating hunger and thirst, body temperatures, and circadian cycles. Also involved in emotions such as aggression, sexual behavior, and caring for children.

20. Interior of the Brain

21. Pituitary Gland Only about the size of a pea, yet very important. Called “the master gland” Regulates hormone secretions in various regions of the body Determines an individual’s height Also important for regulating metabolism and hormones related to childbirth and breast milk production

22. Interior of the Brain

23. Medulla Oblongata Lower half of the brain stem Controls autonomic functions such as respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, vomiting and urination Helps to rely signals from the brain to the spinal cord “There’s something wrong with your medulla oblongata!”-Colonel Sanders teacher guy

24. Interior of the Brain Amygdala (around here)

25. Interior of the Brain Amygdala Located within the temporal lobe Part of the Limbic system Plays an important role in emotional learning and storage of memories related to emotion such as fear conditioning

26. Brain Cells

27. Brain cells which are electrically charged and transmit messages from the brain to the body. Neuron

28. Brain Cells

29. “Branches” of the neuron which receive electrical charges (information) from one neuron to another. Dendrites

30. Brain Cells Synapse

31. Brain Cells Junction point between dendrites of neurons where electrical charges are passed. Synapse

32. Brain Cells

33. Long extension of the nerve cell. Transmit messages to dendrites. Axon

34. Brain Cells

35. The material that forms around the axon to insulate electrical charges. Good myelin covering increases the speed at which messages are transmitted. Myelin Sheath