Introduction to the BRAIN

1. Introduction to the BRAIN (And neurons)

2. Brain Brain Dump • On the paper around the room, write what you know about the Brain, the Nervous System, a Neuron, and/or the Endocrine System. • Everyone must write SOMETHING.

3. Preassessment • Thumbs up for TRUE • Thumbs down for FALSE

4. 1. • Plasticity refers to the brain tissues ability to take on new roles when a part of the brain has been damaged.

5. TRUE

6. 2. • If Sammy (age 55) damages the same part of the brain as a Jenny (age 12), Sammy’s brain is more likely to recover faster and take on more roles then Jenny’s brain

7. FALSE

8. 3. • The human brain produces its own natural opiates that elevate mood and ease pain.

9. TRUE

10. 4. • We ordinarily use only 10% percent of our brain.

11. FALSE

12. 5. • Some people can write but are unable to read.

13. TRUE

14. 6. • Removal of an entire brain hemisphere would necessarily result in a person’s death.

15. FALSE

16. 7. • When looking at human brains, researchers cannot tell the difference between people from different racial backgrounds. (European, American, Asian, African, etc.)

17. TRUE

18. 8. • The central nervous system is a major division of the nervous system and consists of the brain and the spinal cord.

19. TRUE

20. 9. • The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland which secretes hormones that do not affect anything but the sex glands

21. FALSE

22. 10. • The fight or flight response refers to physiological changes such as increased heart rate, accelerated breathing, dry mouth, and perspiration that occur in response to perceived threats or danger.

23. TRUE

24. 11. • The parasympathetic nervous system is a branch of the autonomic nervous system that produces rapid physical arousal in response to perceived emergencies or threats.

25. FALSE

26. 12. • The all or none principle states that a neural message either fires or it doesn’t.

27. TRUE

28. 13. • If you hook an EEG to a blob of jell-o, you will get EEG wave pattern that is almost identical to a human

29. TRUE

30. 14. • When looking at human brains, researches cannot tell the difference between a male and female brain.

31. FALSE

32. 15. • Electrically stimulating a cat’s brain at a certain point can cause the animal to cower in terror in the presence of a small mouse.

33. TRUE

34. We are going to start small and go big

35. Neurons: The Building Blocks of the Nervous System

36. What IS a Neuron? • A small thing in the nervous system that communicates. • Kind of like a cell phone, or maybe even us. • A neuron RECIEVES information, and then GIVES information to the next neuron.

37. The concept of a neuron is simple: It receives information, carries information, and sends information • However, there are fancy words scientists use to label each part of the neuron.

38. This is what a neuron looks like

39. Here’s a different angle. 

40. Let’s start with the beginning… • Information comes to a neuron through the DENDRITES • They’re branchy fibers that receive information

41. There they are.

42. Soma (Cell Body) • LIFE GIVING FORCE! • It’s the reason the neuron is alive • Information does not pass through the soma, but without it, the neuron would die. Oh no!

43. Filled with the juice of life.

44. Axon • Axons carry the message! • It’s the long, skinny part.

45. See?

46. Myelin Sheath • Fatty substance insulating the axon • SPEEDS UP the communication • FAST FASTFAST

48. Axon Terminal • SENDS the information away to the new neuron • Contains neurotransmitters

50. STAND UP! • We can become a neuron.