50 Brain Facts

Marissa Haroldson

I learned more about number 8, how right-brained peoples brains work differently
than those who tend to be left-brained. While reading on, I learned that in every
action from daydreaming to problem solving, right-brained thinkers go about things
on a basic level differently than left-brainers. My favorite quote is The
study published in the journal Neuropsychologia, reveals a distinct pattern of brain
activity, even at rest, in people who tend to solve problems with sudden creative
insights, which are commonly referred to as Aha! Moments, that differed distinctly
from people who tend to solve problems, and think in a methodical fashion. I have
always thought of myself as more of a creative person than a straight-forward, 2+2
is always 4 kind of person. Therefore I think that I am a right-brained thinker, more
so than left-brained. I was also intrigued by the studies that found that even while in
a resting state and not working on any problems, our brains light up differently
depending on the dominant side. The more I read about the right-brain the more
that sounded a lot like how my brain works, or at least, how I think it does.
I also read more about number 13, how the amygdala can let us read peoples
faces. I learned about Williams Syndrome, how it is similar and different from
autism, and how Fragile X syndrome is a genetic abnormality like Williams, but
produces traits similar to autism, which doesnt have a clear stemming point. Ive
always wanted to know more about why autism is so diverse in itself, producing
such a wide variety of talents and short comings differently affecting each person.
Its odd to think that the same mental disorder that can cause one child to avoid
social situations and refuse to speak can cause another to be a musical prodigy or
math genius.
I then wanted to read more about number 15, scent and memory, when I
remembered my own example. When I was a teenager I went to the Mall of America
and went into nearly every store, including Victorias secret. While I was sampling
their perfumes and body sprays, I came across their signature scents, or the most
popular ones that made them famous. While smelling Rapture in a tester bottle, I
immediately was taken back to being about 6 and getting ready for school while my
mom got ready for work, and smelling that perfume the entire car ride to school. I
looked across the shelves to find the container the perfume came in, and
recognized the gold and deep red heart-shaped bottle with a red cap I had
thought was so pretty on our bathroom counter. I had read in high school that the
hippocampus controls memory, but in this article I learned that many different parts
contribute to recalling and storing memories. It stated that areas of the brain
previously not considered to be involved in encoding memories, such as the more
primitive part of the brain above the hippocampus, known as the perirhinal cortex,

may be involved in encoding or storing simple sensory associations. I also was

shocked to learn that each time a memory is recalled or a new thought occurs, a
new pathway is made in the brain.
I want to learn more about what sleep deprivation does to (specifically) the brain. As
a new mom, it would be both informative, and probably scary. In a related topic, Ive
always wanted to know more about yawning. Ive heard many theories, but its hard
to know which studies are up to date and thorough. Im also interested in learning
about why the brain itself has no pain receptors, yet our brain is what tells our
nerves all around our body that we feel pain, and why migraines hurt so badly if the
brain itself doesnt hurt. Also, every time I am reminded that the brain is 75% water,
I have the sudden urge to drink lots of water, which is something I dont do as much
as I should. It would be interesting to monitor how exactly fluid levels affect
different parts and functions of the brain.