Brain Learning Log

What?

In Educational Psychology this week I learned some interesting things about the brain. Taking the online quiz testing my knowledge about the brain led me to realize that I have several misconceptions about the brain. It was interesting to me to know that we are using 100% of our brain. Another interesting thing about the brain is that the brain only uses as much energy as a refrigerator light. Dr. Cox’s explanation of this seemed to make sense, that if it used more energy, our heads would overheat.

I learned the basic functions of each section of the brain. The frontal lobe, located right under the forehead, controls reasoning, judgment, motor function, planning, parts of speech, movement and emotion. The frontal lobe is extremely vulnerable to injury due to its location. The temporal lobe is located under on the sides of head by the temples and helps with speech, memory, hearing, memory formation and emotional responses. The occipital lobe is the vision perception center and is located most posterior back of head. The parietal lobe is located at the back and top of head and integrates sensory and spatial information along with hand-eye coordination. The hippocampus is involved in emotion and is the birthplace of memory. It is located deep within the temporal lobe near the amygdala. The Amygdala is almond shaped and is involved in arousal, fear, emotion, and hormone secretions. The brain stem is vital and should not be damaged. It controls motor movement, regulates heart, stomach, breathing and other reflexes. It is located deep in the brain leading to the spinal column. The reticular activating system is the center of arousal and motivation. The cerebellum controls voluntary motor movement, balance, equilibrium, and muscle tone. It is located at the base of the skull. The Brochas area is for language production and is located in the front of the left lobe. The Wernicke’s Area is similar to the Brochas area and it is responsible for language comprehension. Finally, the corpus collosum is deep within the brain and it is the gateway between the left and right halves of the brain.

Neurons are nerve cells that reside in the brain and in other parts of the nervous system. The neurons sent information to other cells. The neuron is made up of dendrites which receive information. Dendrites are branch like structures that are like fingers on a hand. The cell body can be thought of as the hand, and the axomis an arm-like structure that transmits information to other neurons. The axom eventually becomes covered in a myelin sheath of fatty insulation. Myelination enables faster transmission of messages. Messages are transmitted over the synapse. This is gap between two neurons that allows message transmission. Synapses begin to form before a child is born and continue to form throughout life. Some synaptogenesis is driven by genetics. Early in life children have more synapse than adults but over time, synaptic pruning occurs which means that the unused connections fade away. According to the text, learning involves forming new synapses and strengthening old ones. Dr. Cox stated that the brain is a garden and it needs pathways to function.

So What?

The brain is a complex organ that controls all the functions of our bodies. Understanding the basic regions of the brain, their functions, and the general development of the brain will help me to tailor learning to the needs of my future students. With this basic understanding that I have I will be able to help students who might have brain injuries or tumors in the brain. Understanding which sections of the brain may be affected will help me tailor specific help for these students. In addition, I realize now that learning involves important processes in the brain, many parts of the brain work together to accomplish tasks, and that the brain continues to change and adapt throughout life.

Now What?

Now that I am aware of some of the functions of the brain and the developmental time frame of the parts of the brain, I will better understand the actions of others around me especially my own children as well as the students I will teach. I better understand that the brain develops from back to front and that the frontal lobe which controls judgment, planning and problem solving develops last. I can continue to learn and improve my own life because my brain is capable of what ever I set my mind to do. I will instill the idea that my students can learn and be whatever they want because their brains are capable as well.