Th

e D

evelo

pin

g B

rain

KEY TERMS

AXONCORTEXDENDRITE

MYELINNEURONSSYNAPSE

OBJECTIVES

Explain what functions each part of the brain controls

Describe how brain cells work together

Explain how the brain becomes organized

Identify activities that support the development of brain pathways

Newborns learn about the world mainly through their senses:

SightHearingSmellTouchTaste

Why do we have brains????

The brain receives and interprets messages from the body

The brain develops the ability to send messages to the body, telling the muscles what to do

The brain learns how to coordinate the messages received through the senses and make

meaning /understanding/ knowledge (Intellect)

Babies are born with neurons (nerve cells), but as thechild develops, neurons sprout arms called dendritesand axons. The arms connect to create neuralpathways.

Dendrites- Receive information from other neurons. Each dendrite can have many different branches

Cell Body- The dendrites pass the information to the cell body, where the information is processed

Axons- The cell body sends an instruction to the body through the axons which transmit the instructions to the dendrites. Axons which are longer than the dendrites, are coated with a waxy substance called myelin. This substance makes it easier for the info to transmit.

Neurons

How

does t

he b

rain

work

? NEURONS

The brain is made up of billions of nervecells called neurons. Neurons send andreceive messages from one another.

How Neurons WorkNeurons "talk" to each other by sending chemicals

(neurotransmitters) to each other across a very tiny space called a synapse. Learning happens when two neurons "talk" to each other. As the brain makes connections, it actually grows dendrites and makes stronger synapses. That means that the more you learn, the heavier your brain gets! So that means you really can "grow" a better brain.

Building The BrainThe more arms that a neuron grows, and

the more links that develop between different neurons, the more networks the brain has.

More networks = more brain power!!!!

The increased connections also give the brain more flexibility

How the Brain Becomes Organized

Each child’s brain becomes organized in a unique way

Organization grows out of the child’s experiences

As connections between dendrites and axons grow stronger, a group of neurons are linked together

They become networks of nerve cells that control an action or thinking task

Each time a network is in use, it gets stronger and the action or task becomes easier

More networks = More Brain POWER!!!

Networks in the Brain

PARTS OF THE BRAINThe brain is divided intodifferent sections, calledlobes. Each controls a specificfunctions of the body

Parietal LobeOccipital LobeTemporal LobeFrontal Lobe

Cerebral CortexThis newspaper sized

"white matter" is the 1/4" outside covering of both brain hemispheres.

The cerebral cortex controls your thinking, voluntary movements, language, reasoning, and perception

In higher mammals the cortex looks like it has lots of wrinkles, grooves and bumps. Grooves and bumps are also called "gyros." Cortex is the Latin word for "bark."

Parietal LobeConnected with the

processing of nerve impulses related to the senses, such as touch, pain, taste, pressure, and temperature.

Also have language functions

Occipital Lobe Involved with the

brain's ability to recognize objects. It is responsible for our vision.

Frontal Lobe  Is concerned with

emotions, reasoning, planning, movement, and parts of speech.

It is also involved in

purposeful acts such as creativity, judgment, problem solving, and planning.

Temporal LobeResponsible for

hearing, memory, meaning, and language.

They also play a role in emotion and learning.

The temporal lobes are concerned with interpreting and processing auditory stimuli.

CerebellumControls Muscular

coordination and balance

Brain StemControls involuntary

activities such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure

All information to and from our body passes through the brain stem on the way to or from the brain

Pitutary Gland

The pituitary gland controls your hormones and it helps to turn food to energy.

Regulates growth, metabolism, and sexual development

Thalamus & Hypothalamus

Connects the spinal cord and the cerebrum

Controls expression of emotions

The hypothalamus controls your body temperature, emotions, hunger, thirst, appetite, digestion and sleep.

AmygdalaThe amygdala (there

are two of them) control your emotions such as regulating when you're happy or mad.

Your amygdala is very important. Without it you could win the lottery and feel nothing. You wouldn't be happy.

HippocampasThe hippocampas forms

and stores your memories (scientists think there are other things unknown about the hippocampas) and is involved in learning.

Your hippocampus is one of the most important parts of your brain. If you didn't have it, you wouldn't be able to remember anything. People with Alzheimer's Disease loose the functioning of their hippocampas.

Rules to Build a Brain ByCaregivers can use these research findings to shape the environment of children and help develop their brains

Keep it simple and natural

Match experiences to the child’s mental capacities

Remember that practice makes perfect

Make sure the child is actively involved

Provide variety, but avoid overloading the child

Avoid pushing the child

Think Pair ShareThe brain can be re-organized but it is

easiest to organize it right the first time

Do you agree? Why or Why not?

1. Write your answer in your journal2. Pair up with a partner3. Share answers