The Brain

Just the Facts

 The brain and spinal cord make up the
Central Nervous System
 Average human brain weighs 3 pounds
 By age 6, human brain is full size
 40% = gray matter 60% = white matter
 Brain uses 20% of the oxygen supply
 Lack of oxygen for 3 to 5 minutes causes
brain cells to die

[Link]
 Neurons
 Born with about 100 billion
neurons
 Send and receive electro-
chemical signals to and from
the brain and nervous system
 Cannot regrow after being
damaged, unless in
hippocampus
[Link]
 Neurons
Dendrite:
 Brings information to the
cell
 Many dendrites branch off
from cell body
 No myelin insulation
[Link]
 Neurons
Axon:
 Takes information away
from the cell
 Usually only one
 Myelin insulation
[Link]
 Neurons
Myelin
Sheath
 Coating on axon
 Protects neuron
 Increases the electrical
[Link]
transmission speeds along
the axon
 More myelin the better
 Three Main Sections
 Hindbrain

QuickTime™ and a
QuickTime™
TIFF (Uncompressed)
TIFF
and a
decompressor
 Midbrain
are(Uncompressed) decompressor
needed to see this picture.
are needed to see this picture.

 Forebrain

Learning and Memory: The Brain in Action p.34 Copyright 1999

 Hindbrain
controls involuntary systems

 controls heart rate and

breathing

 regulates flow of
information

 controls dreaming and

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 35 copyright 1999
waking
 Hindbrain
Cerebellum
Controls movement and
balance
Stores lots of neurons
Helps form memories
Holds/stores procedural
memories such as
 “how to”
 “ABC’s, basic facts”

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 35 copyright 1999

 Midbrain

QuickTime™ and a
QuickTime™
TIFF (Uncompressed) and a
decompressor
TIFF
are(Uncompressed) decompressor
needed to see this picture.
are needed to see this picture.

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p.34 Copyright 1999

 Small area that controls eye movement and

opening and closing of the pupils
 The Forebrain
controls parts essential to memory and learning

 Thalamus
 Size of a walnut
 Information sorter like
the post office
 Keeps brain updated
like a software update
on a computer

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

 Hypothalamus

Sends information from the

body to the brain
Keeps the body in balance
Maintains body temperature
Controls appetite
Works with the pituitary
gland

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

 Pituitary Gland
Pea-sized
At the base of the brain
Controls growth and
development
Regulates hormones

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

 Pineal Gland
Regulates flow of Melatonin,
the chemical that helps
you to fall asleep

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

 Hippocampus
Seahorse shaped
Brain’s file cabinet
Puts information in correct
spot for easy retrieval
Sends information to long
term memory

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

 Amygdala
Almond shaped
Controls emotional
memory
Its response can change
how you react to a
situation

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

 Cerebrum
Top brain layer
Covered by gray matter

Left side: looks at parts

time oriented
sequential

Right side: looks at wholes

spatial
creative

Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999

A Day in Life of a Brain:

[Link]
 Stress and Your Brain
 Stress chemicals block the synapses so electrical impulses cannot get
through.
 High stress levels may cause brain damage.
 Coritsol is a very destructive stress chemical.

 FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS WILL ALWAYS TAKE PRIORITY OVER

EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR BRAINS.
 Memory Lanes
 Memory lanes contain the files in which
a memory is stored.
 Learning happens when neurons
communicate with each other.
 How learning works
Information enters through brain stem
Goes to thalamus - sorter
Travels to hippocampus - organizer
Goes to STM
If connection made to other memories
than it goes to working memory
Through more connections over time
information travels to LTM