The human being resembles a machine whose complex operation is controlled by the Central Nervous System (CNS), which would be equivalent to the internal processor of a computer. Within the CNS, the brain is one of its parts and is responsible for the control of the most complex brain functions and the management and coordination with other systems.
In this Psychology-Online article we will see how the human brain works. We will explain in more detail what the brain is and what system it is included in, we will describe its anatomy and detail its parts with their respective functions. Finally, we will share ten important tips to keep your brain healthy and active.
What is the brain and what system does it belong to?
The brain is the largest part of the brain and is constituted as the control center of the functioning of the human being. But what is the brain? The brain is an organ composed of more than a billion neurons. The cerebral cortex controls thinking, learning, problem solving, emotions, memory, speech, reading, writing and voluntary movements.
The cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem are part of the brain, located in the skull which, together with the spinal cord, make up the . The brain belongs to the nervous system.
Anatomy of the human brain: areas
He human brain It is made up of two parts: cerebral cortex and diencephalon.
The cerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex is a rough area divided by grooves, one of which divides the brain into two hemispheres, the right and the left. In these two hemispheres, there are several regions called lobes that fulfill very specific functions. Specifically, there are four lobes whose names are due to the bone with which they contact: frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and temporal lobe. In the next section we will explain its functions in detail.
The diencephalon
It is housedor at the base of the skull and is composed of the thalamus, hypothalamus and pituitary gland
- Thalamus: sensory and motor information processing center and intervenes in the level of attention and alertness. The thalamus sends sensations to the cerebral cortex to make them conscious
- Hypothalamus and pituitary: they are part of the endocrine system and regulate many functions of our body through the production of hormones and other mechanisms related to emotions (sweating, pupil dilation, tearing, heart rate), the regulation of body temperature, appetite and satiety, sleep and wakefulness and sexual appetite. Here you will find more information about the pituitary gland, also called the pituitary gland.
Parts of the brain and their functions
In this section we will specify the functions that each of the four are responsible for. lobes of the cerebral cortex:
- frontal lobe: It is located in the anterior part of the cerebral cortex and is responsible for managing voluntary motor behavior. It is a highly developed area in the human being that, simultaneously, houses the most complex cognitive functions such as reasoning, problem solving, language articulation and emotional control.
- parietal lobe: Also called somatosensory cortex, we find it in the middle and lateral posterior part of the brain and is responsible for processing sensations and perceptions, touch, pressure, temperature and pain. It is responsible for the integration of interoceptive information (from inside our body: muscles, joints and tendons) with exterioceptive information (information from the outside).
- Occipital lobe: It is the smallest region and is located in the posterior and lower part of the cerebral cortex, below the parietal lobe. Its most notable functions are image processing, vision, spatial recognition, and motion and color discrimination.
- Temporal lobe: It is located in front of the occipital lobe on the inside, between the temples. This brain area is responsible for smell, hearing, balance and coordination. It is related to the , so it plays an important role in the experience of (joy, fear, anger and sadness).
How the human brain works
The functional unit of the nervous system is the neuron. Its function is to receive messages from other cells, decide whether or not to send the information and do so efficiently. exist sensory neuronswhich receive information from the sensory systems and carry it to the CNS; motor neuronswhich transmit motor activation information from the brain to the muscles and calls interneurons, which transmit information locally, within the CNS. In the following article you will find more information about the .
They are made up of four parts: the body, the axon, the dendrites and the synapses. The dendrites of the neuron receive that of another neuron and activate the neuron, the information is processed and the final information is sent through the output circuit, the axon. This will be responsible for activating, through neurotransmitter substances, the dendrites of other neurons. And so it happens successively. The synapse will be the moment of chemical excitation that unites two neurons.
The synapse produced between two neurons leaves them sensitive, for a period of hours or days, to easier activation if they are stimulated again. It will be necessary to repeatedly activate the different networks between neurons to form complex neural patterns that make up thoughts, emotions and perceptions. This is why, although the anatomical architecture of the brain is common to the entire species, neuronal networks will vary from one person to another depending on the particular stimulation that each of us makes of the different synaptic associations. This is called brain plasticity, a function that characterizes the human brain.
Keys to proper brain functioning
In reality, to maintain a healthy brain we only need to maintain Healthy habits. These habits are necessary to maintain our general health (physical, psychological and emotional). If we take into account that the brain is the center from which a large part of human functions and systems are controlled, it is logical to understand that to keep the brain healthy we must incorporate healthy habits into our lives.
Specifically, we can talk about 10 essential habits or routines to keep our brain young and healthy:
- Do activities that keep us mentally active
- Perform moderate physical exercise
- Maintain healthy social relationships
- Follow a healthy diet
- Reduce or eliminate the use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs
- Sleep between 6 or 8 hours with a restful sleep
- Control blood pressure (hypertension is a risk factor for brain problems)
- Prevent risk situations that may increase the chances of accidents and blows to the head
- Avoid diabetes and hypoglycemia (they are risk factors for brain problems)
- Maintain a life and personal care
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Dahl, W.J., & Barad, A. (2018). Diet and Brain Health. EDIS2018(2).
- Pasqual Maragall Foundation. 8 tips to maintain a healthy brain. Recovered from: https://blog.fpmaragall.org/cerebro-sano
- Geffner, D. (2014). The brain organization and function.