Flowers for Algernon

Overview of the Brain and how it functions. Fill in the blanks on your

guided notes as we go through the PPT. Feel free to add information where you

please.

What do you already know?

• Write down anything you know about the parts of the brain and how it functions? What facts, parts, or knowledge do you know about the brain either in humans or other animals?– Take 1 minute, write down what you know about

the brain.

– After 1 minute, share with a partner.

– Add to your list if you’d like.

– Be prepared to share with the class.

Triune Brain

• These areas are divided according to whether the structures resemble those found in reptiles,early mammals, or of more recently evolved mammals.

• A structural model of the human brain that divides the brain by its threephysical areas.

To Review… What kind of brain?

Neo cortex(Cerebral Cortex)

Emotional Brain (Limbic System)

Survival /ReptilianBrain

Recently evolved mammals: calculating, deliberate, logical, higher thinking

Reptilian: animal, cold-blooded, predatory

The Triune Brain uses words that reflect the emotional/logical brain distinction:

Triune Brain

Neocortex(Cerebral Cortex)

Emotional Brain (Limbic System)

Survival /Reptillian Brain(The R Complex)

Reptilian Brain

• The oldest part of the brain and the part of the “Triune Brain” structural model that includes such early-evolved, inner structures of the brain. Also called the R complex.

The Reptilian Brain

The 3Fs are important in how you learn too.

If you are trying to learn something new- something hard – it can

be seen as a threat. You might do one of the 3 F’s of the

Reptilian Brain.

• FLEE: You might find excuses not to do it – try to walk

away from the work

• FIGHT: You might argue against the teacher, the

book, the lesson, spending your time thinking of

arguments why you shouldn’t be doing it

•FREEZE: Your mind might simply go

blank; panic attack, or fainting.

Limbic System

• A group of brain structures that together regulate motives, emotions, memory, and physiological processes.

The Limbic Brain

The Limbic Brain controls emotions.

It is this part of the brain that decides whether you are motivated to

learn something.

If it thinks it is useful it will let it through

If it thinks it is a threat it will cut off all other thoughts from

your brain to let all your brain deal with the threat

It is this part of the brain that stores emotional memories – so if

you were made to feel threatened by doing a test, then it

remembers that next time you do a test and treats it as a threat.

This explains why some people go to pieces in exams and tests

The Neo cortex (Cerebral Cortex)

The NEO CORTEX is also called the

Cerebral Cortex.

The Neo-Cortex is where you do your THINKING.

The Neo-Cortex has the “Strategist”, looking for

solutions to problems for you.

If the reptilian brain and the limbic brain let

messages through, it is the neo-cortex that

processes that information and tells your body how

to react.

•Makes Speaking and Writing possible

•Processes sensory information (smell, taste, hear,

feel, and see).

Hemispheric Specialization

Right Brain

Left Brain

Intuitive, creative logic.

Active in fear, anger,

pessimism and worry

Verbal, analytic logic.

Active in joy, empathy,

optimism and trust

The Left Brain and the Right Brain

The Left Brain

This is where these

tasks are carried out

• Language

• Logic and Maths

• Words of songs

• Memory of facts

• Analysing

The Right Brain

• Vision and space

• Rhythm

• Music

• Pictures and images

• Imagination

• Relationships

between facts

Look at the chart and say the color not the word.

Color

Which of the two faces appears happier?

•1.Your Intelligence can be improved

•2.You have several different types of

intelligence ( This is called “Multiple

Intelligences” )

People usually think of

those who use their

brain well as being

intelligent. Your

intelligence would be

measured by your I.Q..

Some people think your

I.Q. is fixed and that

you can’t get any more

“clever”. However…

Multiple Intelligences

There are usually said to be 9 Multiple Intelligences. These are….

• Linguistic ( to do with language )

• Mathematical ( including logical thinking )

• Musical ( everything to do with patterns and sounds )

• Inter personal ( working with other people )

• Intra personal ( looking critically at how you are working )

• Visual / Spatial ( being able to judge shapes, distances and so

on )

• Kinaesthetic ( control over your movement, sporting skills,

drawing etc )

• Naturalistic ( sensitivity to your natural environment )

• Existential (the meaning of life, existence, human connections)

The Human Brain Clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UukcdU258A

Listen carefully, the man is British.

Note: Watch from Beginning-4:30, skip 2 min, then from 6:30 to end.

Works Cited

• www.acwa.asn.au/Conf2006/Wed_Bath.ppt

• www.response-education.org/Brain.ppt