human brain essay

Essay on Human Brain

Students are often asked to write an essay on Human Brain in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

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100 Words Essay on Human Brain

The human brain: an overview.

The human brain is a complex organ, responsible for all our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It’s made up of billions of nerve cells, or neurons, which communicate through electrical signals.

Parts of the Brain

The brain is divided into three main parts: the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. The cerebrum is the largest part and controls thinking, learning, and emotions. The cerebellum manages balance and coordination. The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls automatic functions like breathing.

Brain’s Functionality

The brain is always active, even during sleep. It processes information from our senses, helps us understand the world around us, and makes decisions. It’s truly a remarkable organ!

250 Words Essay on Human Brain

Introduction.

The human brain, a marvel of biological engineering, is the most complex organ in the human body. It is the epicenter of human consciousness, responsible for our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Structure and Function

The brain is divided into three main parts: the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. The cerebrum, the largest part, is responsible for higher brain functions such as thought, emotion, and sensory processing. The cerebellum coordinates motor functions, while the brainstem controls automatic functions like heart rate and breathing.

Neuroplasticity

A remarkable feature of the brain is its neuroplasticity, the ability to form and reorganize synaptic connections in response to learning, experience, or injury. This adaptability underscores the brain’s capacity for lifelong learning and recovery.

Cognitive Abilities

Cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, and problem-solving are facilitated by the brain’s intricate network of neurons. These abilities enable us to navigate and interpret the world around us, engage in social interactions, and make decisions.

Brain and Technology

Advancements in technology have led to breakthroughs in understanding the brain. Techniques like fMRI and EEG provide detailed insights into brain activity, paving the way for treatments of neurological disorders.

The human brain, with its intricate structure and impressive capabilities, continues to be a subject of fascination and study. Its complexity and adaptability underscore the limitless potential of human cognition, making it a cornerstone of our identity as a species.

500 Words Essay on Human Brain

Introduction to the human brain.

The human brain, a product of millions of years of evolutionary progression, is a marvel of biological engineering. It is a complex organ, responsible for controlling all the functions of the human body, processing sensory information, and coordinating responses. The brain is an intricate network of billions of neurons, which communicate and work together to generate our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Structural Complexity of the Brain

The human brain is composed of several distinct regions, each with specific functions. The cerebrum, the largest part, is responsible for higher cognitive functions like thinking, learning, and consciousness. It is divided into two hemispheres, each further subdivided into four lobes: the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe.

The cerebellum, located beneath the cerebrum, coordinates motor control, balance, and coordination. The brainstem, connecting the brain to the spinal cord, controls automatic functions vital for survival, such as heartbeat, breathing, and digestion.

Neurons: The Building Blocks

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain, transmit information through electrical and chemical signals. They consist of a cell body, dendrites, and an axon. The dendrites receive signals from other neurons, which are then passed through the cell body and down the axon to the next neuron. This communication forms neural networks, the basis for all brain activity.

Brain Plasticity

One of the most fascinating aspects of the human brain is its plasticity, the ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This adaptability allows us to learn new skills, adapt to changes, and recover from brain injuries. Neuroplasticity underscores the brain’s remarkable capacity for resilience and growth.

The Brain and Consciousness

The brain is not only a biological organ but also the seat of consciousness and identity. It is responsible for our thought processes, emotions, memories, and perceptions. The intricate interplay of neural networks generates the rich tapestry of human experience, from the most mundane thoughts to the most profound creative insights.

Future Research Directions

Despite significant advances in neuroscience, much about the brain remains a mystery. Key questions about consciousness, memory formation, and the nature of intelligence are yet to be fully answered. The development of advanced neuroimaging techniques and computational models offers exciting possibilities for future research.

Understanding the brain is not merely an academic exercise but has profound implications for treating neurological disorders, improving education, and even addressing ethical questions about artificial intelligence and brain-computer interfaces.

In conclusion, the human brain, with its intricate architecture and dynamic functionality, is a testament to the complexity and beauty of human life. As we continue to unravel its mysteries, we deepen our understanding of what it means to be human, highlighting the importance of continued research in this fascinating field.

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In brief: how does the brain work.

Last Update: September 29, 2021 ; Next update: 2024.

The brain works like a big computer. It processes information that it receives from the senses and body, and sends messages back to the body. But the brain can do much more than a machine can: We think and experience emotions with our brain, and it is the root of human intelligence.

The human brain is roughly the size of two clenched fists and weighs about 1.5 kilograms. From the outside it looks a bit like a large walnut, with folds and crevices. Brain tissue is made up of about 100 billion nerve cells (neurons) and one trillion supporting cells that stabilize the tissue.

The brain is made up of various parts, each with its own functions:

• the cerebrum
• the diencephalon – including the thalamus, hypothalamus and pituitary gland
• the brain stem – including the midbrain, pons and medulla
• the cerebellum

The various parts of the brain

• The functions of the brain

The cerebrum has a right half and a left half, known as the right and left hemispheres. The two hemispheres are connected via a thick bundle of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum. Each hemisphere is made up of six areas (lobes) that have different functions. The cerebrum controls movement and processes sensory information. Conscious and unconscious actions and feelings are produced here. It is also responsible for speech, hearing, intelligence and memory.

The functions of the two hemispheres are mostly different: While the left hemisphere is responsible for speech and abstract thinking in most people, the right hemisphere is usually responsible for spatial thinking or visualization. The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, and the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. This means that damage to the left hemisphere due to a stroke , for example, can lead to paralysis on the right side of the body.

The left cerebral cortex is responsible for speech and language. The right cerebral cortex supplies spatial information, such as where your foot is at the moment. The thalamus gives the cerebrum sensory information from the skin , eyes and ears , as well as other information. The hypothalamus regulates things like hunger, thirst and sleep . Together with the pituitary gland , it also regulates the balance of hormones in your body.

The brain stem relays information between the brain, the cerebellum and the spinal cord, as well as controlling eye movements and facial expressions. It also regulates vital functions like breathing, blood pressure and heartbeat .

The cerebellum coordinates movements and is responsible for balance.

How is the brain supplied with blood?

The brain needs a steady flow of enough oxygen, glucose, and other nutrients. For that reason, it has a particularly good blood supply. Each side of the brain receives blood through three arteries:

• In the front, the anterior cerebral artery supplies the tissue behind the forehead and under the crown (the top of the head).
• The middle cerebral artery is important for the sides and areas that are further inside the brain. The anterior and middle cerebral artery split off from the internal carotid artery (a major blood vessel in the neck).
• The posterior cerebral artery supplies the back of the head, the lower part of the brain, and the cerebellum. It is supplied with blood from the vertebral arteries, which are also major blood vessels in the neck.

