Module

6 The Powers of the Mind

In the previous lesson you learned that stress and stressors are physiological and
psychological response which is termed as “adaption syndrome”. It means that you
cannot control the stressors around you. Stress is a stimulus that disturbs your
physical and mental health.

Now, this module will help you learn the powers of the mind. It was said that mind power
is one of the strongest and most useful powers you possess. This power consists of your
thoughts. The thoughts that pass through your mind are responsible for everything that
happens in your life. Your predominant thoughts influence your behavior and attitude and
control your actions and reactions. As your thoughts are, so is your life.

What’s New

“What’s in your Brain?”

During the current weather condition, learners have been thrust into extraordinary
circumstances that may be life-changing, with short- and long-term effects on
adolescents’ well-being. Helping them learn to be smart about feelings can help
alleviate their emotional stress, improve concentration, boost their immune system,
and enhance brain development. Inside the brain below, list the things you think about
the most during this extremely hot weather.

What is It

Brainpower: complex organ controls your every thought and

move
The adolescent’s years are a time of extreme brain changes. Curiously, two of the
primary brain functions mature at different rates. Recent brain study indicates that the
part of the brain that recognize rewards from risk, the limbic system, develops at a fast
rate early adolescence. The section of the brain that regulates impulses and employs
long term perspective, the frontal lobes, develops later. This explains why teenagers
in mid-adolescence take more risks than older teenagers. Asthe frontal lobes become
more developed two things happen. First, self-control improves as adolescence
become more capable of judging cause and effect. Second, more sections of the brain
become involved in managing emotions and teenagers become better at
understanding other emotions.
The Power to Act
Let us understand the human brain. The
human brain has puzzled people
throughout the ages. Some scientists
have devoted their entire lives studying
how the brain works. The brain is a very
complex organ made-up of mutually
dependent parts, each with its precise
purpose. The brain is the fattest organ in
the body consist of at least 60 percent
fat. It has three important sections the
forebrain, midbrain, and the hind brain.
The Forebrain Structures
The two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex are part of the forebrain which is the
largest part of the brain. The forebrain contains the cerebral cortex and several other
structures that lie beneath the cortex (called subcortical structures): thalamus,
hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and the limbic system (collection of structures). The
cerebral cortex, which is the outer surface of the brain, is associated with higher level
processes such as consciousness, thought, emotion, reasoning, language, and memory.
Each cerebral hemisphere can be subdivided into four lobes, each associated with
different functions. These hemispheres are composed of four sections called lobes.
The four lobes of the brain are the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes.
1. Frontal lobe
- located in the forward part of the brain,
extending back to a fissure known as the
central sulcus. The frontal lobe is involved
in reasoning, motorcontrol, emotion, and
language. It contains the motor cortex,
which is involved in planningand
coordinating movement; the prefrontal
cortex, which is responsible for higher-
level cognitive functioning; and Broca’s
area, which is essential for language
production.
 2. Parietal lobe
- located immediately behind the frontal lobe and is involved in processing information
from the body’s senses. It contains the somatosensory cortex, which is essential for
processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and
pain.
3. Temporal lobe
- located on the side of the head (temporal means “near the temples”), and is associated
with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language. The auditory cortex,
the main area responsible for processing auditory information, is located within the
temporal lobe. Wernicke’s area, importantfor speech comprehension, is also located
here.
4. Occipital lobe
- located at the very back of the brain, and contains the primary visual cortex, which is
responsible for interpreting incoming visual information.

 The Limbic System

- Emotion involves the entire
nervous system, of course. But
there are two parts of the nervous
system that are especially
significant: The limbic system and
the autonomic nervous system.
- Regulates temperature, heart rate,
blood pressure and blood sugar.
- Its parts, Hippocampus, and
Amygdala assist from memories.
- It is the center of emotions. Nerve
impulses to the Amygdala activate the emotions of anger, fear, aggression, reward, and
attraction. These emotions stimulate the hypothalamus which controls blood pressure
and body temperature.

 The Midbrain Structures

Midbrain, also called mesencephalon, region of
the developing vertebrate brain that iscomposed
of the tectum and tegmentum. The midbrain
serves important functions in motor movement,
particularly movements of the eye, and in
auditory and visual processing. It is located within
the brainstem and between the two other
developmental regions of the brain, the forebrain
and the hindbrain; compared with those regions,
the midbrain is relatively small.
  The Hindbrain Structures
Hindbrain, also called rhombencephalon, region of
the developing vertebrate brain that is composed of the
medulla oblongata, the pons, and the cerebellum. The
hindbrain coordinates functions that are fundamental
to survival, including respiratory rhythm, motor
activity, sleep, and wakefulness. It is one of the three
major developmental divisions of the brain; the other two
are the midbrain and forebrain.

