the brain

• Left or right brain dominant questions


  • Describe the planets in the solar system vs write a story about an ant that saves the world
  • Most likely to get lost vs most likely to invent a time machine
  • Dress according to planned outfit vs whatever smells okay
  • Finish one homework project then move to the next vs do a little bit on one until bored then move to the next
  • Be the director vs be the lead actor
  • Take time to plan a free holiday vs leave now
  • That's ridiculous vs I think I really might be psychic
  • Review choices and see a solid right answer vs think too much and get confused
  • Control emotions vs cry a little
  • 10. Sort M&Ms by colour and eat in order vs sneak them in class and eat when bored
• Left brain dominant


  • Work with a daily task list
  • Like to be the critic in class
  • Feel naturally good at math or science
  • Rational and logical
  • Research is precise and well-documented
  • Set goals for themselves
  • Can interpret information well
  • Room is tidy
  • Can answer questions spontaneously
  • Follow directions and read directions
  • Can listen to long lectures without losing patience
  • Don't let feelings get in the way
  • Words are precise
• Right brain dominant


  • Like to use visual aids
  • Quiet in study groups but come up with brilliant ideas
  • Need to read things twice but then have got it
  • Things read make more sense after a day or so
  • Good with people
  • Don't fall for practical jokes as easily
  • Seem dreamy but really deep in thought
  • Like to write fiction, draw, or play music
  • Might be athletic
  • Take time to ponder and think there are two sides to every story
  • May lose track of time
  • Spontaneous
  • Fun and witty
  • May find it hard to follow verbal directions
• Middle brain dominant


  • Open minded but not gullible
  • Trouble making decisions sometimes, logical brain plays tug-of-war with gut instinct
  • Enjoy the arts, but could also do well in science and math
  • Appreciate the beauty of all things in life, well-rounded
  • Would do well on The Apprentice, strong mix of gut instinct and appreciation for numbers
  • Would have a strong career in business, but may be more interested in studying arts and sciences in college
  • Would be wise to read over the characteristics of left and right brain students and consider whether they fall into the traps of either type
• Extreme right brain dominant students can get too bogged down in thought, while extreme left brain students can be rigid in their views
• Cerebral cortex


  • Handles a lot of "higher" brain functions, such as conscious thought and interacting with world around us
  • Divided into a number of areas with different functions, most important being the 4 lobes

  
• The 4 lobes


  • Frontal lobe
  • Temporal lobe
  • Occipital lobe
  • Parietal lobe

  
• Frontal lobe


  • Handles most of our conscious planning, especially an important part of it called pre-frontal cortex
  • Has a big role to play in handling aggression

  
• Temporal lobe


  Handles most of our memory functions

  
• Occipital lobe


  Processes sight and our sense of our environment
• Parietal lobe


  Specialises in touch and directing bodily movements
• Limbic system


  Beneath cortex, a set of brain structures that handle emotion and motivation
• Thalamus


  Sometimes called "the brain's switchboard", since it handles all messages coming in from brain and routes them to where they need to go
• Amygdala


  • The brain's "emotion center", handles emotional responses like anger and fear
  • If working properly, we should only fear things that are dangerous
  • Raine et al. (1997) noticed that amygdala in murderers functioned erratically, suggesting they might not have felt fear or aggression at appropriate times
• Hypothalamus


  • Regulates hunger, thirst, sexual arousal and sleep
  • Part of endocrine system, regulates hormone production in body
• Hippocampus


  • Shaped like a sea horse, important for forming new memories
  • Damage destroys ability to form new long term memories
  • Example of H.M. (Henry Molaison) who had hippocampus removed
• Olfactory bulb


  Processes smell, linked to limbic system which explains how smells can trigger emotions

  
• Lateralisation of function


  • Brain is made up of 2 similar-looking halves called hemispheres
  • Linked by corpus callosum which allows communication between hemispheres
  • Left and right hemispheres specialise in different functions

  
• Activities demonstrating left hemisphere functions

  • Reading a book aloud
  • Engaging in a debate/structured argument
  • Solving crossword puzzles
  • Completing math problems
  • Following complex instructions
  • Analyzing data and making data-driven decisions
  • Conducting scientific experiments and analyzing results
  • Writing a research paper/essay with a clear structured argument
• Activities demonstrating right hemisphere functions

  • Creating or interpreting maps/blueprints
  • Engaging in artistic activities like painting/drawing
  • Playing 3D puzzle games/constructing 3D models
  • Composing music/improvising on a musical instrument
  • Writing poetry/engaging in creative writing
  • Brainstorming ideas for new inventions/innovative projects
  • Recognizing and interpreting facial expressions to understand emotions
  • Engaging in empathy exercises to understand others' feelings
• • Left hemisphere controls right side of body, right hemisphere controls left side
  • Brain's language center is in left hemisphere
  • Left hemisphere specialises in reasoning and numbers
  • Right hemisphere specialises in spatial awareness, musical ability and artistic creativity

  
• Damage to left hemisphere results in language difficulties like losing ability to speak or write
• Damage to right hemisphere can affect spatial awareness and creativity
• The midbrain contains the periaqueductal grey matter (PAG) which links the amygdala and hypothalamus with the prefrontal cortex, and has a role in coordinating and integrating behavioural responses to perceived internal and external stressors such as pain and threat

  
• Lesions in the PAG in rats show an increase in aggression when confronted with potential threat
• Amygdala


  • Centre for emotions, emotional behaviour and motivation
  • Integrates internal and external stimuli to give instinctive feelings or reactions to the environment, including aggression
  • Connected to the prefrontal cortex, which may lead to expression of aggression
• Hypothalamus


  Regulates hormones, including testosterone which is linked to aggressive behaviour in males
• Prefrontal cortex


  • Influential in governing social interaction and regulation of behaviour
  • Ability to delay gratification of an impulse is associated with this area
  • Damage often leads to problems with anger management, irritability and impulse control