An interactive infographic by Open Colleges
Cerebral Cortex:
1. The frontal lobes are basically the brain's main command center, and controls personality, memory, problem solving, language, and many other complex functions. This part of the brain deals with a person's behavior and critical thinking skills.
2. Evidence has shown that selective learning is most helpful, because the brain slows down significantly when it switches from task to task. Furthermore, the prefrontal cortex has to be trained in the same thing several times in order for it to become proficient in doing this; therefore, it is most helpful to learn one topic at once instead of switching topics.
3. The frontal lobe is the last part of the brain to develop and also the first part to deteriorate. In order to prevent it from deteriorating, people can try to stop themselves from zoning out, engage themselves with their environment, and transform the information they receive.
4. The neo cortex controls spatial awareness, the senses, and motor skills. Because of its control, we are allowed to navigate our bodies and the world, and the neocortex is also stimulated by one's environment.
5. The pre frontal cortex controls one's personality and how she/he deals with certain social situations and also allows people to have the determination to do things, because the pre frontal cortex connects goals with action. This part of the brain is also associated with memory and will.
6. The pre frontal cortex does not deal well with multitasking because it loses speed significantly when someone switches from task to task; however, the pre frontal cortex works very well with deliberate practice and discipline to master a certain task.
7. Broca's Area is the part of the brain associated with speech and language development; this area of the brain can receive a "workout" by learning a second language, even if the second language is learned as an adult.
8. The somatosensory cortex is responsible for thinking: "Is it hot in here or is it just me?" because it controls sense of temperature, amongst other things.
9. The visual cortex helps people differentiate colors and recognize complex things such as faces; we are able to distinguish between different things.
10. One interesting fact about the occipital lobe is that the differentiation between the real and imaginary is less in children, so that might explain the fantasies that they create. Another interesting fact is that one can imagine he/she actually doing something, and if imagined and practiced a lot, performance of that task could improve in real life. Another interesting fact is that because short and long term memories are stored here, the occipital lobe allows to know our place in time.
11. If my temporal lobes were damaged, I would be unable to have long term memories, because the temporal lobes help retain visual memories. I would also be unable to take tests or things that required even short term memory, because new information is stored here.
12. My "fast brain" is basically when someone can control the information they have much easier than someone who does not have a fast brain, and therefore the person can seem more intelligent; the fast brain helps someone process information quicker.
Neurons:
1. One thing I could do to influence my synapses and have a positive effect on my life and health would be to exercise. Another thing would be to eat a healthy diet, especially one high in omega fatty acids. Another thing would be to socialize with other people outside.
2. Dendrites control the basics of learning, and mutli-sensory or multi-modal learning has been shown to benefit the dendrites and increase proficiency in a certain task. In order to study a subject efficiently, one should study from real experiences and use personal, humorous, or spatial information to remember a topic.
3. "Big picture thinking" help people to fully comprehend a subject because it allows the learner to put into context what they have learned. Mnemonics are also used to recall information, because it allows people to recall information in a humorous or spatial way instead of just memorizing abstract facts.
4. A neurotransmitter that I feel is very important is oxytocin because it plays a large role in both positive and negative moments. Oxytocin's nickname is the "love hormone," and helps people to connect and make lasting relationships. However, oxytocin also plays a role in negative social cues. For example, in a bad relationship, oxytocin's levels will still be high so the person will still seek affection and care from other people.
Limbic System:
1. The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres of the brain and controls cognitive, motor, and sensory functions. The corpus callosum is also involved in language development and reading, especially since we use our eyes to read.
2. Studies have shown that studying music can strengthen the connection between the two hemispheres of the brain through the corpus callosum, but the person must practice frequently for there to be long term benefits.
3. The thalamus is important because it is responsible for motor control, sensory information, and consciousness. The thalamus relays information from the senses and sends it to the cortex for interpretation.
Relate and Review:
- Through this interactive activity, I have learned about the anatomy and functions of the major parts of the brain. The pre frontal cortex controls behavior and how someone deals with social situations; I have always heard that teenagers are more vulnerable because their pre frontal cortex is still developing, so I feel like teenagers have to work harder to have more self-control. The visual cortex helps us recognize and differentiate between different faces, so it helps us distinguish between things in our life. The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres of the brain and is involved in language development and reading. However, I did not know that studying music could benefit the corpus callosum in the long-term; I will probably aim to practice more after learning this piece of information, because only practicing frequently will yield long-term benefits. The temporal lobes store and take care of both short-term and long-term memory; newly learned information is also stored here. The thalamus is responsible for motor control, sensory information, and consciousness, and is nicknamed the "librarian" of the brain because it receives raw sensory input and relays this information to the cortex.
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