Before the three arteries reach “their” brain region, where they split into smaller branches, they are close together below the brain. In this area, they are connected to each other by smaller blood vessels – forming a structure similar to a traffic circle. There are connections between the arteries in other areas of the brain too. The advantage of these connections is that they can partly make up for blood supply problems in the brain: For example, if a branch of an artery gradually becomes narrower, blood can still flow to the part of the brain it supplies through these alternative routes (collateral blood flow).

The smallest branches (capillaries) of the arteries in the brain supply the brain cells with oxygen and nutrients from the blood – but they do not let other substances pass as easily as similar capillaries in the rest of the body do. The medical term for this phenomenon is the “blood-brain barrier.” It can protect the sensitive brain from toxic substances in the blood, for instance.

After oxygen has passed into the cells, the oxygen-poor blood flows away through the veins of the brain (cerebral veins). The veins carry the blood to larger blood vessels known as sinuses. The sinus walls are strengthened by a tough membrane (dura mater), which helps them keep their shape too. This keeps them permanently open and makes it easy for the blood to flow into the veins in the neck.

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• Brandes R, Lang F, Schmidt R. Physiologie des Menschen: mit Pathophysiologie. Berlin: Springer; 2019.
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• Menche N. Biologie Anatomie Physiologie. München: Urban und Fischer; 2016.

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Introduction: The Human Brain

By Helen Phillips

4 September 2006

A false-colour Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) of a mid-sagittal section through the head of a normal 42 year-old woman, showing structures of the brain, spine and facial tissues

(Image: Mehau Kulyk / Science Photo Library)

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It produces our every thought, action , memory , feeling and experience of the world. This jelly-like mass of tissue, weighing in at around 1.4 kilograms, contains a staggering one hundred billion nerve cells, or neurons .

The complexity of the connectivity between these cells is mind-boggling. Each neuron can make contact with thousands or even tens of thousands of others, via tiny structures called synapses . Our brains form a million new connections for every second of our lives. The pattern and strength of the connections is constantly changing and no two brains are alike.

It is in these changing connections that memories are stored, habits learned and personalities shaped , by reinforcing certain patterns of brain activity, and losing others.

Grey matter

While people often speak of their “ grey matter “, the brain also contains white matter . The grey matter is the cell bodies of the neurons, while the white matter is the branching network of thread-like tendrils – called dendrites and axons – that spread out from the cell bodies to connect to other neurons.

But the brain also has another, even more numerous type of cell, called glial cells . These outnumber neurons ten times over. Once thought to be support cells, they are now known to amplify neural signals and to be as important as neurons in mental calculations. There are many different types of neuron, only one of which is unique to humans and the other great apes, the so called spindle cells .

Brain structure is shaped partly by genes , but largely by experience . Only relatively recently it was discovered that new brain cells are being born throughout our lives – a process called neurogenesis . The brain has bursts of growth and then periods of consolidation , when excess connections are pruned. The most notable bursts are in the first two or three years of life, during puberty , and also a final burst in young adulthood.

How a brain ages also depends on genes and lifestyle too. Exercising the brain and giving it the right diet can be just as important as it is for the rest of the body.

Chemical messengers

The neurons in our brains communicate in a variety of ways. Signals pass between them by the release and capture of neurotransmitter and neuromodulator chemicals, such as glutamate , dopamine , acetylcholine , noradrenalin , serotonin and endorphins .

Some neurochemicals work in the synapse , passing specific messages from release sites to collection sites, called receptors. Others also spread their influence more widely, like a radio signal , making whole brain regions more or less sensitive.

These neurochemicals are so important that deficiencies in them are linked to certain diseases. For example, a loss of dopamine in the basal ganglia, which control movements, leads to Parkinson’s disease . It can also increase susceptibility to addiction because it mediates our sensations of reward and pleasure.

Similarly, a deficiency in serotonin , used by regions involved in emotion, can be linked to depression or mood disorders, and the loss of acetylcholine in the cerebral cortex is characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease .

Brain scanning

Within individual neurons, signals are formed by electrochemical pulses. Collectively, this electrical activity can be detected outside the scalp by an electroencephalogram (EEG).

These signals have wave-like patterns , which scientists classify from alpha (common while we are relaxing or sleeping ), through to gamma (active thought). When this activity goes awry, it is called a seizure . Some researchers think that synchronising the activity in different brain regions is important in perception .

Other ways of imaging brain activity are indirect. Functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI ) or positron emission tomography ( PET ) monitor blood flow. MRI scans, computed tomography ( CT ) scans and diffusion tensor images (DTI) use the magnetic signatures of different tissues, X-ray absorption, or the movement of water molecules in those tissues, to image the brain.

These scanning techniques have revealed which parts of the brain are associated with which functions . Examples include activity related to sensations , movement, libido , choices , regrets , motivations and even racism . However, some experts argue that we put too much trust in these results and that they raise privacy issues .

Before scanning techniques were common, researchers relied on patients with brain damage caused by strokes , head injuries or illnesses, to determine which brain areas are required for certain functions . This approach exposed the regions connected to emotions , dreams , memory , language and perception and to even more enigmatic events, such as religious or “ paranormal ” experiences.

One famous example was the case of Phineas Gage , a 19 th century railroad worker who lost part of the front of his brain when a 1-metre-long iron pole was blasted through his head during an explosion. He recovered physically, but was left with permanent changes to his personality , showing for the first time that specific brain regions are linked to different processes.

Structure in mind

The most obvious anatomical feature of our brains is the undulating surfac of the cerebrum – the deep clefts are known as sulci and its folds are gyri. The cerebrum is the largest part of our brain and is largely made up of the two cerebral hemispheres . It is the most evolutionarily recent brain structure, dealing with more complex cognitive brain activities.

It is often said that the right hemisphere is more creative and emotional and the left deals with logic, but the reality is more complex . Nonetheless, the sides do have some specialisations , with the left dealing with speech and language , the right with spatial and body awareness.

See our Interactive Graphic for more on brain structure

Further anatomical divisions of the cerebral hemispheres are the occipital lobe at the back, devoted to vision , and the parietal lobe above that, dealing with movement , position, orientation and calculation .

Behind the ears and temples lie the temporal lobes , dealing with sound and speech comprehension and some aspects of memory . And to the fore are the frontal and prefrontal lobes , often considered the most highly developed and most “human” of regions, dealing with the most complex thought, decision making , planning, conceptualising, attention control and working memory. They also deal with complex social emotions such as regret , morality and empathy .

Another way to classify the regions is as sensory cortex and motor cortex , controlling incoming information, and outgoing behaviour respectively.

