The Adaptation to Mental Illness

An extraordinary group of organs belonging to the different regions of the brain attempts to
obstruct the attainment of mental illness on the brain. They have to do it fast, as it is only a
matter of time before the “Plague” would soon take over the brain. The organs do not
function alone: they believe that “to achieve the perfect recovery, we must work through very
complex relationships.” To pull off the largest obstruction of mental illness in the history of
the brain, an organ named Professor Hippocampus united some organs of the brain that
share one trait: each plays a vital role.

(First Scene)
The organs are having their conference inside their main base in an undisclosed location.
Professor: (shows a friendly smile) I welcome you and thank you for having accepted this
job offer. In this skull, away from the world and its distractions. We will spend our time
studying how to pull off the counteraction… Now… Let’s drop the formalities, regardless of
our size and the responsibilities we attain. You already know your functions, but you may not
understand the bigger picture of this mission. I want you all to have names, and your
identities are named after which part of the encephalon you come from.
Cerebellum: Well then, the name's Cerebellum. Since I am good at sustaining the proper
orientation of the entire body, I want to be the one in command of correcting and maintaining
the group's balance. I don't start motor commands; instead, I adjust descending route motor
commands to make movements more adaptable and accurate.
Amygdala: (raised hand) (speaks nervously) So I’m, uhh… Y-you can call me Amygdala.
And uhh, I process stimuli that inflict fear or impose a threat against our system. So, I guess I
would be the one to handle that aspect of memories, right? That’s all… (smiles awkwardly)
Professor: Okay! Next…
Prefrontal Cortex: (raises hand excitedly) My turn! For my part, I play a huge role in
cognitive control functions, and part of my work involves the inhibition of impulses and
prospective memory. Oh! And attention as well.
Cerebellum: What makes you do all of that?
Prefrontal: Because I have dopamine. This allows me to sustain all these cognitive controls.
Cerebellum: Oh, I see… (nodding) (calls Neocortex’s attention) hey, what will you be then?
Neocortex: Me? (While chuckling and pointing at himself) ... Neocortex. (Turns to face the
professor) I'm in charge of perception, language, and decision-making. Makes me the best bet
to process information from... Him. (Pointing to Professor, causing others to glance at him)
Amygdala: S-so, what should we call you? (Asking the Professor)
Professor: (Smiles) My name is Professor Hippocampus. I am deeply involved with
memories, in which I play an extensive role in its formation and organization. I also have the
capacity to connect these stimuli we perceive into emotions. I’ll let you think of the rest of
why I am important in this mission.

(Second Scene)
After weeks of extensive planning, the counteraction was put into action, it is set to happen.
As the organs are doing their assigned works, giving all their best to make the retrieval
successful.
Professor interrupts them with a frustrated expression.
Professor: H-hold up. Everyone, stop! We have a problem. There’s something cu–
Amygdala: (with trembling voice) What is it, Professor? What’s happening?
Prefrontal: Could it be? COULD IT BE AN INTRUDER?
Professor: We have to hurry. I am not feeling well…
Neocortex: That’s- That’s impossible. Are you okay?
Professor: (shaking his head)
Cerebellum: Are we going to fail? Are we not balanced?
Amygdala: What is that one thing, Professor?
Professor: A disease. I’m losing my connecti–

The group fell into silence because they could not believe what was going on. Everything was
going well; everything was in order.
Everyone: Professor!! (Everyone shouted when they saw how the Professor slowly loses his
connection with them)

Everyone started to panic

Amygdala: W-what’s happening?
Cerebellum: Are we going to die?
Prefrontal: What if it will also happen to us!? What if he won’t b—
Neocortex: Calm down all of you! We can still save Professor Hippocampus
Prefrontal: But how!?
Neocortex: If the Professor was right that it is a disease … we have to be ready and prevent it
from occurring (worried about what might happen in the future)
Amygdala: Professor! He’s back! The Professor is regaining consciousness (Everyone turned
their heads to the Professor)
Neocortex: Are you okay Professor?
Cerebellum: What happened?
Professor: I don’t know … but it keeps on happening
Prefrontal: What do you mean?
Professor: This! I keep on disconnecting with all of you… (frustrated)
Amygdala: Ma-maybe it is just a coincidence…
Professor: We are brain organs. There is no such thing as coincidence. Besides, I keep on
experiencing its symptoms
Neocortex: Symptoms of what?
Professor: (Hesitant but still answered in a low voice) A mental Illness …

Upon hearing the Professor, everyone falls into a deafening silence. They are all aware of
what might happen because of mental health illness.
Cerebellum: What will happen to us now? (preventing himself from crying)
Prefrontal: We don’t have to worry, we can still prevent it
Amygdala: How!?
Neocortex: But we can have medicines available that can temporarily reduce the symptoms.
(Raising his voice)
Professor: Neocortex is right. There are some very promising advances, including those
medicines. We just have to trust that we can get through it as a team … Now, are you
confident that we can make it?

Everyone except Amygdala: Yes, Professor.

Professor: Amygdala?
Amygdala: Ye-yes, Professor. (low voice)
Professor: (Smile while nodding) Okay Team… Let’s get back to work.

Scene 3
After stabilizing the brain and neurons. The part of the brain worked together to find a way to
get rid of the disease or alternative plans for the disease.
Professor: amygdala? How are you doing?
Amygdala: I-im feeling good, professor, sometimes feeling nauseous, but I'm stable now.
(followed by a shy smile).
Professor: That’s good to hear. (smiling back) Now everyone listen up!
(everyone's attention went to the professor)
Professor: I have come up with an idea of how we can deal with the disease, Amygdala?
Amygdala: Y-Yes professor (attentively listening)
Professor: since you are incharge of processing stimulus that inflict fear or impose a threat
against our system. We need you to stabilize and do your best in resisting mental illness.
Amygdala: I will try my best, professor.
Professor: Good, cerebellum, you help amygdala in doing that to make sure there is no
fallacy.
Cerebellum: Yes sir.
Professor: While prefrontal cortex and neocortex, You work with me in attaining memories
and making sure we don't lose our connection with the neurons.
Prefrontal and neocortex: Yes sir.
Prefrontal cortex: I’ll look out for the neurons and make sure the connection is still there
and the external state is stable.
Professor: Okay, neocortex you help me in finding an alternative way to prevent this mental
illness while we still have time.

After sometime the professor and neocortex have found a way to adapt to the occurring
mental illness.
Professor: Everyone, may I have your attention?!

(everyone stops and divert their attention to the professor)

Professor: Neocortex and I have found a way, instead of preventing the illness we have
decided to adapt to it, with the help of cellular adaptation and recruitment of new sets of
neurons.

(END)