The Brain How does learning take place and where is it stored? Just the Facts The brain and spinal cord make up the Central Nervous System Average human brain weighs 3 pounds By age 6, human brain is full size 40% = gray matter 60% = white matter Brain uses 20% of the oxygen supply Lack of oxygen for 3 to 5 minutes causes brain cells to die http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chmodel.html Neurons Born with about 100 billion neurons Send and receive electro-chemical signals to and from the brain and nervous system Cannot regrow after being damaged, unless in hippocampus http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_58_student_st.php?id=040428102710 Neurons Dendrite: http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_58_student_st.php?id=040428102710 Brings information to the cell Many dendrites branch off from cell body No myelin insulation Neurons Axon: Takes information away from the cell Usually only one Myelin insulation http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_58_student_st.php?id=040428102710 Neurons Myelin Sheath http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_58_student_st.php?id=040428102710 Coating on axon Protects neuron Increases the electrical transmission speeds along the axon More myelin the better Three Main Sections Hindbrain QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Midbrain Forebrain Learning and Memory: The Brain in Action p.34 Copyright 1999 Hindbrain controls involuntary systems controls heart rate and breathing regulates flow of information Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 35 copyright 1999 controls dreaming and waking Hindbrain Cerebellum Controls movement and balance Stores lots of neurons Helps form memories Holds/stores procedural memories such as “how to” “ABC’s, basic facts” Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 35 copyright 1999 Midbrain QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p.34 Copyright 1999 Small area that controls eye movement and opening and closing of the pupils The Forebrain controls parts essential to memory and learning Thalamus Size of a walnut Information sorter like the post office Keeps brain updated like a software update on a computer Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999 Hypothalamus Sends information from the body to the brain Keeps the body in balance Maintains body temperature Controls appetite Works with the pituitary gland Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999 Pituitary Gland Pea-sized At the base of the brain Controls growth and development Regulates hormones Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999 Pineal Gland Regulates flow of Melatonin, the chemical that helps you to fall asleep Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999 Hippocampus Seahorse shaped Brain’s file cabinet Puts information in correct spot for easy retrieval Sends information to long term memory Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999 Amygdala Almond shaped Controls emotional memory Its response can change how you react to a situation Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999 Cerebrum Top brain layer Covered by gray matter Left side: looks at parts time oriented sequential Right side: looks at wholes spatial creative Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 36 copyright 1999 A Day in Life of a Brain: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chmodel.html Stress and Your Brain Stress chemicals block the synapses so electrical impulses cannot get through. High stress levels may cause brain damage. Coritsol is a very destructive stress chemical. FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS WILL ALWAYS TAKE PRIORITY OVER EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR BRAINS. Memory Lanes Memory lanes contain the files in which a memory is stored. Learning happens when neurons communicate with each other. How learning works Information enters through brain stem Goes to thalamus - sorter Travels to hippocampus - organizer Goes to STM If connection made to other memories than it goes to working memory Through more connections over time information travels to LTM Short term vs. Working Memory Short term= lasts for only seconds Maximum information in STM = 7 items Working = lasts for few hours Leads to information being in LTM How neurons communicate Long Term Memory and the Five Memory Lanes LTM = stored forever Learning has to follow certain lanes for it to be permanent Five lanes = Semantic Episodic Procedural Automatic Emotional Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action p. 55 copyright 1999 Long Term Memory and the Five Memory Lanes Semantic Lane Stored in the hippocampus (file cabinet/organizer) Information learned from words Takes several repetitions for learning to occur Can hold unlimited amount of information Long Term Memory and the Five Memory Lanes Episodic Lane Stored in the hippocampus (file cabinet/organizer) Deals with location Where you learn the information is important to making it a memory and reaching LTM Recalling where you sat, where it was written on the board or in the book, what place you were at Long Term Memory and the Five Memory Lanes Procedural Lane “muscle memory” Cerebellum used for these memories (back of head, movement and balance) Memory is stored when it becomes routine Brushing teeth, riding a bike, tying shoes Allows us to do two things at once because we use different areas of the brain Goofy body movements/dances to help recall information Long Term Memory and the Five Memory Lanes Automatic Lane A stimulus automatically triggers the recall of the memory Located in the cerebellum (back of head, movement and balance) ABC’s, math facts, sight words, songs, opposites No comprehension - just information (trivia) Can trigger other lanes to open and recall learning Long Term Memory and the Five Memory Lanes Emotional Lane Opened through the amygdala Most powerful kind of memory Stress hormones can make it impossible to recall memories/learning Another lane can trigger emotional memory which can than stop the memory process Important When memories are stored in more than one memory lane, they become more powerful. Learning = Memory The more memory lanes we use to store information, the more powerful the learning becomes. Every day our brain prunes away neuronal connections that are not being used. Keep those brain cells active!!!!!!!!!!