Below the cerebral hemispheres, but still referred to as part of the forebrain, is the cingulate cortex , which deals with directing behaviour and pain . And beneath this lies the corpus callosum , which connects the two sides of the brain. Other important areas of the forebrain are the basal ganglia , responsible for movement , motivation and reward.

Urges and appetites

Beneath the forebrain lie more primitive brain regions. The limbic system , common to all mammals, deals with urges and appetites. Emotions are most closely linked with structures called the amygdala , caudate nucleus and putamen . Also in the limbic brain are the hippocampus – vital for forming new memories; the thalamus – a kind of sensory relay station; and the hypothalamus , which regulates bodily functions via hormone release from the pituitary gland .

The back of the brain has a highly convoluted and folded swelling called the cerebellum , which stores patterns of movement, habits and repeated tasks – things we can do without thinking about them.

The most primitive parts, the midbrain and brain stem , control the bodily functions we have no conscious control of, such as breathing , heart rate, blood pressure, sleep patterns , and so on. They also control signals that pass between the brain and the rest of the body, through the spinal cord.

Though we have discovered an enormous amount about the brain, huge and crucial mysteries remain. One of the most important is how does the brain produces our conscious experiences ?

The vast majority of the brain’s activity is subconscious . But our conscious thoughts, sensations and perceptions – what define us as humans – cannot yet be explained in terms of brain activity.

• psychology /

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Introductory essay

Written by the educators who created Mapping and Manipulating the Brain, a brief look at the key facts, tough questions and big ideas in their field. Begin this TED Study with a fascinating read that gives context and clarity to the material.

Here is this mass of jelly, three-pound mass of jelly you can hold in the palm of your hand, and it can contemplate the vastness of interstellar space. It can contemplate the meaning of infinity and it can contemplate itself contemplating on the meaning of infinity. VS Ramachandran

The brain may well be our body's most mysterious organ. Unbelievably complex, utterly fascinating, and notoriously difficult to study, we're left wondering: What exactly does the brain do and how does it do it?

Despite two centuries of intensive research, supported in recent decades by impressive technological advances, answers to many of our questions about the brain are still distant. The reason is easy to appreciate: the brain contains more than ten billion cells — a number equivalent to the total human population on Earth — interacting with each other through about 1,000 times as many connections. Imagine that what's going on in your brain is like a shrunk-down version of the global human population interacting through the Internet. The Internet is hard enough to understand even though we created it; now imagine trying to understand a process of similar complexity without the benefit of knowing how it was generated!

As you listen to these TEDTalks and expand your study of neuroscience through other sources, remember that although we might now know a great deal more about the brain than we did at the start of the 19th century, it's a tiny fraction of what there is to know. Bear in mind that many current ideas may prove wrong. Indeed, it's the excitement of generating and testing, and trying to prove or disprove ideas that might explain the great unknown inside our heads that motivates many research neuroscientists around the world.

A brief history of brain science

The Egyptians wrote the first known descriptions of the brain and its anatomy about 3700 years ago, but another 1200 years elapsed before Greek philosophers of the Hippocratic School identified the brain as the organ responsible for our cognitive functions. Around 400 B.C., Hippocrates declared, "Men ought to know that from the brain, and from the brain only, arise our pleasures, joy, laughter and jests, as well as our sorrows, pains, griefs, and tears." However, not everyone agreed: although Plato and Hippocrates thought that the brain was responsible for sensation, intelligence and mental processes, Aristotle believed it was the heart.

Over the next 2500 years, the work of great European intellectuals including Galen of Bergama, Leonardo da Vinci and Rene Descartes improved our understanding of the brain. By the start of the 19th century, the brain's importance as the organ of perception and higher mental function was beyond doubt.

In the early 1800s, scientists made an important conceptual breakthrough when they hypothesized that different brain functions are carried out in specific and distinct brain regions. Brain regionalization, a concept central to several of the TEDTalks we'll watch, remains an important though controversial component of modern neuroscience.

Some of the initial models of brain regionalization were severely misguided, mainly because they were built on little or no evidence. For example, the Viennese physician Franz Joseph Gall (1758-1828) became convinced for the flimsiest of reasons that each of mankind's mental faculties, including our moral and intellectual capabilities, are each controlled by a separate "organ" within the cerebral hemispheres of the brain. The pseudo-science of phrenology that grew out of Gall's claims gained an enormous popular following in the 19th century; advocates believed that skilled practitioners could feel the lumps and bumps on an individual's skull to gain information about the underlying "organs" and thus fully describe the individual's personality and mental abilities.

Although phrenology is now discredited, the fundamental idea that different functions are localized to different areas of the brain turned out to have merit — even if Gall got the details wrong. The story of phrenology also provides a salutary lesson on the dangers of accepting popular beliefs about aspects of brain function and dysfunction that are difficult to critically evaluate through scientific experimentation. Even today, it's common to find that people think they know more than it's currently possible to know about how and why brains work or go wrong; for example, the causes and cures for various types of mental illness, which may contribute to the social stigma that surrounds these conditions.

Through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, scientists including Pierre Paul Broca, Carl Wernicke, Korbinian Brodmann and Wilder Penfield found credible scientific evidence supporting the subdivision of the brain into discrete areas with different specific functions. Their work was based on studies of patients with localized lesions of the brain, of the anatomical differences between different parts of the brain and of the effects of stimulating discrete brain regions on bodily actions. Together, scientists such as these laid the foundations of modern neuroscience. As you watch the TEDTalks in Mapping and Manipulating the Brain , notice how the speakers reference some of the same approaches used by Broca, Wernicke, Brodmann and Penfield, and how they apply the concepts of brain regionalization and localization of function . Bear in mind, however, that although these concepts are useful, they're also controversial -- more on this below.

How brains are built

Spanish scientist Santiago Ramón Y Cajal (1852-1934) is often thought of as the father of modern neuroscience. Through his extensive and beautiful studies of the microscopic structure of the brain, he discovered that the neuron is the fundamental unit of the nervous system. Since Ramón Y Cajal's breakthrough, scientists have sought to understand how the billions of neurons in the brain are organized to support so many complex functions.

This daunting task would likely be easier if we could follow the process by which the brain is generated, but following brain development is very difficult to do in humans. Thus, we often have to infer how the human brain develops by studying the developing brains of other species, so-called "model organisms" selected for their particular advantages in certain experimental procedures. Aside from helping us to work out how the adult brain functions, research on brain development is a major area in neuroscience for other reasons as well. For example, many conditions like schizophrenia and autism can be traced back to abnormalities in earlier brain development.

