Brain Power

Counseling and Mental Health

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Did You Know…
> There over a billion nerve cells
in the human body.
> Nerves can carry signals at 100
meters per second.
> If all your neurons were lined
up, they would form a 600 mile
long line.
> Neurons are the largest cell in
the body; they do not undergo
the process of mitosis.

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Nervous System
The nervous system controls:
> Emotions
> Movements
> Thinking
> Behavior

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Nervous System
Is divided into 2 parts:
> Central Nervous System (CNS)
• Brain and spinal cord
> Peripheral Nervous System
(PNS)
• Smaller branches of the nerves
• Skull and membranes protect
the brain
• Vertebrae and membranes
protect the spinal cord

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Neurons
Messages travel through these
cells to and from the brain.
> Cell Body: contains the
nucleus and produces energy
> Dendrites: receives impulses
from other neurons
> Axon: carries impulses away
from the body toward the
dendrites of the next neuron

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Neurons
> Myelin sheath: axons and
speeds transmissions of
impulses
> Synapse: is the space between
the nerve cells
> Neurotransmitters: chemicals
released by the neurons
Examples-
• Dopamine: motivation/positive
stress
• Glutamate: learning/memory
Serotonin: regulates sleep,
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The Brain
Did You Know… Did You Know…

> The brain weighs about 3 > The brain is made up of 75%
pounds. water.
> The right side of the brain > There are no pain receptors in
controls the left side of the the brain, therefore it can not
body and the left side controls feel pain.
the right side of the body. > The human brain is the fattest
organ in the body. It is about
60% fat.

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Brain Anatomy
The human brain is comprised of
3 parts:
> Hindbrain
> Midbrain
> Forebrain

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Brain Anatomy - Hindbrain
The Hindbrain is located at base
of skull and consists of:

> Cerebellum: posture, balance,

voluntary movement
> Medulla: breathing, heart rate,
reflexes
> Pons: bridge between the spinal
cord and the brain

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Brain Anatomy - Midbrain
The Midbrain integrates sensory
information. Examples:
> Handles all sensory information
that passes between the spinal
cord and the forebrain.
> It is also involved in body
movement in relation to
auditory and visual signals.
> Located just above the hind
brain.

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Brain Anatomy - Forebrain
The Forebrain contains-
> Thalamus: relay station for all
sensory information except
smell.
> Hypothalamus: controls hunger,
thirst, sexual behavior
> Hippocampus: important in
forming memories
> Amygdala: involved in memory
and emotions

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Brain Anatomy - Forebrain
> Cerebrum: the largest and most
developed part of brain.
• Responsible for intelligence,
personality, thinking The
cerebral cortex is a gray tissue
that covers the cerebrum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intraparietal_sulcus

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Brain Anatomy - Forebrain
The cerebral is divided into two
hemispheres which contain the…
> Occipital lobe: for vision
> Parietal lobe: handles
information from the senses
> Temporal lobe: hearing,
memory, emotion, speaking
> Frontal lobe: organization,
planning, creative thinking

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Famous Head Injury Case: Phineas Gage
> People described him as a nice > He survived, but his personality
man. changed. He was angry and
> In 1848 he worked for the belligerent.
railroad and an explosion > This was the first brain injury
occurred that propelled a metal case to suggest a link between
rod through his cheek and into brain trauma and personality
his skull. change.

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References and Resources
Images
> Nervous System. Digital image. Life in Spite of MS. N.p., n.d.Web. 21 Oct. 2012.
http://www.life-in- spite-of-ms.com/multiplesclerosispictures.html
> "Intraparietal Sulcus." Wikipedia.org. N.p., n.d.Web. 21 Oct. 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intraparietal_sulcus
> "Various Images." Microsoft Office on Line. N.p., n.d.Web. 21 Oct. 2012.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-
us/images/??Origin=EC790014051033&CTT=6&ver=12&app=powerpnt.exe
Textbooks
> Kasschau, R.A. (2002) Understanding Psychology. NewYork: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill School Pub. Co.
Websites
> KidsHealth
#1 most-trusted source for physician-reviewed information and advice on children's health and parenting issues.
For parents, kids, teens www.kidshealth.org
> Brain Facts
Learn the basics of how the brain’s 100 billion nerve cells are born, grow, connect, and function. Neuroanatomy;
Cell Communication; Brain Development. www.brainfacts.org
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