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The Brain

Unit 6

+The BrainYour brain contributes to homeostasis

by receiving sensory input, integrating new and stored information, making decisions, and causing motor activities.

It controls intelligence, emotions, behavior, and memory.

The brain weighs 3 lbs and has more synapses than there are stars in the Milky Way Galaxy (1015)

+The BrainThe brain is the control center of the

entire nervous system.White matter in the brain are parts that

have more fat, which help speed up nerve impulses.

Gray matter does not have that fat, called myelin.

+The brain: CerebrumThe cerebrum makes up the majority of

your brain.It controls conscious activities,

intelligence, memory, language, movement and the senses.

+The brain: CerebellumThe cerebellum is located at the back

of your brain. It controls your balance, posture, and

coordination.

+The brain: Brain Stem

The brain stem is where the brain connects to the spinal cord.

It controls involuntary activities and relays messages to and from the brain.

+The brain: Brain Stem

The brain stem includes:The medulla oblongata controls breathing

and heart rate.The pons helps the brain communicate.The midbrain helps control both sight and

movement

+The brain: Diencephalon

The diencephalon is above the brain stem.It contains the

Hypothalamus: releases and controls hormones and glands

Thalamus: regulates sleep and alertness

+Other brain partsHippocampus:

controls memoryCorpus Callosum:

made of white matter, helps the brain communicate

Pituitary gland: main gland that makes hormones

+Diseases and Disorders Multiple sclerosis (MS): myelin around the

neurons is damaged, communication slows, body stops responding

Depression: lower levels of serotonin in the brain

Shingles: caused by the chicken pox virus, damages nerve ends and causes pain

+Diseases/Disorders

Parkinson’s Disease: cells can’t make dopamine, body stops responding, brain stops all processes

Alzheimer’s Disease: build up of protein in the brain, causing memory loss and loss of body functions

+Unit 6 Diseases and DisordersDisease Cause Symptoms Susceptibilit

yTreatment

Prognosis

Alzheimer’sDepressionADHDHydrocephalusAtaxiaConcussionAphasiaStrokeBrain TumorTIAReye’s SyndromeAging

+Brain Project: Creative WritingIndividual 1. Write a short story, poem, play, etc. incorporating what you

learned about the brain and the nervous system. It should be 700-1500 words in length.

2. Then, write a 4 essay paragraph explaining: The anatomy of the brain The physiology of the brain How the brain helps the body maintain homeostasis How your creative writing piece integrates knowledge of the

brain and nervous system into your story 3. Extra credit will be offered to those who choose to read

their creative writing portions of the assignment out loud to class.