The great molecular, structural and functional diversity of brain cells, along with their specializations and precise interactions, are acquired in an organized way through processes that build on differences between the relatively small numbers of cells in the early embryo. As more and more cells are generated in a growing organism, new cells diversify in specific ways as a result of interactions with pre-existing cells, continually adding to the organism's complexity in a highly regulated manner. To understand how brains develop we need to know how their cells develop in specific and reproducible ways as a result of their own internal mechanisms interacting with an expanding array of stimuli from outside the cell.

Since, as discussed above, regionalization is a prominent organizing feature in mature brains, when and how is it established during brain development? Some of the most exciting research on brain development in recent years has focused on this question.

For neurons to develop regional identities, they must possess or acquire information on where they are located within the brain so that they can take on the appropriate specializations. How neurons gain positional information has been one of the most prominent themes in developmental neuroscience in the last 50 years or so, as indeed it has in the broader field of developmental biology (positional identity is required not only by brain cells).

The model that has dominated current thinking was famously elaborated in the 1960s by Lewis Wolpert in his French flag analogy. Here, a signal produced by a group of organizer cells diffuses from its source through a surrounding field of cells. In so doing, it forms a concentration gradient with more of the signal present in areas closer to the source. Cells respond to the concentration of this signal. In Wolpert's French Flag analogy, they become blue, white or red (in reality, they would become cells of different types, not different colors). Close to the source, cells receive signals above the highest threshold (to become blue, or type 1). Beyond this, cells respond to a lower dose (to become white, or type 2) while farther still cells do not receive enough of the signal to respond (and become red, or type 3). Here the model is expressed in terms of three outcomes, but there might be a different number of outcomes depending on the locations and/ or stages of development. The important point is that cells can work out where they are based on the level of signal they receive and they respond accordingly by developing different attributes.

Beyond Wolpert's basic model, the issue of how brain regionalization develops is an important question and we have relatively few answers. Regional specification is a prerequisite for the development of the connections that must link each region of the brain in a stereotypical and highly precise way (but allowing room for plasticity at a fine level). How these trillions of connections are made is another of life's great mysteries.

The connectome and connectionism

Since Ramón Y Cajal's first description of the neuron, scientists have vastly expanded our understanding of the structure and function of these individual building blocks of the brain. However, as Tim Berners-Lee comments, this is just the first step in understanding how our brains really work: "There are billions of neurons in our brains, but what are neurons? Just cells. The brain has no knowledge until connections are made between neurons. All that we know, all that we are, comes from the way our neurons are connected."

You'll hear about the "connectome" in Sebastian Seung's TEDTalk. The suffix "–ome" is used with increasing frequency to indicate a complete collection of whatever units are specified in the first part of the word, such as genes (hence genome), proteins (proteome) or connections (connectome). The connectome of the human brain is bewildering in its complexity, but the development of new brain imaging methods has catalyzed the first serious attempts to map it in living brains. At present, the resolution of imaging methods that can be applied to living brains isn't sufficient to follow individual connections (called axons). In these TEDTalks you'll hear about an attempt to come at the problem from the other direction, using very high resolution imaging of non-living brain tissue to reconstruct the ultramicroscopic anatomy of connections around individual cells. The extent to which these approaches are likely to succeed remains controversial.

The theory known as connectionism addresses a somewhat different matter within the field of brain organization: the relationship between connectivity and function. Essentially, the idea is that higher mental processes such as object recognition, memory and language result from the activity of the connections between areas of the brain rather than the activity of specific discrete regions. Whereas connectionists would agree that primary sensory and motor functions (i.e. responses to sensory stimuli and the activation of movements) are strongly localized to defined areas within the brain, they argue that this applies less clearly at higher cognitive levels. The theory emphasizes the relationship between connected brain areas and the function of the brain as a whole, with all parts having the potential to contribute to cognitive function. You should appreciate, therefore, that there is as yet no accepted view of the extent to which our higher mental functions are localized to particular parts of the brain. It is worth remembering this as you listen to the TEDTalks; keep an open mind on these truly fascinating issues.

Ways of studying brain function

In these TEDTalks, you're going to hear about some of the ways in which we can work out what the human brain does and how it does it. One longstanding approach is to examine what happens when people suffer brain lesions. Phineas Gage, a Vermont railroad worker, provides one spectacular historical example from 1848. Gage was packing gunpowder into a hole when it exploded, blowing the tamping rod through the front of his brain. Astonishingly, he survived and recovered, but those closest to him claimed that he had a very different personality. From this example, scientists hypothesized that elements of human personality are localized to the frontal lobes.

In Jill Bolte Taylor's TEDTalk, you'll hear how Taylor's own stroke provides further evidence for localization of brain function. A few words of caution, however: when we study the effects of a lesion on the brain, we're really learning about what the rest of the brain does without the damaged part, which is not quite the same as what the damaged structure itself does. Maybe this seems rather subtle, but in some cases it becomes important, for example if a lesion causes other parts of the brain to alter what they do.

You'll also hear about powerful techniques for observing the activity of living brains, for example using functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI; see the TEDTalk by Oliver Sacks). And you'll hear about methods for looking at the fine structure of neurons in post-mortem material, as in Sebastian Seung's TEDTalk. All have advantages and limitations, but together they give ever- increasing insight into the workings of the human mind.

Let's begin the TEDTalks with neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor, who provides a basic overview of the brain and describes what she learned firsthand about its structure and function when at age 37 she suffered a massive hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain.

Jill Bolte Taylor

My stroke of insight, relevant talks.

VS Ramachandran

3 clues to understanding your brain.

Oliver Sacks

What hallucination reveals about our minds.

Sebastian Seung

I am my connectome.

Christopher deCharms

A look inside the brain in real time.

A light switch for neurons

Rebecca Saxe

How we read each other's minds.

The human brain, explained

Learn about the most complex organ in the human body, from its structure to its most common disorders.

Here’s something to wrap your mind around: The human brain is more complex than any other known structure in the universe . Weighing in at three pounds, on average, this spongy mass of fat and protein is made up of two overarching types of cells—called glia and neurons—and it contains many billions of each. Neurons are notable for their branch-like projections called axons and dendrites, which gather and transmit electrochemical signals. Different types of glial cells provide physical protection to neurons and help keep them, and the brain, healthy.

Together, this complex network of cells gives rise to every aspect of our shared humanity. We could not breathe, play, love, or remember without the brain.

Anatomy of the brain

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain , accounting for 85 percent of the organ's weight. The distinctive, deeply wrinkled outer surface is the cerebral cortex. It's the cerebrum that makes the human brain—and therefore humans—so formidable. Animals such as elephants, dolphins, and whales actually have larger brains, but humans have the most developed cerebrum. It's packed to capacity inside our skulls, with deep folds that cleverly maximize the total surface area of the cortex .

