| Is the brain the most complex organ in the human body? | Yes it is. The complexity of an organism's nervous system determines the range of behaviours it's able to produce. Humans have the most complex nervous system of any animal. |
| What is the foundation of the nervous system? | Genetically determined electrical circuits are the foundation of the nervous system. The basic wiring of the brain is similar for individuals within a species; variations at the brain-cell level account for differences. |
| How does intelligence grow? | Intelligence grows as the brain reason and solves problems. The brain is the foundation of the mind and thinking. |
| What is the purpose of language? | Language allows information exchange and creative thought. |
| What does the brain instinctively look out for in the world? | Patterns. The brain tries to make sense of incoming sensory information, recognises conflict, and creates predications and expectations that guide behaviour. |
| What are neurons and how many are there in the human brain? | Neurons are nerve cells and is the learning unit of the brain, central to cognitive development. It is estimated that the brain is composed of between 100 and 200 billion neuron (Carlson, 2011; Seung, 2012). |
| What are dendrites? | Dendrites are the cell body of the neuron. It is has relatively short, branchlike structures that extend from the cell body and receive messages from other neurons. |
| What are axons? | Axons are longer branches that also extend from the cell body and transmit messages. |
| How do neurons communicate with one another? | They communicate but don't usually touch; instead, signals are sent across synapses. Synapses are tiny spaces between neurons that allow messages to be transmitted from one neuron to another.
When an electrical impulse is sent down the axon, it produces a chemical that crosses the synapse and stimulated the dendrites of neighbouring neurons. |
| Explain the phrase "what gets fired, gets wired" in terms of cognitive neuroscience. | Frequent transmission of information between neurons can establish a permanent physical relationship between them (Johnson, 2011). These include motor skills and cognitive tasks. Knowledge identified through patterns is retained longer and is more likely to connect to other information (Brunning, Schraw, & Norby, 2011; Schunk, 2012). |
| Should the generation of synapses be promoted in children? | Yes because psychologists believe that generating more synapses than they will ever need allows children to adapt to the wide variety of circumstances they'll encounter throughout their lives (Davidson, 2011; Johnson, 2011). |
| Describe 2 important processes that occur in the brain during development. | 1. Myelination, which occurs when cells grow around neurons to give them structural support, and a fatty coating of myelin, called the myelin sheath, develops to insulate axons and enable them to conduct electrical charges quickly and efficiently.
2. Synaptic pruning, which is the elimination of synapses that are infrequently used. The brain recognises patterns in the environment and reorganises physically, keeping the synaptic connection that are used and discarding those that aren't. Cognitive development involves both creating and eliminating these synaptic connections (Siegel, 2012). |
| According to neuroscience, can you "teach an old dog new tricks"? | Yes using the concept of neuroplasticity. Our brains retain the capacity to change and grow throughout our lives from exposure to positive and enriching experiences (Anguera et al., 2013). |
| Where is the cerebral cortex located in the brain and what is its main function? | The cerebral cortex rests on the top and sides of the brain and much of human thinking occurs in this area (Anderson, 2010; Carlson, 2011). It contributes to 85% of the brain's total weight and contains the greatest number of neurons and synaptic connections (Berk, 2013). |
| What are the functions of the left and right hemispheres of the cortex? | 1. The right controls the left side of our bodies and vice versa.
2. Also, in most people the left hemisphere controls language and logical thinking. The right deals with synthesising information -especially visual images- into meaningful patterns. |
| Should we categorise individuals as being "right brained" and "left brained"? | No. People are neither, and efforts to teach to the left or right brain are both overly simplistic and misguided (Siegel, 2012; Sprenger, 2010). The two hemispheres function as an INTEGRATED WHOLE, especially with respect to the cognitive tasks found ins schools (Carlson, 2011). |
| Where is the prefrontal cortex and what are its functions? | The prefrontal cortex is a portion of the cortex located near the forehead, and is the area of the brain largely responsible for a range of complex human activities.
As development occurs, the prefrontal cortex monitors and guides other parts of the brain's activities including planning, maintaining attention, reasoning, decision making, emotional control, and the inhibition of unhealthy thoughts and behaviours (Cartwright, 2012; Casey, Jones, & Somerville, 2011; Kurzwel, 2012; Yang & Raine, 2009).
Some authors also suggest that an integral link exists between a person's personality and the fuctions of the prefrontal cortex (DeYoung et. al., 2010) |
| Which part of the brain develops first and which is the last to develop? | The part controlling physical movement develops first, followed by vision and hearing, and ending with the prefrontal cortex. This area may not be fully developed until we are in our twenties. |
| Use neuroscience to explain the sometimes undisciplined and dangerous behaviours of teenagers (drinking and driving, drug use, unprotective sex etc.) | It is the LAG in development of the prefrontal cortex. Rebellious teenagers lack the ability to assess risk and make sound decisions.
Therefore, a firm and consistent home and school environment that support learning and development are so important. Rules and limits that simplify decisions help teenagers through this often confusing period. |
| What are some of the controversies and criticisms in neuroscience? | 1. Neuroscience CAN'T explain everything about human behavior (Brooks, 2013). Some things are well beyond what neuroscience is capable of predicting.
2. Be careful of "brain-based learning" and what it prescribes. Make sure it is aligned with proper practices in teaching and learning.
3. Be careful of intensive training for young children (exposing them to foreign languages in pre-school). "No evidence exist for a sensitive/critical period in the first few years of life for mastering skills that depend on extensive training, such as reading, musical performance, or gymnastics" (Berk, 2013, p. 192). Rushing early learning may harm the brain by overwhelming its neural circuits, making it less sensitive to the routine experiences it needs for a healthy start in life. |
