🧬Rehya's science blog🧪

Mapping the mind: Exploring the Brain's function Do you think that our brain functions are interconnected or restricted to one place of our brain? In psychology, there are 2 theories to answer this question.  The first is the holistic theory. This means that our brain functions is interconnected. Plasticity can show this (we'll discuss this more later). The second is the localisation of function. This is the theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, processes or activities.  Before Broca and Wernicke (2 psychologists who studied speech) discovered that specific areas of the brain are associated with physical and psychological functions, scientists supported the holistic theory of the brain.  Localisation of function (a.k.a cortical specialisation) is the idea that if we damage an area of our brain, the function will also be affected, because different parts of the brain perform different tasks and are involved with different parts of the

Navigating the Wonders of Neurons and Neural Networks  Like cells are the building blocks of life, neurons are the building blocks of the nervous system Neurons We have 100 million neurons (nerve cells) in our human nervous system. With 80% located in the brain! It plays a crucial role in communication by transmitting signals electrically and chemically, to the nervous system.  We have 3 types of neurons:  Sensory neurons Carry messages from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system Short axons and long dendrites These are activated by sensory input from the environment (like touching a hot surface with your fingertips) Relay neurons Connect sensory neurons to motor or other relay neurons Short dendrites and short axons Allows sensory neurons and motor neurons to communicate Motor neurons Connects central nervous system to effectors like muscles and glands Short dendrites and long axons Transmits spinal cord to skeletal and smooth muscles and can control our muscle mo

Biopsychology The study of our brain and our nervous system and how it influences mental processes and behaviour.   Nervous system A specialised network of cells in our human body called our nervous system, is a primary internal communication system.  It's made up of 2 main functions:    a) In our environment, it collects, processes and responds to information    b) Co-ordinates working of different organs and cells in the body Our nervous system is made up of 2 sub-systems:  Central nervous system Brain Centre of conscious awareness (if we had this, it would slow the reflex process down) The outer layer, the cerebral cortex, distinguishes our higher mental functions from animals as it is highly developed in humans Divided into 2 hemispheres Spinal cord extension of the brain  responsible for reflex actions like pulling a hand away from a hot plate Peripheral nervous system          Transmits messages via nerve cells (neurons) to and from the central nervous  system Autonomic nervo