The cerebrum has two halves, or hemispheres, that are further divided into four regions, or lobes. The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are involved with speech, thought, learning, emotion, and movement. Behind them are the parietal lobes, which process sensory information such as touch, temperature, and pain. At the rear of the brain are the occipital lobes, dealing with vision. Lastly, there are the temporal lobes, near the temples, which are involved with hearing and memory.

The second-largest part of the brain is the cerebellum , which sits beneath the back of the cerebrum. It plays an important role in coordinating movement, posture, and balance.

The third-largest part is the diencephalon, located in the core of the brain. A complex of structures roughly the size of an apricot, its two major sections are the thalamus and hypothalamus. The thalamus acts as a relay station for incoming nerve impulses from around the body that are then forwarded to the appropriate brain region for processing. The hypothalamus controls hormone secretions from the nearby pituitary gland. These hormones govern growth and instinctual behaviors, such as when a new mother starts to lactate. The hypothalamus is also important for keeping bodily processes like temperature, hunger, and thirst balanced.

For Hungry Minds

Seated at the organ's base, the brain stem controls reflexes and basic life functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. It also regulates when you feel sleepy or awake and connects the cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord.

The brain is extremely sensitive and delicate, and so it requires maximum protection, which is provided by the hard bone of the skull and three tough membranes called meninges. The spaces between these membranes are filled with fluid that cushions the brain and keeps it from being damaged by contact with the inside of the skull.

Blood-brain barrier

Want more proof that the brain is extraordinary? Look no further than the blood-brain barrier. The discovery of this unique feature dates to the 19th century, when various experiments revealed that dye, when injected into the bloodstream, colored all of the body’s organs except the brain and spinal cord. The same dye, when injected into the spinal fluid, tinted only the brain and spinal cord.

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This led scientists to learn that the brain has an ingenious, protective layer. Called the blood-brain barrier, it’s made up of special, tightly bound cells that together function as a kind of semi-permeable gate throughout most of the organ . It keeps the brain environment safe and stable by preventing some toxins, pathogens, and other harmful substances from entering the brain through the bloodstream, while simultaneously allowing oxygen and vital nutrients to pass through.

Health conditions of the brain

Of course, when a machine as finely calibrated and complex as the brain gets injured or malfunctions, problems arise. One in five Americans suffers from some form of neurological damage , a wide-ranging list that includes stroke, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy, as well as dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease , which is characterized in part by a gradual progression of short-term memory loss, disorientation, and mood swings, is the most common cause of dementia . It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the number of people diagnosed with it is growing. Worldwide, some 50 million people suffer from Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia. While there are a handful of drugs available to mitigate Alzheimer’s symptoms, there is no cure. Researchers across the globe continue to develop treatments that one day might put an end to the disease’s devasting effects.

Far more common than neurological disorders, however, are conditions that fall under a broad category called mental illness . Unfortunately, negative attitudes toward people who suffer from mental illness are widespread. The stigma attached to mental illness can create feelings of shame, embarrassment, and rejection, causing many people to suffer in silence. In the United States, where anxiety disorders are the most common forms of mental illness, only about 40 percent of sufferers receive treatment. Anxiety disorders often stem from abnormalities in the brain’s hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD , is a mental health condition that also affects adults but is far more often diagnosed in children. ADHD is characterized by hyperactivity and an inability to stay focused. While the exact cause of ADHD has not yet been determined, scientists believe that it may be linked to several factors, among them genetics or brain injury. Treatment for ADHD may include psychotherapy as well as medications. The latter can help by increasing the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine, which are vital to thinking and focusing.

Depression is another common mental health condition. It is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is often accompanied by anxiety. Depression can be marked by an array of symptoms, including persistent sadness, irritability, and changes in appetite. The good news is that in general, anxiety and depression are highly treatable through various medications—which help the brain use certain chemicals more efficiently—and through forms of therapy.

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The Functions of the Human Brain Essay

The brain forms the control center and coordinates all functions and other organs within the body. The brain executes its functions by sending and receiving signals in nerve impulses through the neurons. Though the neurons interconnect the whole brain, it is divided into compartments that perform different functions. The main purpose of the compartmental divisions of the brain is to promote brain activity by division of roles per compartment (Ahanger et al., 2021). Each section executes a specific function and controls some selected body parts. For effective action, the brain cannot work as a single unit due to the risk of poor coordination of impulses.

The cerebrum brain plays a role in maintaining the body’s balance and posture. This function is executed by making postural adjustments. The brain signals the vestibular receptors and proprioceptors and commands the change in position and muscle weight through the motor neurons to ensure that balance is achieved. The cerebrum is another part of the human brain located in the uppermost section. Its main role in the body is to coordinate the function and processing of the sensory functions. These include the main body senses, such as vision, hearing, and touch necessary for the body’s normal functioning. This function aids in controlling body movement and intellectual development, which enables studying, memory, and emotion processes. The brainstem is the most bottom portion of the brain. It is the section responsible for performing all subconscious functions. Such tasks include inhalation and exhalation, and sustaining heart rate.

The frontal lobe of the cerebrum forms the section covered by the frontal bones, as the name suggests. It constitutes two pairs, the right and left frontal cortex. The lobe plays a significant role, especially in mental functioning. It aids in planning, individual memory management, and decision-making. Other essential functions include speech and language coordination through the Broca’s region (Baker et al., 2018). The area helps in constructing words and arranging them chronologically to produce a coherent speech.

The frontal lobe is responsible for motor skills learning. Mastery of the coordinated functions, including voluntary walking and running, are enhanced. A person can also differentiate and categorize various regions by using the frontal lobe of the cerebrum. Individual personalities are developed in the region as it controls impulse responses. The interplay of signals that define one’s characteristics is in the frontal lobe. It also serves to manage the attention of someone adequately.

The functioning of the frontal lobe can be adversely affected in case of damage from traumatic injury or disease. Such a condition is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, abbreviated as ADHD. It results in differences in the mental development of a person and affects brain activity and attention levels. The common sign of ADHD includes self-focused behavior, impatience, emotional turmoil, interruptive behavior, fidgeting, and lack of focus. Most of them will also have several unfinished tasks, and they noisily conduct their activities (Danielson et al., 2018). They talk and move excessively and have challenges sitting still in one location for a prolonged period. If this condition occurs, the frontal lobe will be damaged, and its ability to perform its functions will be impaired. In addition to the effect on attention ability, the person may have other secondary problems related to the inability of the lobe to carry out other duties adequately.

