James P. Adams Library: LEARNING YOUR WAY TO A HEALTHY BRAIN: The Brain

Handouts

Debunking Myths About Your Brain
An infographic from AARP and the Global Council on Brain Health

Know Your Brain (Brain Basics)
10 page brochure from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Get Excited About the Brain
Do you like to color? Here's a coloring and activity book for all ages that provides good basic information about our brain.

Videos about the Brain

Video - "Brain Components" (4 mins)
"Brain Components" A video from MedlinePlus, the Online Medical Encyclopedia from the National Library of Medicine.
How Alzheimer's Disease Changes the Brain
National Institute on Aging (NIA) video production
Mysteries of the Brain
Through neural connections, called synapses, the brain can process and store enormous amounts of information. Neuroscientist Gary Lynch at the University of California, Irvine explains how this incredibly complex communication process allows animals, including humans, to learn and remember.
Brain 101 - (National Geographic You Tube Channel)
The brain constitutes only about 2 percent of the human body, yet it is responsible for all of the body's functions. Learn about the parts of the human brain, as well as its unique defenses from this 2017 video.
(This video begins with an ad which you can skip.)

Fun Facts about the Brain

Fun Facts About Your Brain ( from the website of Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL)

Made up of billions of neurons (or nerve cells) that communicate in trillions of connections called synapses, your brain is one of the most complex and fascinating organs in your body. Keeping your brain healthy and active is vital. Discover just how powerful it is with these interesting facts. Your brain has a big job. Be sure to take care of it.

Sixty percent of the human brain is made of fat. Not only does that make it the fattiest organ in the human body, but these fatty acids are crucial for your brain’s performance. Make sure you’re fueling it appropriately with healthy, brain-boosting nutrients.
Your brain isn't fully formed until age 25. Brain development begins from the back of the brain and works its way to the front. Therefore, your frontal lobes, which control planning and reasoning, are the last to strengthen and structure connections.
Your brain’s storage capacity is considered virtually unlimited. Research suggests the human brain consists of about 86 billion neurons. Each neuron forms connections to other neurons, which could add up to 1 quadrillion (1,000 trillion) connections. Over time, these neurons can combine, increasing storage capacity. However, in Alzheimer’s disease, for example, many neurons can become damaged and stop working, particularly affecting memory.
Brain information travels up to an impressive 268 miles per hour. When a neuron is stimulated, it generates an electrical impulse that travels from cell to cell. A disruption in this regular processing can cause an epileptic seizure. Click for more....!

Human Brain

A 10 page brochure from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

A coloring and activity book for all ages offering good, fundamental information about the brain.

Links to these booklets are also included in the Handouts box on the left side of this page.

Brain Components of Note!

The corpus callosum is the structure deep in the brain that connects the right and left hemispheres of the cerebrum, coordinating the functions of the two halves.

The cerebral cortex is made up of tightly packed neurons and is the wrinkly, outermost layer that surrounds the brain. It is responsible for higher thought processes, including speech and decision making

The thalamus is either of two masses of gray matter lying between the cerebral hemispheres on either side of the third ventricle, relaying sensory information and acting as a center for pain perception.

The hypothalamus is an area of the brain that produces hormones that control body temperature, hunger, mood, the release of hormones from many glands, especially the pituitary gland, sex drive, sleep, thirst, and heart rate.

The hippocampus is a seahorse-shaped structure located within the brain and considered an important part of the limbic system. One of the most studied areas of the brain, it is involved in learning, memory, and emotion.

The cerebellum is a major structure of the hindbrain located near the brainstem. This part of the brain is responsible for coordinating voluntary movements. It is also responsible for a number of functions including motor skills such as balance, coordination, and posture.

The brain stem is the posterior part of the brain. It has the critical role of helping to control heart rate and breathing rate as well as regulating the central nervous system and the body's sleep cycle.