Download THE WORKING OF THE HUMAN BRAIN

THE WORKING OF
THE HUMAN BRAIN
Presenter: Dr Adelbert Scholtz

Counselling psychologist
 Retired pastor
 Part-time lecturer
QUESTIONS:
 Is
there anybody reading this who
doesn’t own a brain?
 Can those people who say that they
have brains prove that they really do
have brains?
BRAIN SCAN
The best way to prove that you have a brain
is to have a brain scan done
THE WONDER OF THE BRAIN

The most complex system in the whole universe
 There are more brain cells in your head than
stars in the Milky Way
THE NERVE SYSTEM
• Central nerve system:
the brain and spinal cord
• Peripheral nerve system:
31 pairs of nerve branches
from the spinal chord and
12 pairs of nerve branches
in the head
• The autonomous or
parasympathetic nerve
system: the involuntary
and unconscious part of
the nerve system
PROTECTION OF THE NERVE
SYSTEM
The nerve system
is very vulnerable
and therefore it is
protected by the
skull and the spine
THE BRAIN CELL
Parts of the brain cell:
 Cell body with
nucleus
 Dendrites
 Axon
NEURONS

Brain cells and
nerve cells are
called neurons
 They work on
the same
principle as
transistors
 They
communicate
chemically
BRIDGING THE SYNAPSE
 Neurons
communicate
through
neurotransmitters
(brain chemicals)
 The tiny gap between
the axon and the
dendrite is called a
synapse
ORGANS AND MUSCLES

Neurotransmitters
also bind with
receptors on organs
and muscles
 This makes them
function or contract
BRAIN CHEMICALS

Your brain is a very
intricate chemical
factory
 Many psychological
and medical
disorders are the
result of a
malfunctioning of
neurotransmitters
NEUROTRANSMITTERS
The most important:
 Acetylcholine
 Norepinephrine (also
known as noradrenalin)
 Dopamine
 GABA
 Glutamate
 Serotonin
 Endorphin
ACETYLCHOLINE

Responsible for the contraction
of certain muscles, amongst
others the muscles of the
digestive system
 Present in the autonomous
nerve system and in the neurons
in sense organs
 Plays an important role in
memory and helps to cause
dreams during REM sleep
NOREPINEPHRINE


Also known as noradrenaline
Task: to get the nerve system into a state
of readiness. Mainly present in the
symphatetic nerve system and causes
blood pressure to rise and heart beat to
accelerate
 Secreted by the adrenaline glands into the
blood stream, together with the related
adrenaline, which enables superhuman
feats in an emergency
 Plays a role in the forming of memories
and in concentration power
 Stress causes the adrenaline levels to get
depleted while exercise aids the
production
NOREPINEPHRINE

Amphetamines (including "tik") work
by stimulating the secretion of
norepinephrine and causing a feeling of
euphoria
 Increased production of norepinephrine
overwhelms the receptors on neurons; it
leads to a decreased production of
norepinephrine and that causes the
abuser to increase his doses in order to
experience the same effect
 Extremely unpleasant withdrawal
symptoms when discontinued
DOPAMINE

Related to
norepinephrine
 Blocks the receptors on
the axons of neurons and
inhibits them from firing
 Also connected with the
reward mechanisms in
the brain and is
responsible for pleasant
feelings
DOPAMINE

Drugs such as nicotine, cocaine,
opium, heroin and alcohol initially
increase the levels of dopamine
artificially
 Addiction occurs when the
production of dopamine decreases
and more of these drugs are
needed
 Withdrawal symptoms when
discontinued
GABA
 Gamma
aminobytiric acid
(GABA), an amino acid
that also serves as a
neurotransmitter
 Has an inhibiting action by
breaking the influence of
excitory neurotransmitters
that may lead to anxiety
attacks
GABA
 GABA deficiency
often leads to anxiety
disorders
 If GABA is absent in
certain brain centres
epilepsy may result
GLUTAMATE
 An
excitory
neurotransmitter,
related to GABA
 The most plentiful
neurotransmitter in the
central nerve system
(+50%)
 Plays an important role
in memory
SEROTONIN