Medical or therapeutic interventions are recommended to manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, it is advisable to initiate both management regimes for efficiency and quick recovery of the lobe. Medically, the recommended drugs of choice that can be used under strict prescription include guanfacine, atomoxetine, lisdexamfetamine, and methylphenidate (Danielson et al., 2018). Various programs, such as psychoeducation, behavioral therapy, group training, cognitive behavior, and social skills training are encouraged in therapy.

Ahanger, S. H., Delgado, R. N., Gil, E., Cole, M. A., Zhao, J., Hong, S. J., Kriegstein, A, R., Nowakowski, T, J., Pollen, A, A., & Lim, D. A. (2021). Distinct nuclear compartment-associated genome architecture in the developing mammalian brain. Nature Neuroscience , 24 (9), 1235-1242. Web.

Baker, C. M., Burks, J. D., Briggs, R. G., Stafford, J., Conner, A. K., Glenn, C. A., Sali, G., McCoy, T. M., Battiste, J. D., O’Donoghue, D. L., & Sughrue, M. E. (2018). A Connectomic Atlas of the Human Cerebrum—Chapter 4: The Medial Frontal Lobe, Anterior Cingulate Gyrus, and Orbitofrontal Cortex. Operative Neurosurgery , 15 (1), S122-S174. Web.

Danielson, M. L., Bitsko, R. H., Ghandour, R. M., Holbrook, J. R., Kogan, M. D., & Blumberg, S. J. (2018). Prevalence of parent-reported ADHD diagnosis and associated treatment among US children and adolescents, 2016. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology , 47 (2), 199-212. Web.

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Human Brain - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

An essay on the human brain can delve into the complexities of the brain’s structure, functions, and cognitive processes. It can discuss topics like neuroscience research, brain development, and the role of the brain in consciousness, memory, emotions, and decision-making, offering insights into the mysteries and advances in understanding the human mind. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of Human Brain you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

An Overview of the Five Deadly Diseases that Affect the Human Brain

There are hundreds of diseases that affect the brain. Every day, we fight these diseases just as vehemently as they afflict their carriers. Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, depression, autism, and strokes are just five of the most lethal and debilitating diseases that afflict human brains. Parkinson's disease alone claims up to 18,000 lives a year (Hagerman 1). But what is it? Parkinson's disease occurs when a brain chemical called dopamine begins to die in a region that facilitates muscle movement. Consequently, […]

The Many Wonders of the Human Brain

The human brain is an incredible organ. Containing up to one hundred million neurons and one thousand trillion synaptic connections in about three pounds of matter, the brain controls or regulates nearly all the functions of the human body. It is a marvel—a work of God that no scientist has been able to explain in its entirety, even with the aid of the most advanced technology. But as interesting as the brain is, there is something more abstract—a form that […]

The Evolution of the Human Brains and the Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Human brains have evolved to recognize patterns. The Uncertainty Reduction Theory suggests that people tend to gather information about others to lessen uncertainty about them. This uncertainty is not only common when meeting new people, but it also persists in all types of new situations. It is crucial to our survival to continually assess the environment and threats, whether they are real or imagined. The Uncertainty Reduction Theory provides us with guidance on how and why we react to new […]

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The Concept of Pattern Recognition of the Human Brain

Have you ever stared at an inanimate object, like a cloud, and seen a familiar object, such as a sheep or a face? Surely most people have experienced this, and this is because of our brain's innate ability to recognize patterns. This is only possible with large brains that can support high-level reasoning and memory storage. All of the major hallmarks of human qualities, like advanced language, tool-making, and art, are only possible with our ability to recognize patterns. Pattern […]

Deciphering the Enigma: Fostering Memory Formation in Human Consciousness

Memory, the enigmatic cornerstone of human consciousness, serves as a captivating puzzle, drawing the curiosity of scholars and enthusiasts alike. Much like navigating a labyrinth, unraveling the intricate mechanisms behind memory formation within the human brain poses a compelling challenge, ripe with opportunities for exploration and discovery. Understanding the nuances of memory creation, retention, and retrieval not only illuminates the intricacies of human cognition but also holds profound implications for various facets of human life, from education to therapeutic interventions. […]

Navigating the Labyrinth: Illuminating the Depths of Cognitive Processes in the Human Brain

Embarking on a journey into the labyrinthine expanse of the human mind unveils a tapestry woven with intricate neural pathways and synaptic connections. Delving into the depths of cognitive processes, researchers endeavor to decode the enigmatic mechanisms orchestrating our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This pursuit of understanding, akin to traversing uncharted terrain, marries empirical inquiry with theoretical speculation to unravel the mysteries concealed within the convolutions of the brain. At the forefront of this exploration lies the quest to decipher […]

Understanding the Complexity of the Human Brain: a Multidisciplinary Exploration

The human brain, often hailed as the most complex organ in the body, has long captivated the curiosity of scholars across diverse disciplines. This essay embarks on a multidisciplinary exploration of the human brain, delving into its structure, functions, and intricate networks. Neuroanatomy: At the core of understanding the human brain lies neuroanatomy, the study of its structure and organization. Comprising billions of neurons interconnected through synapses, the brain is divided into distinct regions, each responsible for specialized functions. From […]

Neuro-Plasticity Pods: a Deep Dive into Brain Rewiring

In the fast-evolving landscape of cognitive science, the exploration of neuro-plasticity has become a beacon of hope for unlocking the true potential of the human brain. One remarkable advancement in this realm is the emergence of Neuro-Plasticity Pods – immersive environments designed to facilitate profound brain rewiring experiences. The core concept behind Neuro-Plasticity Pods is rooted in the malleability of the brain, its ability to adapt and reorganize itself in response to new experiences. These pods offer a unique blend […]

A Shot in the Dark: the Allegory of Respect in “Bullet in the Brain”

Anders, the protagonist in Tobias Wolff's "Bullet in The Brain," meets an untimely end at the climax of the narrative—a bullet in the brain. Beyond the literal interpretation of this tragic event, a contrarian perspective unveils a profound allegory of respect embedded in the story's fabric. Anders, a jaded literary critic, is known for his acerbic and dismissive demeanor, a manifestation of his disdain for mediocrity in literature. However, as the narrative unfolds, the bank robbery gone awry presents a […]

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Essays About Human Brain

Brief description of human brain.

The human brain is the most complex organ in the body, responsible for controlling our thoughts, emotions, and actions. It plays a crucial role in our everyday functioning, from simple tasks like breathing and walking to complex activities like problem-solving and decision-making.

Importance of Writing Essays on ... Read More Brief Description of Human Brain

Importance of writing essays on this topic.

Essays on the human brain are essential for understanding the intricate workings of the brain and its impact on human behavior, cognition, and mental health. They also provide a platform for exploring the latest research and advancements in neuroscience, psychology, and related fields.

