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How the Brain Functions: An Overview of its Structure and Processes

Jul 24, 2023 | 0 comments

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Jul 24, 2023 | Essays | 0 comments

The brain comprises of billions of nerve cells that are arranged in patterns. The nerve cells coordinate sensation, movement, behavior, emotion and thought. The complicate highway system of nerves is connects the brain to the rest of the body enhancing communication between the brain and body in split seconds. The brain performs different functions. However, it takes different processes and different parts of the brain to execute these functions. Therefore, to understand the role of the brain, it is important to establish how it functions. Therefore, this essay is going to explicate how the brain works.

The brain is comprised of different parts, which work together, but either part is responsible for a specific function. Three main parts make up the brain, the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the brain stem. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. The cerebral cortex forms the outermost section of the cerebellum and is referred to as the gray matter of the brain. The gray matter has deep fold and wrinkles, which increases its surface, are making it able on process the information more. The cerebrum is separated into two parts, which make the hemispheres by a deep fissure. Communication occurs between the two brains parts through the usage of a thick tract of nerves referred to as corpus callosum. The tract of nerves is located at the base of the fissure. The opposite side of the brain takes care of the messages to and from one side of the body (Pandya, 2011). The brain’s hemispheres are categorized into four lobes. The frontal lobes are in charge of movement, short-term memory, problem solving, organizing, planning and control thinking. The parietal lobes perform the function of interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature and taste. The occipital lobes process the images from the eyes and connect that information with the images stored in the memory. The temporal lobes on the other hand process information from sound, taste and senses of smell. These lobes also take part in memory storage (Plotnik & Kouyoumdjian, 2013).

The other part of the brain is the cerebellum. It is a wrinkled ball of tissue, which is located behind the rest of the brain. It functions through combining sensory information from the muscles, ears and eyes to help in coordination of movement. The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls many vital functions including breathing, blood pressure and heart rate. This area also plays a vital role in sleep. There are different structures located deep in the brain that are used to control emotions and memories. These structures come in pairs and are referred to as the limbic system. Each part of the limbic system is a duplicate of the opposite half of the brain. They include the thalamus, which acts as the gatekeeper for messages to be transmitted between the spinal cord and the cerebral hemispheres (Plotnik & Kouyoumdjian, 2013). Another part of this system is the hypothalamus, which controls emotions, and controls crucial urges like sleeping and eating and, regulates the temperature of the body. The last part of the limbic system is the hippocampus, which sends memories to be stored in the right sections of the cerebrum. Additionally, this part also recalls the memories when need be (MIller, 2010).

The brain communicates with the rest of the body through nerve cells otherwise referred to as neurons. Nerve cells have two main types of branches, which generate from their cell bodies. The dendrites receive incoming messages from other nerve cells. An axon on the other hand is the nerve cell tasked with carrying the outgoing signals to other cells from the cell body. Neurons are interconnected with each other hence able to provide fast and efficient communication. Neurons communicate with other cells using electrical impulses generated by the stimulation of the nerve cell. The impulse is transmitted to the axon’s tip and subsequently releases neurotransmitters within a neuron. Neurotransmitters are chemicals, which act as messengers. They pass through the synapse. The synapse is the gap that exists between two nerve cells and attach to the receptor of the receiving cell (MIller, 2010). This process takes place repeatedly from one neuron to another as the impulse moves to its destination. This web communication allows a person to communicate, feel, think and move. Accordingly, if the neurotransmitters do not relay the message correctly and if the entire process is not executed well, it leads to mental illnesses like depression (MIller, 2010). As stipulated earlier, communication between neurons can also be electrical, like in areas of the brain, which play the role of controlling movement. When the electrical signals are abnormal, they can lead to the symptoms and tremors found in Parkinson’s disease (Pandya, 2011).