Plays an important role regarding
emotions, moods and perception
 Also involved in sleep, blood
pressure, body temperature and
the secretion of hormones
 Occurs throughout the body –
especially in digestive system; only
about 2% of the total amount in
the body is present in the brain
 Produced from the amino acid Ltryptophane
SEROTONIN

A deficiency often leads to depression,
little control over anger outbursts,
obsessive-compulsive disorders, eating
disorders and even suicide
 A deficiency may also cause a craving of
carbohydrates and sleeping disorders
 Hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD,
bind with receptors for serotonin;
because LSD inhibits the production of
serotonin, dependency rapidly follows
ENDORPHIN

Name is a contraction of
"endogenous morphine"
 Chemically related to pain killers
such as morphine, opium, heroin
etc
 The body's own natural pain killer
 Also a neurotransmitter connected
with feelings of pleasure and it
slows down the heart beat,
breathing and digestion
ENDORPHIN

Drugs such as opium,
morphine or heroin bind with
the receptors for endorphin
and that stops the production
of endorphin
 That leads to a dependency
on these drugs
 Withdrawal symptoms when
discontinued
POISONING

Many toxic substances
influence the autonomous or
central nerve systems and cause
paralysis, smothering or pain
 Some of these substances
interfere with the effect of
neurotransmitters – with the
result that messages to and
from the brain get blocked
CAUSES OF DEPRESSION
 Inherited
tendency
 Overdose of stress
due to unpleasant or
unmanageable
situations
 Serious losses
DEPRESSION AND
NEUROTRANSMITTERS
 Connection
between
depression and deficiency of
serotonin, dopamine,
norepinephrine and estrogen
 Deficiency may cause
depression
 Depression may cause
deficiency
CONCLUSION

Depression, bi-polar disorder,
anxiety disorders and PTSD are
real illnesses
 They are connected with certain
malfunctioning
neurotransmitters
 The WHO regards these
disorders as medical conditions,
which need treatment
(psychotherapy, medication and
nutritional supplements)
ANTIDEPRESSANTS
Medication for depression –
O Stimulate the production of
serotonin, dopamine or
noradrenalin; or
O Increase the sensitivity of
receptors on receiving
neuron's dendrites; or
O Inhibit the neutralisation of
neurotransmitters by certain
enzymes.
ANTIDEPRESSANTS

Not always effective
 Take a long time before they
work (if they do)
 Unpleasant side-effects
(nausea, head-aches,
dizziness, high blood
pressure, decrease in libido,
digestive problems or
sleeping problems, &tc)
 Don’t solve any problems
A HEALTHY DIET
Production of neurotransmitters may be
enhanced by a healthy diet containing –
 Fresh fruit and vegetables
 Fish
 Lots of fibre
 Soya products
 Enough water
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

Omega-3 fatty acids / Cod
liver oil
 Vitamin B complex &
Vitamin C
 Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc
 5-HTP (to produce Serotonin)
 GABA (for anxiety)
EXERCISE
Exercise –
 Releases endorphins and
norepinephrine
 Strengthens the heart
 Removes toxins from
body
 Keeps you healthy
(mentally and physically)
A HEALTHY LIFE-STYLE
 Get
enough sleep
 Avoid stress
 Get social support
 Nurture your
relationships
STUFF TO AVOID
If you are depressed or
anxious, avoid –
 Alcohol or other drugs
 Sleeping pills
 Food fried in fat or oil
 Sugar
 Caffeine
They mess with your
neurotransmitters
SPIRITUAL LIFE
 Nurture
your
relationship with God
 Spend some time in
prayer, meditation
and Bible study
 Become a
compassionate
Samaritan