Tips on Choosing a Good Topic

• Focus on current issues and debates in neuroscience and psychology.
• Explore the relationship between the brain and behavior in specific populations, such as children, the elderly, or individuals with neurological disorders.
• Consider interdisciplinary approaches that integrate neuroscience with other fields, such as philosophy, ethics, or artificial intelligence.

Essay Topics

• The impact of stress on the brain and mental health.
• The role of neurotransmitters in regulating mood and behavior.
• Exploring the link between brain injuries and cognitive impairment.
• The ethical implications of brain-computer interfaces.
• The influence of genetics on brain development and functioning.
• The neurobiology of addiction and substance abuse.
• The neurological basis of memory and learning.
• The effects of meditation and mindfulness on brain function.
• The relationship between sleep patterns and brain health.
• The future of artificial intelligence and its impact on the human brain.

Concluding Thought

Writing essays on the human brain offers a unique opportunity to delve into the complexities of the mind and gain a deeper understanding of what makes us human. By exploring diverse topics within this field, we can contribute to the collective knowledge and foster critical thinking about the brain and its profound influence on our lives.

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Florida State University

FSU | Arts and Sciences

Arts and Sciences

Fsu neuroscientists discover two specific brain differences linked to how brains respond during tasks.

McKenzie Harris

A new study by neuroscientists at Florida State University has revealed brain differences that may explain why humans demonstrate a variety of cognitive abilities and behaviors.

The research, conducted by a multi-institution team led by FSU Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Caterina Gratton and research technician Ally Dworetsky, shows that two forms of individual differences may predict cognitive abilities, explain behavioral differences and even pinpoint biomarkers of brain disease.

“We discovered that in addition to individual brain differences located along the borders of brain regions, such as the border between visual and parietal regions of the brain, individual differences can also occur in a different way. Some variations are further away from where you would expect, popping up like islands,” said Dworetsky, a research assistant in the Gratton Lab and the study’s lead author. “We call these ectopic intrusions since they occur in unexpected locations.”

The study — in coordination with colleagues at Washington University in St. Louis, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, University of Oxford and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln — was funded by the National Institutes of Health and  published  this week in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

“This research reconceptualizes how we think about how brains can differ from one another and what these differences mean,” Gratton said. “Additionally, this helps us approach new research questions such as how these differences affect brain development, behavioral traits, the development of disorders and more.”

With a more complete understanding of what is happening in the brain, researchers can better assess the mechanisms underlying what leads brains to differ from one another, which supports the study of brain disorders and diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, an area of research that Gratton has pursued for years.

“This collaboration is a continuation of a previous study on trait-like variants in human functional brain networks that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2019,” Dworetsky said. “The goal of these studies is to better understand how individual differences in the brain manifest in people and reconceptualize how variability in the brain may link to differences in cognition and behavior.”

This recent study, “Two common and distinct forms of variation in human functional brain networks,” is unique in how it approaches brain network variations because previous work on this topic treated individual differences as equivalent and primarily linked to boundary shifts between the borders of brain regions. Identifying additional individual differences in the form of ectopic intrusions helps researchers better understand how each of these differences manifests and how the brain functions normally.

By taking extensive measures of individuals, including scanning the brains of individuals 10 or more times using functional MRI scanning, researchers can reliably identify these locations and obtain more detailed characterizations relative to what is possible with more typical approaches. This data was used to develop methods that identify the border shifts and ectopic intrusions.

“What we found when looking at the data is that the ectopic variants are a quite common phenomenon — it’s more frequent than we expected to have these unusual locations of variations,” Gratton said. “This means we need to think about mechanisms for how the brain can differ that may cause long-range changes in both the connectivity and function between different brain regions.”

Dworetsky, who earned her bachelor’s degree in 2018 from WashU and joined the Gratton Lab in 2020, worked to show that both border shifts and ectopic variants also differ in many ways: they are located in different parts of the brain, they interconnect with different brain systems, and they differ across samples that are genetically similar.

“We learned that separating border shifts and ectopic intrusions can be very informative in our understanding of how these individual differences occur in our brain and also what they may tell us about how the brain functions,” Dworetsky said.

With team members from collaborating institutions specializing in various analyses, ranging from using machine learning techniques to predict demographic and behavioral variables from brain data to heritability and genetic analysis, the researchers were able to better understand genetic and environmental factors and how they played out in the manifesting of brain differences.

“We plan to dig into the cognitive variables that we predict will be affected by these differences, especially to see if these differences can be predictive in certain brain disorders,” Gratton said of forward-looking research.

To learn more about the Department of Psychology at FSU, visit  psychology.fsu.edu . For more information about FSU’s Neuroscience Program, visit  neuro.fsu.edu .

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Essays on Human Brain

24 samples on this topic

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Human Brains May Be Getting Bigger

Brain size in one Massachusetts community has steadily increased since the 1930s, possibly explaining why dementia is trending lower nationwide

By Diana Kwon

Laguna Design/Getty Images

Overall, people in U.S. live longer than they did a hundred years ago. The growing number of people reaching old age has meant an increased proportion are at risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, illnesses that typically strike later in life. However, researchers have found that, in the U.S. and elsewhere, dementia risk may actually be decreasing, at least in a subset of the population. A new study provides a potential explanation for this trend: Human brains may be getting larger—and thus more resilient to degeneration—over time.

Several large population studies in countries including the U.S. and Great Britain have found that, in recent decades, the number of new cases, or incidence, of dementia has declined. Among these is the Framingham Heart Study , which has been collecting data from individuals living in Framingham, Massachusetts since 1948. Now accommodating a third generation of participants, the study includes data from more than 15,000 people.

In 2016, Sudha Seshadri , a neurologist at UT Health San Antonio and her colleagues published findings revealing that while the prevalence—the total number of people with dementia—had increased, the incidence had declined since the late 1970s. “That was a piece of hopeful news,” Seshadri says. “It suggested that over 30 years, the average age at which somebody became symptomatic had gone up.”

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These findings left the team wondering: What was the cause of this reduced dementia risk? While the cardiovascular health of the Framingham residents and their descendants—which can influence the chances of developing dementia—had also improved over the decades, this alone could not fully explain the decline. On top of that, the effect only appeared in people who had obtained a high school diploma, which, according to Seshadri, pointed to the possibility that greater resilience against dementia may result from changes that occur in early life.

Hypothesizing that better health during development would lead to bigger brains, the team decided to investigate whether such changes were apparent in the Framingham residents’ brains. Brain scans, which the researchers conducted using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), had only begun in 1999. So the team examined a subset of 3,226 individuals, born between the 1930s and the 1970s, who had undergone an MRI when they were between 45 and 74 years old.

