the brain

• the brain

  • controls complex behaviour
  • is made up of billions of interconnected neurones
  • and has different regions which carry out different functions
• cerebral cortex is responsible for consciousness, intelligence, memory and language. It is the outer part of the brain.
• the cerebellum is responsible for balance, voluntary movement, and the movement of muscle. It is the rounded structure at the bottom-back of the brain
• the medulla is responsible for unconscious actions, such as respiration and heart beat. Located in the brain stem, in front of the cerebellum.
• investigating and treating brain damage and disease is difficult because:

  • the brain is complex and delicate
  • the brain is easily damaged
  • membranes surrounding the brain don't let all drugs pass through
  • it isn't fully understood what each region of the brain does
• neuroscientists have been able to map out regions of the brain and their particular function by: studying patients with brain damage -

  • observing changes in an individual before and after damage to a certain area provides insight into the role of that area
• neuroscientists have been able to map out regions of the brain and their particular function by: electrically stimulating different parts of the brain -

  • this can be done by placing electrodes in different parts of the brain
  • the stimulation can result in changes or a response from the individual, which provides information on what the stimulated part of the brain does
• neuroscientists have been able to map out regions of the brain and their particular function by: using MRI scanning techniques -

  • magnetic resonance image scanners (MRI's) can be used to create an image of a brain
  • this can show how areas have been affected by damage or disease
  • modern MRI scanners can be used to create images while a patient is carrying out a task, which can provide insight into which regions are stimulated by certain tasks and through this their role
• benefits of procedures on the brain:

  • without intervention, the condition could worsen, and the patient could die
  • by doing a procedure, quality of life can be significantly improved
• risks of procedures on the brain:

  • risk of losing nerve connections, leading to a loss of function that wasn't originally a problem
  • scarring, deformities and personality changes can be extremely hard to cope with
  • the brain cannot be fully and perfectly mapped, so the precise location of where the procedure needs to take place cannot be fully known, meaning the side effects are not fully known