Consequently, for the brain to function, it uses the neurotransmitters. These chemicals can affect weight, mood, concentration, sleep and can lead to detrimental symptoms when they are out of balance. Excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters are the two types of neurotransmitters. The brain is  stimulated by the  excitatory neurotransmitters while calming of the brain and help in the restoration of balance inhibitory neurotransmitters. They balance mood are easily depleted in situations when the excitatory neurotransmitters are overactive. Inhibitory neurotransmitters include serotonin, GABA and dopamine. Sufficient amounts of serotonin are necessary for stability in mood (Plotnik & Kouyoumdjian, 2013). Serotonin also balances any excessive excitatory neurotransmitter firing in the brain. Serotonin also plays other functions including regulation of appropriate digestions, pain control, appetite and sleep cycle, and carbohydrate cravings. Low levels of serotonin are aligned with a reduction in the immune system’s functionality of (MIller, 2010). Moreover, lower than normal levels of serotonin is associated with depression. Subsequently, the medications used for the treatment of depressions act by blocking the re-uptake and recycling of serotonin through neuron transmission. Thus, a number of serotonin stays in the synapse so that the receiving neuron can bind onto it leading to normal mood functioning (Pandya, 2011).

GABA is also an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which is usually referred to as “nature’s VALIUM-like substance”. If GABA is out of balance, either in high or low excretion values, this could be because of excitatory neurotransmitters firing too often in the brain. The brain sends GABA to attempt to counter the stimulating over-firing hence restore balance. Dopamine on the other hand is a special neurotransmitter for the reason that it is considered both excitatory and inhibitory. It helps with depression. Moreover, it is mainly involved in controlling movement and facilitating information flow from the frontal part of the brain that is linked to emotion and thought (MIller, 2010). Examples of excitatory neurotransmitters include dopamine, glutamate, norepinephrine and epinephrine. In high or low values, dopamine impedes memory. Dopamine is also responsible for desire and drive thus; dopamine is linked to the reward system of the brain. Problems in the production of dopamine can lead to Parkinson’s disease, a disorder that affects the movement ability of an individual. This leads to stiffness, shaking or tremors. Lower than normal level of dopamine or problems allied with the use of dopamine in the feeling and thinking regions of the brain play a role in disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or schizophrenia (Plotnik & Kouyoumdjian, 2013). Consequently, medications used for patients with (ADHD) and caffeine cause dopamine to be pushed to the synapse leading to enhancement in focus. Conversely, if dopamine is stimulated from time to time, this can lead to its depletion over time. Norepinephrine facilitates stimulatory processes in the body. This neurotransmitter is used to make epinephrine. It causes anxiety are escalated excretion levels. It is also associated with mood dampening effects (Pandya, 2011). On the other hand, low levels of norepinephrine are allied with sleep cycle problems, a decrease in the ability to focus and low energy.

Epinephrine is also an excitatory neurotransmitter, which is reflected in stress. The values for this neurotransmitter are usually elevated in the presence of ADHD like symptoms. Long-term insomnia and stress lead to the depletion of the levels of epinephrine. Regulation of blood pressure and heart rate is also carried out by the excitatory neurotransmitter (Plotnik & Kouyoumdjian, 2013). Another excitatory transmitter is glutamate. When released, it increased the probability that the neuron will fire. This leads to an enhancement in the electrical flow among the brain cells, which are required for normal functionality. This neurotransmitter also facilitates brain development. Moreover, it assists in memory and learning. Problems pertaining to the use or production of glutamate are allied with depression, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive and autism (Pandya, 2011).

The brain is complex. However, it has different components which work collaboratively to enhance the functionality of the brain. Understanding how the brain works is important as t helps in the comprehension of the role of the brain in mental disorders.

References

MIller, D. (2010). How our brain works: the construction and functionality of your brain presented and Explained . S.I: IUniverse, Inc.

Pandya, S. (2011). Understanding Brain, Mind and Soul: Contributions from Neurology and Neurosurgery. Mens Sana Monagr, 9(1), 129–149.

Plotnik, R. & Kouyoumdjian, H. (2013). Introduction to Psychology. Belmont , CA: Cengage Learning.

 

 

 

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