Lesson 1: Brainpower

Brain

a complex organ and the control center of the body’s nervous system, responsible for thought, memory, emotion, motor skills, and essential bodily functions like breathing and heart rate.

What are the three major parts of the brain?

Brain Stem, Cerebellum, Cerebrum

What is the functions of the Brain Stem?

It connects the spinal cord and the brain. Control functions that keep people alive such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and food digestion.

What is the functions of the Cerebellum?

It controls voluntary movement. It translates your will into actions.

Cerebrum

largest of the three brain sections, accounts for 85% of the brain’s weight and has four lobes namely: Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Occipital Lobe, and Temporal Lobe.

Frontal Lobe

thinking, memory, behavior, and movement.

Parietal Lobe

language and touch

Occipital Lobe

sight

Temporal Lobe

hearing, learning, and feelings

Neurons

The basic functional units of the nervous system, are threc-part units and are key to brain function. They power the rapid-fire process that turns thought into movement. The thought moves as an electrical signal down the axons to the dendrite and then jumps to another nerve cell across a space with the help of some chemicals.

Parts of the Neurons

Cell body, Dendrites, Axons

Cell Body

the cell’s life support center

Dendrites

receive messages from other cells

Axons

passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

Critical Age

"There is a consensus among researchers that brain cells regenerate through out life.” "The size of the brain doesn't increase much after 3" It is during the first three years of life, the brain

experiences most of its growth and develops most of its potential in learning, 1. The brain parts are adaptable. 2. Deprivation of intellectual stimulation occurs

dramatically before age 3.

Inhalants

such as glue, paint, gasoline and aerosols destroy the outer lining of nerve cells and make them unable to communicate with each other

Marijuana

hinders memory, learning, judgement and reaction times

Ecstasy

destroys neurons that makes serotonin

What is serotonin?

a chemical crucial in controlling sleep, violence, mood swings, and sexual urges

Steroids

(injected) cause aggressions and violent mood swings

Cigarettes

nicotine

The Lateralization of the Mind : The Left and Brain Theory

by nobel prize winners: Robert Ornstein and Roger Sperry. It states that each side of the brain has different specific functions. While humans use both sides, each one has a dominant side which, according to the theory, explains much about his or her behaviour, interests, personality, and mode of thinking. This led to the coined terms left-brained or right- brained individuals

Left-Brained (Language, Numbers, Analytical Thinking)

These people are

Organized, Logical, Detail-oriented

They prefer: sequencing, linear thinking, mathematics, thinking in words, Like to set goals, Can interpret information well, Keep a tidy room, Answer questions spontaneously, Follow directions and read directions

Right Brained (Expression, Emotional Intelligence, Imagination)

These people are: Intuitive, Risk-takers, Creative

They prefer: imagination, holistic thinking, rhythm, feelings visualization, daydreaming, Adventure, Writing, Fantasies, expression

Mind Map

Tony Buzan. is a thinking technique used to visually organize information. It is a creative and logical way of organizing thoughts and ideas in your mind through a diagram. It usually revolves around a central subject. Major ides in the form of images and/or words branch out from the main subject. Texts, lines, colors, images, and symbols may be used to make mind maps. Mind maps can be simply done by manual drawing or sketching or through more intricate processes using computer applications.