The team’s analysis of the MRI data, which was published in March in JAMA Neurology , revealed that, in younger generations, several measures of brain size had increased. Brain volume, which was determined by measuring the space within the skull (also known as intracranial volume), had grown by 6.6 percent, from 1236 milliliters in those born in the 1930s to 1317 milliliters in those born in the 1970s. The volume of both the white matter and the hippocampus—the latter a region key to processing memory—had also become larger. The surface area of the cortex (the outer layer of the brain) had also increased, but the thickness of the cortex had shrunk by about 20 percent.

Seeing a decrease in cortical thickness was a bit surprising at first, says Charles DeCarli , a neurologist at the University of California Davis Medical Center and first author of the study. But these findings make sense when considering that, as the brain gets larger, it also becomes more convoluted—a process known as gyrification, which stretches out the surface area of the cortex. A potential consequence of this change might be that the brains of those in later generations are not only getting bigger, but they are also getting more interconnected, DeCarli speculates. An increase in white matter, containing the connective fibers of brain cells, also provides evidence for this hypothesis, he adds.

Brain size reaches its peak in adulthood, and intracranial volume remains stable across the lifespan (except in rare cases associated with bone disease that distorts the shape of the skull). Thus, the authors note that larger brain volume may reflect the influence of environmental factors, such as education and overall health, during development. According to Seshadri, determining what exactly is accounting for the changes in brain size is an important next step to be addressed. There may also be environmental factors that cause brains to shrink—a 2023 study reported that, over that past 50,000 years, human brains tended to be smaller during warmer periods than cooler ones, suggesting that climate change may produce this effect. Since the beginning of the human family tree, which emerged some 7 million years ago, our brains have tripled in size .

“This is a nice study, but it needs more validation,” says Prashanthi Vemuri , a neuroimaging scientist at the Mayo Clinic who wrote an editorial accompanying this study. Replicating these findings in a larger sample and conducting longitudinal studies to examine how brain size changes across the lifespan, will make these findings more convincing, she adds.

Another open question is what brain growth across generations looks like in other populations. The majority of the participants in the Framingham study were healthy, well-educated, and non-Hispanic Whites—so the effect on brain size of living in less privileged circumstances remains to be seen. “These findings need to be explored in other more racially, ethnically, geographically, and socioeconomically diverse populations to see if this holds true,” Seshadri says.

Seshadri and DeCarli note that they and their colleagues are planning to address some of these remaining question in future studies. In the meantime, they note that this work emphasizes that it is crucial to consider both early adulthood and childhood when thinking about dementia prevention.

Carol Brayne , a neuroscientist and epidemiologist at The University of Cambridge who was not involved in the study, agrees. “The Framingham study has been phenomenally important in understanding brain health and how it evolves across the age groups included,” she says. This particular study adds to the growing body of evidence pointing to the importance of addressing risk and resilience factors for dementia across the lifespan, shesays.

“Across the globe, there are children who are going to be more likely—if they survive—to develop dementia because they’ve had sub-optimal life courses,” Brayne says. “The inequalities that we are observing can have major impacts. This is something that policy makers need to pay attention to.” This is something “policymakers need to pay attention to.”

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April 25, 2024

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First experimental proof for brain-like computer with water and salt

by Utrecht University

Theoretical physicists at Utrecht University, together with experimental physicists at Sogang University in South Korea, have succeeded in building an artificial synapse. This synapse works with water and salt and provides the first evidence that a system using the same medium as our brains can process complex information.

The results appear in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .

In the pursuit of enhancing the energy efficiency of conventional computers, scientists have long turned to the human brain for inspiration. They aim to emulate its extraordinary capacity in various ways.

These efforts have led to the development of brain-like computers, which diverge from traditional binary processing to embrace analog methods akin to our brains. However, while our brains operate using water and dissolved salt particles called ions as their medium, most current brain-inspired computers rely on conventional solid materials.

This raises the question: Could we not achieve a more faithful replication of the brain's workings by adopting the same medium? This intriguing possibility lies at the heart of the burgeoning field of iontronic neuromorphic computing.

Artificial synapse

In the latest study published in PNAS , scientists have, for the very first time, demonstrated a system reliant on water and salt exhibiting the ability to process intricate information, mirroring the functionality of our brains. Central to this discovery is a minute device measuring 150 by 200 micrometers, which mimics the behavior of a synapse—an essential component in the brain responsible for transmitting signals between neurons.

Tim Kamsma, a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Mathematical Institute of Utrecht University, and the lead author of the study, expresses his excitement, stating, "While artificial synapses capable of processing complex information already exist based on solid materials, we now show for the first time that this feat can also be accomplished using water and salt. We are effectively replicating neuronal behavior using a system that employs the same medium as the brain."

Ion migration

The device, developed by scientists in Korea and referred to as an iontronic memristor, comprises a cone-shaped microchannel filled with a solution of water and salt. Upon receiving electrical impulses , ions within the liquid migrate through the channel, leading to alterations in ion concentration.

Depending on the intensity (or duration) of the impulse, the conductivity of the channel adjusts accordingly, mirroring the strengthening or weakening of connections between neurons. The extent of change in conductance serves as a measurable representation of the input signal.

An additional finding is that the length of the channel impacts the duration required for concentration changes to dissipate. "This suggests the possibility of tailoring channels to retain and process information for varying durations, again akin to the synaptic mechanisms observed in our brains," says Kamsma.

The genesis of this discovery can be traced back to an idea conceived by Kamsma, who began his doctoral research not long ago. He transformed this concept—centered around the utilization of artificial ion channels for classification tasks—into a robust theoretical model.

"Coincidently, our paths crossed with the research group in South Korea during that period," says Kamsma. "They embraced my theory with great enthusiasm and swiftly initiated experimental work based on it."

Remarkably, the initial findings materialized just three months later, closely aligning with the predictions outlined in Kamsma's theoretical framework. "I thought wow!" he reflects. "It's incredibly gratifying to witness the transition from theoretical conjecture to tangible real-world outcomes, ultimately resulting in these beautiful experimental results."

A significant step forward

Kamsma underscores the fundamental nature of the research, highlighting that iontronic neuromorphic computing, while experiencing rapid growth, is still in its infancy. The envisioned outcome is a computer system vastly superior in efficiency and energy consumption compared to present-day technology. However, whether this vision will materialize remains speculative at this juncture. Nevertheless, Kamsma views the publication as a significant step forward.

"It represents a crucial advancement toward computers not only capable of mimicking the communication patterns of the human brain but also utilizing the same medium," he asserts. "Perhaps this will ultimately pave the way for computing systems that replicate the extraordinary capabilities of the human brain more faithfully"

Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Provided by Utrecht University

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