The Two Hemispheres and their Functions

If you would split the brain right down themiddle into
two symmetrical, or equal parts, you would have a right
and left hemisphere.
Although equal in size, these two sides are not the same,
and do not carry out the same functions.
The left side of the brain is responsible forcontrolling
the right side of the body. It also performs tasks that
have to do with logic, such as in science and
mathematics. On the other hand, the right hemisphere
coordinates the left side of the body and performs tasks
that have do with creativity and the arts. Both
hemispheres are connected by the corpus callosum and
serve the body in different ways.
 A critical age
Because the brain's healthy functioning is essential to living and determines quality of
life, doctors emphasize protecting the organ from injury and chemical abuse. There is
a consensus among researchers that brain cells regenerate throughout life, said Doug
Postels, a pediatric neurosurgeon in New Orleans, but that new growth happens very
slowly after a certain age. "The size of the brain doesn't increase much after 3," Postels
explains.
During the first three years of life, the brain experiences most of its growth and
develops most of its potential for learning. That is the time frame in which
synaptogenesis, or the creation of pathways for brain cells to communicate, occurs.
 The Real Truth About “Smart” and “Dumb”
No one thinks babies are stupid because they can’t talk. They just haven’t learned how
to yet. But some people will call a person dumb if they can’t solve math problems, or
spell a word right, or read fast—even though all these things are learned with practice. At
first, no one can read or solve equations. But with practice, they can learn to do it. And
the more a person learns, the easier it gets to learn new things—because their brain
“muscles” have gotten stronger! The students everyone thinks as the “smartest” may
not have been born any different from anyone else. But before they started school, they
may have started to practice reading.
They had already started to build up their “reading muscles.” Then, in the classroom,
everyone said, “That’s the smartest student in the class.” They don’t realize that any of
the other students could learn to do as well if they exercised and practiced reading as
much.
Remember, all those other students learned to speak at least one whole language
already—something that grownups find very hard to do. They just need to build up their
“reading muscles” too.
 What can you do to get smarter?
Just like a weightlifter or a basketball player, to be a brain athlete, you have to exercise
and practice. By practicing, you make your brain stronger. You also learn skills that let you
use your brain in a smarter way—just like a basketball player learns new moves. But many
people miss out on the chance to grow a stronger brain because they think they can’t do it,
or that it’s too hard. It does take work, just like becoming stronger physically or becoming
a better ball player does. Sometimes it even hurts! But when you feel yourself get better
and stronger; all the work is worth it!

ACTIVITIES - Write your answers on a

1 whole sheet of yellow paper.
NO NEED TO COPY, ANSWERS only.

A. Instructions: The region of the brain must be labeled. Your challenge is to write the
correct name for each.

The brain is the most complex part of the human body. This three-pound
organ is the seat of intelligence, interpreter of the senses, initiator of body
movement, and controller of behavior. Lying in its bony shell and washed by
protective fluid, the brain is the source of all the qualities that define our
humanity. The brain is the crown jewel of the human body.
B. Instructions: Identify what is being asked. Choose your answers in the word bank
given.

1. This part of the brain is a lobe found at the front of the brain and controls
thinking and creating.
2. This lobe helps us find our way and recognize objects and their uses, and
experiences sensations such as pain, pressure, touch, and temperature.
3. This part of the brain is a lobe found at the back of the head. It is here that
messages from the eyes are interpreted.
4. This lobe is found next to our ears. It helps us hear, plan our speech, and
remember.
5. This part of the brain coordinates our physical skills and balance.
6. This part of the brain connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord.
C. Instructions: What action would you expect each hemisphere be in charge off?
Enumerate at least 5 things each from the words given below.

LEFT HEMISPHERE RIGHT HEMISPHERE

Creativity Logic

Language Imagination

Intuition Reasoning

Science and math Insight

Holistic thought Written

Number skills Music awareness

Right hand control Left hand control

Right hemisphere is responsible for control of the left side of the body and is
the more artistic and creative side of the brain. While Left Hemisphere is
responsible for control of the right side of the body and is the more academic
and logical side of the brain.

FUN FACTS ABOUT YOUR "SIDES"

• The right side of your body is controlled by the left side of your brain.
• The left side of your body is controlled by the right side of your brain.
• Most people are left-brain dominate, even people who are left-handed writers.
• The left side of your brain controls speech, reading, writing, and math.
• The right-side deals with spatial relationships, abstractions, and your feelings.
D. Instructions: From the list given below, identify what hemisphere is being used.
Write left or right.
1. Drawing a picture of an imaginary castle
2. Doing your math homework
3. Daydreaming when you should be studying!
4. Talking to a friend
5. Listening to a parent or teacher
6. Reading a map
7. Appreciating music
8. Recognizing faces and tunes
9. Playing chess
10.Learning a new language
11.Learn new moves

E. Directions: Read and analyze each statement below and carefully choose the
letter that best describe the statement. Write only the LETTER of the correct
answer.
1. What is the basic functional units of the nervous system and are key to brain
function? They are comprised of a nerve cell body, axon and dendrite.
a. Lobes
b. Neurons
c. Cerebrum
d. Cerebellum
2. What lobe determine the personality and emotions?
a. Temporal
b. Frontal
c. Parietal
d. Occipital
3. Who tend to be more emotional swayed by feeling and seem to view things
and events through feelings?
a. Types of mind-mapping
b. Right-brained individuals
c. Left-brained individuals
d. Computerized
4. What can happen when brain processes malfunction?
a. Mental illness
b. Tremors
c. Symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease
d. All of the above
5. What do you call the doughnut shaped system of neural structures at the
border of the brainstem and cerebral hemisphere; associated with emotions?
a. Limbic system
b. Somatic nervous system
c. Peripheral nervous system
d. Endocrine system
6. What is underneath the limbic system, responsible for vital life functions?
a. Thalamus
b. Brain stem
c. Cerebellum
d. Hippocampus
7. How many hemispheres in your brain?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
8. What are the characteristics of a person who is left?
a. list maker. enjoys making master schedules. completes things in
order.usually good with math, spelling, directions.
b. not time conscious, recalls people’s faces, or gestures when speaking
c. spontaneous or impulsive
d. person uses intuitive processing
9. What is a chemical in the brain that is associated with pleasure?
a. GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid)
b. Serotonin
c. Dopamine
d. None of the above