The Dynamic Duo: Heart and Brain – Unraveling Their Intricate Connection Introduction The human body is a marvel of complexity and coordination, with every organ and system playing a vital role in maintaining our health and well-being. Among the most fascinating and integral components of our body are the heart and the brain. These two…
The Art and Science of Yoga: A Holistic Approach to Well-Being and Harmony In a world filled with constant hustle and bustle, finding inner peace and maintaining physical well-being has become a significant challenge. One ancient practice that has stood the test of time and continues to offer a holistic approach to health and harmony…
PATHWAYS / GRAY MATTER [ MESSENGERS ( THE NERVOUS SYSTEM ) ] PATHWAYS Pain signals take rwo tracks on their way to the brain. The express line, like a nonstop train between cities, sends signals through the spinal cord and connects directly to the thalamus. While some pain signals are diverted along the way, those that…
BRAIN MAPPING [ LOOKING INSIDE ( THE AMAZING BRAIN ) ] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gives a more detailed 3-D picture than a CT scan. An MRI relies on an intense magnetic field generated in a cylinder that surrounds the patient. It allows precise mapping of the physical shape of the brain. Its magnetic field…
FIRST GLIMPSE / A BETTER LOOK / COMPUTERIZED VISIONS [ THE AMAGING BRAIN ] FIRST GLIMPSE The first technology to peer into the brain was the x-ray, invented by Wilhelm Rontgen (1845-1923) in 1895. The German scientist discovered a form of radiation that could penetrate the body; the rays were absorbed by dense bones, which…
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN [ THE AMAGING BRAIN ] Scientists have long Dreamed of Exammmg how the brain works within a living body. The problem, though, was figuring out how to get inside the head without causing injury or even death. Doctors treating wounds from wars and accidents have been able to get glimpses of living…
LOOKING INSIDE [ SEEING THE BRAIN AT WORK ( THE AMAGING BRAIN ) ] ONCE THE brain’s true purpose was ascertained, scientists began finding new ways to observe it and its functions. Starting with noninvasive methods, like IQ tests, they tried to learn more about the living brain and measure how it worked. These intelligence…
ANATOMY [ DIFFERENT PARTS & DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES ( THE AMAZING BRAIN ) ] DIENCEPHALON In the center of the brain, between the cerebrum’s two hemispheres, lies the diencephalon. It consists largely of three important structures : the Thalamus, Hypothalamus, and Epithalamus. The Thalamus acts as a relay for sensory information on its way to the…
ANATOMY [ DIFFERENT PARTS DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES ( THE AMAZING BRAIN ) ] THE FRONTAL LOBE A portion of the frontal lobe of each hemisphere called the precentral gyrus controls the body’s movements. Oddly, each hemisphere moves the opposite side of the body, as if the brain’s wiring some-how became crossed. Hence, the movements of the…
ANATOMY [ DIFFERENT PARTS & DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES ( THE AMAZING BRAIN ) ] FOUR DIVISIONS Moving inward, we come to the organ itself. The brain may appear to be a Ulllform mass of folded, pink tissue. But a closer look reveals different lobes, regions, structures, and parts that all help regulate body functions, interpret information…