The brain

• What is the brain made up of?

  Billions of interconnected nerve cells
• What functions does the brain perform?

  Holds thoughts, memories, and complex behaviors
• What are the two main components of the central nervous system?

  Brain and spinal cord
• What is the role of the cerebral cortex?

  Responsible for consciousness, intelligence, and memory
• What are the two halves of the cerebral cortex called?

  Hemispheres
• How do the left and right hemispheres of the brain differ in function?

  Left controls right side muscles, right controls left
• What is the function of the cerebellum?

  Controls balance and muscle coordination
• What does the hypothalamus regulate?

  Body temperature and signals to the pituitary gland
• What connects the brain to the spinal cord?

  Brain stem
• What does the medulla control?

  Unconscious activities like breathing
• How do scientists study the brain?

  By studying brain damage and stimulating regions
• What can studying a stroke victim reveal?

  Which brain region is responsible for hearing
• What is one method of electrically stimulating the brain?

  Using a tiny electrode to zap brain parts
• What happens when a specific brain region is stimulated?

  It may cause muscle contraction or vision changes
• What are the different types of brain scans?

  CT, PET, and MRI scans
• What is the primary use of CT scans?

  To see which areas of the brain are damaged
• How do PET and MRI scans differ from CT scans?

  They measure underlying brain activity
• What happens to brain activity during emotional stimuli in an MRI scan?

  Certain parts appear brighter with sadness
• Why is treating the brain difficult?

  Wide range of issues and fragile structure
• What makes brain surgery challenging?

  Brain is encased in the skull and fragile
• Why is it hard to fix brain issues with drugs?

  Complexity and lack of understanding of processes
• What types of problems can occur in the brain?

  Tumors, infections, trauma, and mental health issues
• What is the overall message of the video?

  Understanding the brain is complex and challenging