Download PARTS OF THE BRAIN

NERVOUS SYSTEM TRANSCRIPT
The LIMBIC SYSTEM is the area of the brain where memory, emotion, and smell
are linked. This area is what causes some experiences to have emotional overtones.
Crayola crayons are created today with the same scent because it reminds people of their
happy times in childhood. Why is the brain formed so that smell and emotions are tied
together? Because pheromones are tied to emotions and behavior, so they need the link.
The HYPOTHALAMUS is the most important region of the brain because it controls
all of the automatic functions like heart rate and breathing rate, glucose and
hormone levels, digestion, sweating. This area is part of the limbic system, so that’s
why a painful memory can increase blood pressure.
The THALAMUS is the area of the brain that sorts out all the sensory information. It
compares the input and determines what information is worth while to pay attention
to. Your body ignores most sensory information. Up until now, have you noticed the
sound of the air conditioner? It’s not important, so it goes unnoticed. This area also
compares information from the right and left eyes for stereoscopic vision, and the right
and left ear to determine direction of sound.
The PINEAL GLAND gets the sensory information from the eyes and determines your
biological clock. It detects the number of hours of light and dark, and sets the 24 hour
clock. When you get jet lag, it’s because the information it gets doesn’t match with
where you are. You can help yourself get over jet lag by being outdoors in the daylight
and being indoors at night, and the pineal gland with reset the clock.
The MIDBRAIN is in the brainstem and is in charge of visual and audio reflexes.
Shine a light in the eye, and the pupil constricts = visual. Loud noise (BANG!) causing a
startle is the audio reflex.
The MEDULLA is farther down the brainstem and is the vital center that controls
breathing and consciousness. Damage here causes coma.
Concussions cause a decrease in blood pressure and nausea; need an MRI
Boxers who are knocked out can recover, but repeated knock-outs can cause permanent
brain damage.
LANGUAGE AND SPEECH
Only on the left side of the brain is an area of the brain responsible for these functions.
Damage to this area can result in inability to speak or an inability to comprehend speech.
DRUG ABUSE
Many drugs can alter the mood or emotional state, but they also have other side effects.
Drug abuse quickly leads to dependence, which is when a person spends much time
thinking about the drug or arranging to get it and they take more of the drug than was
intended because they grow tolerant of it and then need more to get the same effect. They
get withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop. Drug use occurs when people want to
avoid dealing with their personal problems and unpleasant emotions.
ALCOHOL
This is metabolized (broken down) in the liver, where it disrupts the normal working of
the liver so that fats cannot be broken down, and they accumulate. This fat accumulation,
which is the first stage of liver deterioration, begins after only one night of heavy
drinking. If the drinking continues, scar tissue appears in the second stage. If the drinking
stops, the liver can still recover and become normal again. If not, the final stage, cirrhosis
of the liver occurs, and the liver cells die and harden and cannot be repaired. Alcohol
crosses the placenta in pregnant women and causes fetal alcohol syndrome, which is
characterized by mental retardation.
NICOTINE
This is from tobacco, and it quickly goes into the entire nervous system and is highly
addictive. It also increases the heart rate and blood pressure. Withdrawal symptoms
include headache, stomach pain, irritability, and insomnia. Lung cancer has passed breast
cancer as a cause of death. Nicotine also causes harm to the fetus. Interestingly, alcohol is
the most toxic drug available (more toxic than illegal drugs) and tobacco is the most
addictive, yet these two substances are legal.
COCAINE
A cocaine binge can go on for days, after which the individual suffers from a crash.
During the binge, the person has no desire for food or sleep. During the crash, the user
is tired, depressed, irritable, and has memory and concentration problems. It usually
winds up causing a loss of sex drive and impotence. Too much can cause seizures and
cause the heart to stop beating and the lungs to stop breathing. Babies born to addicts
suffer brain and developmental problems. If someone uses cocaine every day for 30 days,
there is a 100% chance of becoming addicted.
HEROIN
Side effects include nausea, vomiting, and a decrease in breathing and circulation, which
can cause death. The user becomes so tolerant to it, they have to take more and more of it
just to prevent the withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include sweating, shakes,
abdominal cramps, and an increase in heart rate. Infants born of addicts also suffer these
withdrawal symptoms.
MARIJUANA
This causes alteration in vision, judgment, and motor coordination. Causes
distortions of space and time. They lack motor coordination, including the ability to
speak in a way that is understandable. Heavy use causes hallucinations, anxiety,
depression, body image distortion, paranoia and loss of sense of reality. Long term use
can lead to brain impairment.
THE EYE
FACT OR FICTION?
Extensive computer usage can cause dry eyes.
Fact. Extensive computer use can lead to dry eyes. A person experiencing minor amount
of dryness will feel much worse after prolonged computer use. Studies have shown that
computer users tend to stare at the screen without blinking for a long time, which may
cause dry eyes. Dry eyes are one of the factors leading to Computer Vision Syndrome.
Thus frequent blinking is essential to lubricate the eyes and prevent them from drying.
Eating carrots will improve your vision.
Fallacy. It is true that carrots are rich in Vitamin A, which is an essential vitamin for our eyes.
However, we require only a small amount of this vitamin for good vision. A well- balanced
diet, with or without carrots, provides all the Vitamin A necessary for good vision.
Sitting close to a television set, movie or computer screen can harm your eyes.
Fallacy. Our eyes are not harmed by viewing these at a short distance. There is, however,
a greater likelihood of experiencing eye fatigue or a headache.
Reading in dim light is harmful to your eyes.
Fallacy. For centuries, all night time reading and sewing was done by candlelight or with
gas or kerosene lamps. Reading in dim light does not damage the eyes. However, good
lighting does make reading easier and prevents eye fatigue, especially for people who
wear bifocals.
To protect your eyesight throughout your life, use the 20-20-20 rule:
Every 20 minutes look up for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away.
Computers and eyestrain
Computers can put stress on the eyes causing headaches, blurred vision and eye fatigue.
The following steps can be taken to reduce eyestrain:
 Computer screen is at least 18 to 26 inches away from your eyes.
 Arrange the monitor so that the top line of on-screen text is at eye level. Placing a
monitor too high exposes more of the eye, causing it to dry out.
 Arrange lighting to minimize glare and reflections.
 Keep the computer screen clean and dust-free to minimize glare.
 Take frequent vision breaks to stretch your body and rest your eyes.
 Remember to blink often to keep your eyes moist.
 Place reference material alongside and as close to the computer screen as possible
to avoid frequent head and eye movements and focusing changes.
Television and your eyes
 Never watch TV in a completely darkened room. The best lightning conditions
consist of a back light and dim general light in the room.
 Place the set to avoid glare and reflections from lamps, windows and other bright sources.
 View from a distance at least five times the width of the television screen.
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Have the set at approximately eye level.
Wear lenses prescribed for vision correction.
Avoid staring at the screen. Briefly look away from the picture, around the room.
Avoid eye strain while reading
Keep the reading material at the best distance: place knuckles under your chin and book
under the elbow. Try to avoid reading while lying on your back, stomach, or side. Make
sure that there is good light on close work tasks and good room light as well. A light
positioned behind and over one's shoulder works well for reading. Also, looking up from
time to time from your reading can help keep your eyes relaxed.
OPTICAL ILLUSION
Stare at the central dot and move your head back and forth to see the wheels move!