The Brain
Mrs. Sterbinsky
In this section:
- The History of the Brain
- Decision making: What makes us moral?
- Memory and the Mind
- The Teen Brain
- Who’s better at what?: Boys vs Girls
- Faces of a Genius
History of the Brain
The Secret Life of the Brain
– Please click on the START button to read
through a timeline of the brain
– Please fill out the Brain worksheet
3-D Brain Anatomy
• Take a 3-dimensional tour of the brain.
– Learn about the parts of the brain by rolling over
them on the diagram
– Explore the brain by area and function
Writing Prompt 9/17/12
• Summarize what you learned about the
brain last week. Include both the history
and functions/areas.
• What do you think the most important
advancement was in the study of the
brain? Why? Provide at least three
reasons for your answer.
Mind Illusions
• How does the mind process visual
information?
• How does knowing the way your mind
processes visual information help in your
studying and learning?
Mind Illusions
• Movement
– Studies 1, 2, 3
• Color
– illusions 1, 2
• Angles
– Illusions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
• Form
– Illusions 1, 2, 3
Writing Prompt 9/19/12
• Who do you think generally has an easier
time and does better in school: left brained
or right brained people? Give at least two
reasons for your answer.
• Do you think you can “train” your nondominate side? In other words, if you are
naturally left brained are there things you
can do to improve your right brain
abilities?
Optical Illusions
• An optical illusion (also called a visual illusion) is
characterized by visually perceived images that differ from
objective reality. The information gathered by the eye is
processed in the brain to give a percept that does not tally
with a physical measurement of the stimulus source. There
are three main types: literal optical illusions that create
images that are different from the objects that make them,
physiological ones that are the effects on the eyes and brain
of excessive stimulation of a specific type (brightness, tilt,
color, movement), and cognitive illusions where the eye
and brain make unconscious inferences.
Optical Illusions
• This is definitely one of the best-known optical illusions
of all times! What do you see at first glance - an old
woman or a young miss? They are both there!
Optical Illusions
• A similar example of ambiguous optical
illusions - father and son.
Optical Illusions
• Whole family mind teaser - father with
mother and daughter (by G. H. Fischer).
Optical Illusions
• At first sight, what do you see? Do not focus
on one region, now look again. You may be
surprised (by Joseph Jastrow).
Optical Illusions
• This is one of classic optical illusions - it is
called dancing elephant. Try to count the
number of his legs (by Roger Shepard).
Optical Illusions
• Stare at the dot in the center of the circle and
then move your head closer to it. Neat!
Optical Illusions
• nothing moving on the picture
Optical Illusions
• Nothing is moving!
Optical Illusions
• Most of the people see a donkey first, but if
you look closer you'll find a seal, with its
flippers where the donkey's ears are!
Magic Eye
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22492511-5005375,00.html
The Right Brain vs Left Brain test ... do you see the dancer
turning clockwise or counter-clockwise?
Right Brain vs. Left Brain
Which side of the brain do you use?
We will now take a hemisphere Brain
Dominance Test.
Online Dominance Test
• http://frank.mtsu.edu/~studskl/hd/hemisph
eric_dominance.html
– Learn more about what your score means at
the Compare Your Left and Right Brain.
Brain Video
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.c
fm?guidAssetId=449137B9-96FC-40BBB3F888CBFF3ACD66&blnFromSearch=1&prod
uctcode=US
Functions of the Brain
• LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe
RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking
Analyzing Mrs. Russotto
Which Side Do You Use?
You responded as a right brained person to 11 questions, and you responded as a left brained person
to 8 questions. According to the Hemispheric Dominance test, you use your right brain the most. The
summary briefly describes your dominance type. Remember, this only represents half of the picture.
After you read the description, click on the link at the bottom of the page to find out how to use this
information to improve your study strategies. Do not forget to print your results, if your instructor has
requested you to do so.
Some of the traits associated with the right side of the brain are listed in the table. Not all of the traits
will apply to you. Remember, we use both side of our brain, but your right sides gets the most
exercise.
Type of Cognitive Processing and a Brief Description
Holistic Processing information from whole to part; sees the big picture first, not the details.
Random Processing information with out priority, jumps form one task to another.
Concrete Processes things that can be seen , or touched - real objects
Intuitive Processes information based on whether or not it feels right know answer but not sure how it
was derived
Nonverbal Processes thought as illustrations.
Fantasy-Oriented Processes information with creativity; less focuses on rules and regulations
Analyzing Mrs. Sterbinsky
Which Side Do You Use?
You responded as a right brained person to 13 questions, and you responded as a left brained
person to 5questions. According to the Hemispheric Dominance test, you use your right brain
the most. The summary briefly describes your dominance type. Remember, this only
represents half of the picture. After you read the description, click on the link at the bottom of
the page to find out how to use this information to improve your study strategies. Do not
forget to print your results, if your instructor has requested you to do so.
Some of the traits associated with the right side of the brain are listed in the table. Not all of
the traits will apply to you. Remember, we use both side of our brain, but your right sides gets
the most exercise.
Type of Cognitive Processing and a Brief Description
HolisitcProcessing information from whole to part; sees the big picture first, not the details.
Random Processing information with out priority, jumps form one task to another.
ConcreteProcesses things that can be seen , or touched - real objects.
Intuitive Processes information based on whether or not it feels right know answer but not
sure how it was derived
NonverbalProcesses thought as illustrations.
Fantasy-OrientedProcesses information with creativity; less focus on rules and regulations
What does this say about our teachers?
http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3629
• The Left-Brain Teacher
Teachers with left-brain strengths generally prefer to teach using lecture
and discussion. To incorporate sequence, they put outlines on the board or
overhead, and they like to adhere to prepared time schedules. They give
problems to the students to solve independently. Teachers with left-brain
preferences assign more research and writing than their right-brain peers. A
reasonably quiet, structured classroom is preferred. The classroom tends to
be clean, with items in their place.
• The Right-Brain Teacher
Teachers with right-brain strengths generally prefer to use hands-on
activities over a lecture format. In concert with the right-brain preference of
seeing the whole picture, these teachers incorporate more art,
manipulatives, visuals, and music into their lessons. They tend to embrace
Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences. They like to assign more group
projects and activities, and prefer a busy, active, noisy classroom
environment. The classroom of a strong right-brain teacher will typically
have materials and books scattered all over.
Assignment
After reading the information with the
dominance quiz and listening to the video
answer the following questions
1.What are the characteristics of the left
and right brain? (List at least one for
each processing area.)
2.Describe how you can use your
knowledge of brain dominance to
improve your study skills.
Forgetting Is the New Normal: Article
• How does memory
work? What happens
it as people age?
• What can you do to
improve memory?
Memory: Short Term
Short Term Memory Test
Short Term Memory Test
Short Term Memory Test- Pictures
Short Term Memory Test- Pictures