This post is about to introduces you to the most marvelous and mysterious part of your anatomy — the human brain.

Obviously many Many people have not totally discover or engage the full potential of their brain. I will like to take us through a journey on the magnificence of our brain so you will discover that truly you have a brain and a working one at that.

In this article you will explore current knowledge on what the brain is (structure) and how it works (function). We’ll collectively learn practical ways to apply complex concepts that will put you in control of your own mind.

Centuries ago, the ancestors of modern man had a brain weighing only about a pound, which is roughly a third of the
weight of our current brain.

Hey don't be scared, it is not a brain dysfunction, it is as a result of the increased weight of a much larger cerebral cortex i know you would be curious to know what cerebral cortex means. Now this is what it means

The cerebral cortex (plural cortices), also known as the cerebral mantle,[1] is the outer layer of neural tissue of the cerebrum of the brain, in humans and other mammals

It is only on the brain that all of the thinking that makes human beings such unique mammals different from every other mammals occurs.

One very lovely thing about the human brain is that it develop gradually over time in logic and in reasoning.

Before start looking at how the brain works, let's first of all look at the major parts of the brain

Major Brain Areas

The human brain is comprised of a number of different regions, each with specialized functions. Here is another view of the brain’s structure and function, also with roughly three separate parts.

The brain’s central core, which includes the brain stem and the midbrain, is quite different than the cerebral cortex that
envelops it. The central core is relatively simple, older and its activity is largely unconscious. In contrast, the cortex is highly developed and capable of the deliberation and associations necessary for complex thinking and problem solving. In humans, its size and function has increased rapidly. While the older portions of the brain remain relatively
static.

THE BRAIN STEM

The brain stem seems to be inherited almost “as is” from the reptilian brain. It consists of structures such as the medulla (con-trolling breathing, heart rate, and digestion) and the cerebellum (which coordinates sensory input with muscle movement).

THE MIDBRAIN

The Midbrain includes features that appear intimately connected to human emotion and to the formation of long-term
memory via neural connections to the lobes of the neocortex. The structures contained here also link the lower brain stem to the thalamus — for information relay from the senses, to the brain, and back out to muscles — and to the limbic system.

The limbic system, essentially alike in all mammals, lies above the brain stem and under the cortex. It consists of a number of interrelated structures. Researchers have linked the limbic system to hormones, drives, temperature control, and emotion. One part is dedicated to memory formation, thus explain-ing the strong link between emotion and long-term memory.

The limbic system includes these parts:

• The hypothalamus is instrumental in regulating drives and actions. Neurons affecting heart rate and respiration are
  concentrated here. These direct most of the physical changes that accompany strong emotions, such as the “flight or
  fight” response.

• The amygdala appears connected to aggressive behavior.

• The hippocampus plays a crucial role in processing various forms of information to form long-term memories. Damage to the hippocampus will produce global retrograde amnesia.

One very important feature of the midbrain and limbic system is the reticular activating system (RAS). It is this area that
keeps us awake and aware of the world. The RAS acts as a master switch that alerts the brain to incoming data — and to the urgency of the message.

THE FOREBRAIN OR NEOCORTEX

The forebrain, which appears as a mere bump in the brain of a frog, balloons out into the cerebrum of higher life forms and covers the brain stem like the head of a mushroom. This, the newest part of the human brain, is also called the neocortex, or cerebral cortex.

The Neocortex

The structure of the neocortex is very complicated. Here most of the higher level functions associated with human thought are enabled.

Brain Hemisphere

In humans, the neocortex has evolved further than in other mammals, into the two cerebral hemispheres. The wrinkled surface of the hemispheres is about two millimeters thick and has a total surface area the size of a desktop (about 1.5 square meters).

HOW OUR BRAIN FUNCTIONS

The brain is vital to human understanding and the ability to learn resides in it.

Perhaps you’ve heard of “higher level” thinking skills. This phrase refers to the level of information processing and response required by a particular task.

Some complicated tasks can require a high level of information processing.

Here’s an example. When you touch a hot iron, you quickly pull your hand away from it now that activity does not take much thinking, and it had better not take a lot of time! In fact, your nervous system is designed to process information like that automatically, with little help from the neocortex. Neocortex is a part of the cerebral cortex that controls sight and hearing in humans. It is know to be the most recently developed part of the cortex

Thanks for visiting my blog and finding my post appealing..
It is actually a test post as am not really a science inclined person.
I am @ Kufray