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Lesson 9 Powers of the Mind

The document discusses the structure and functions of the brain, highlighting the roles of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. It explains how neurons transmit signals that control both involuntary and voluntary movements, and emphasizes the importance of protecting the brain from injury and substance abuse. Additionally, it notes the lasting effects of drugs on brain function and outlines characteristics associated with left and right brain dominance.

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Mary Ann Lazarte Besar
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4 views

Lesson 9 Powers of the Mind

The document discusses the structure and functions of the brain, highlighting the roles of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. It explains how neurons transmit signals that control both involuntary and voluntary movements, and emphasizes the importance of protecting the brain from injury and substance abuse. Additionally, it notes the lasting effects of drugs on brain function and outlines characteristics associated with left and right brain dominance.

Uploaded by

Mary Ann Lazarte Besar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson 9: Powers of the Mind

-The brain has three major parts -- the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the brain stem.
-The brain stem connects the spinal cord and the brain.
-It controls functions that keep people alive such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and food digestion.
-Those activities occur without any thought. You aren't telling yourself, "Inhale. Exhale. Inhale." You're just
breathing.
-Things are different in the cerebellum. That region controls voluntary movement.
-When you want to lift your fork, wave your hand, brush your hair or wink at a cutie, you form the thought and
then an area in the cerebellum translates your will into action. It happens so quickly
*Neurons, the basic functional units of the nervous system, are three-part units and are key to brain function.
*They are comprised of a nerve cell body, axon and dendrite, and they power the rapid-fire process that turns
thought into movement.
The thought moves as an electrical signal from the nerve cell down the axon to a dendrite, which looks like
branches at the end of nerve cells.
*The signal jumps from the end of the dendrite on one cell across the space, called a synapse, to the dendrite of
another cell with the help of chemicals called neurotransmitters.
*That signal continues jumping from cell to cell until it reaches the muscle you need to wave, wink or walk.
-The cerebrum is the largest of the three brain sections, accounts for about 85 percent of the brain's weight,
and has four lobes.
The lobes-frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital -- each have different functions.
They get their names from the sections of the skull that are next to them.
The parietal lobe helps people understand what they see and feel, while the frontal lobe determines personality
and emotions.
Vision functions are located in the occipital lobe, and hearing and word recognition abilities are in the temporal
lobe.
-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, 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.

Previous research produced information about the effects of stimulation deprivation, but modern ethical
guidelines prohibit such research on people because of the potentially harmful outcome.

Drug damage
Because so little recovery occurs to brains damaged after age 3, the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain
might be lasting.
Doctors know what inhalants, steroids, marijuana, cocaine and alcohol do to the brain when people use them.
Inhalants, such as glue, paint, gasoline and aerosols, destroy the outer lining of nerve cells and make them
unable to communicate with one another. In 1993, more than 60 young people died from sniffing inhalants.
Studies have found that marijuana use hinders memory, learning, judgment and reaction times, while steroids
cause aggression and violent mood swings.
Ecstasy use is rising among young people, Rusche said, and scientists have found that drug destroys neurons that make
serotonin, a chemical crucial in controlling sleep, violence, mood swings and sexual urges.

THE DOMINANT SIDE OF THE BRAIN

PERSONAL PREFERENCE
LEFT DOMINANCE RIGHT DOMINANCE
Classical music Popular music
Being on time A good times
Careful planning To visualize the outcome
To consider alternative To go with the first idea
Being thoughtful Being active
Monopoly, scrabble, or chess Athletics, art, or music

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