Mastering Your Mind: Strategies for Maintaining Brain Health Over the Long Haul
In the vast and complex landscape of the human body, the brain stands out as the command centre, responsible for everything from our most basic survival instincts to our most complex thoughts and emotions. Let's take a closer look at the key parts of this remarkable organ.
The Cerebrum, the largest part of the brain, is where higher mental functions such as thought, memory, voluntary muscle movements, sensory processing, speech, and complex planning take place [1][3][5]. The Cerebral Cortex, the outer layer of the cerebrum, is involved in advanced abilities including sensory perception, cognition, generation of motor commands, spatial reasoning, and language [4].
The Thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, playing crucial roles in regulating consciousness, sleep, and alertness [3][5]. The Hypothalamus controls vital functions like body temperature, hunger, thirst, emotions, and moods, and links the nervous system with the endocrine system via hormone regulation [1][3][5].
The Midbrain (Mesencephalon) is the smallest region of the brainstem. It includes the Tectum, which processes visual and auditory information, coordinating reflexive responses such as eye and head movements [1][3], and the Tegmentum, which is involved in processing pain, controlling autonomic functions, sleep regulation, arousal, and linking motor commands [1][3].
The Hindbrain comprises the cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata. The Cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements, balance, posture, and fine motor control by integrating sensory information related to body position [2][3]. The Medulla Oblongata controls automatic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. The Pons acts as a communication and coordination center between different brain regions, particularly the cerebellum and cerebrum [2][3].
Throughout history, our understanding of the human brain has evolved. In 2010, brain recordings suggested brain 'coupling' occurs between two people when one is listening to the other speak [6]. In 2020, researchers unveiled a 'plug-and-play' device that can be implanted in a paraplegic person's brain, allowing them to control a cursor on a computer screen using just their thoughts [7].
Despite popular myths, humans do not only use 10% of their brains [8]. A healthy lifestyle can slow memory decline, even in people with genetic factors that make them more susceptible to dementia [9]. Modern human brains account for 2.2% of body weight [10].
Looking back further in time, remains of Australopithecus afarensis, an ape-like ancestor, suggest their brains were about a third the size of modern humans [11]. Recent research shows that although Australopithecus afarensis brains were organised like those of apes, they took longer to grow, meaning the primates had a longer childhood [12].
In 2000, a study found that London taxi drivers' hippocampi (a region involved with spatial memory) were bigger than those of non-taxi drivers [13]. In 2005, a US study claimed that big brains are linked to being smart [14]. Mentally draining tasks divert energy away from other processes in the brain [15].
In 2015, neuroscientists claimed they had created false memories in mice by stimulating the reward centres in their brains [16]. This discovery underscores the intricate relationship between memory, emotion, and brain function.
These structures work together to support all bodily functions from basic survival—like breathing and heartbeat—to complex thought, emotions, and sensory experiences [2][5]. As our understanding of the human brain continues to grow, so too does our appreciation for this incredible organ.
References: [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279299/ [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279300/ [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279301/ [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279302/ [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279304/ [6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2826208/ [7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7510467/ [8] https://www.livescience.com/38468-myth-humans-only-use-10-percent-brain.html [9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3053507/ [10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3679358/ [11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4265123/ [12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6646981/ [13] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1091331/ [14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1182297/ [15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2537424/ [16] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4602133/
- The field of science, specifically neuroscience, has made significant strides in understanding the role of the brain's various regions in health-and-wellness, such as the Cerebrum, Cerebral Cortex, Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Midbrain, Hindbrain, and their associated functions.
- Research in the scientific domain has uncovered intriguing connections between the brain and other aspects of human life, like mental-health, as evidenced by brain 'coupling' between individuals [6] and the growth of the hippocampus in London taxi drivers due to their job's spatial memory demands [13].
- Evolution has played a crucial role in shaping the human brain, with our understanding extending from comparative studies of ancestral species like Australopithecus afarensis, which had brains a third the size of modern humans [11], to discoveries about the extended growth of these brains during their development [12].
- As science delves deeper into brain function, aspects such as energy consumption come into focus, with mentally taxing tasks diverting energy away from other processes [15]. Furthermore, a healthy lifestyle can contribute to slower memory decline, even in genetically predisposed individuals [9].
