Pschyrembel Online (2024)

FAQs

How does the brain work in everyday life? ›

The brain is intimately involved in all aspects of our day-to-day living. It operates in everything we do, from simple tasks like watching television, to complex tasks like rocket science. The brain takes in information from the environment, analyzes it, and gives us a plan of action for dealing with that information.

The brain controls what you think and feel, how you learn and remember, and the way you move and talk. But it also controls things you're less aware of — like the beating of your heart and the digestion of your food. Think of the brain as a central computer that controls all the body's functions.

The brain sends and receives chemical and electrical signals throughout the body. Different signals control different processes, and your brain interprets each. Some make you feel tired, for example, while others make you feel pain.

Your brain has all the power connections, wiring, storage, memory and processing power you need to function as a human being. If your brain is the hardware, then your mind is the software. It's the operating system that gathers, stores and manages information, using the massive processing resources of your brain.

“Brain fog” is a range of neurocognitive symptoms that can include forgetfulness and problems focusing, concentrating, and paying attention. Many people who have had COVID-19 have reported these and other persistent symptoms months after their initial illness — an extended condition also known as Long COVID.

Previous research on red's effects on the brain have found that it attracts people to food and can enhance sexual arousal.

The Brain Check-up is simple and easy. You need a quiet space and a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Using the website HealthyBrains.org or the mobile app, you can answer a series of questions about you and your lifestyle choices. The entire check-up will take about 20 minutes to complete.

Medulla. The lowest part of the brainstem, the medulla is the most vital part of the entire brain and contains important control centers for the heart and lungs.

The brain is protected by the bones of the skull and by a covering of three thin membranes called meninges. The brain is also cushioned and protected by cerebrospinal fluid. This watery fluid is produced by special cells in the four hollow spaces in the brain, called ventricles.

Happiness activates several areas of the brain, including the right frontal cortex, the precuneus, the left amygdala, and the left insula. This activity involves connections between awareness (frontal cortex and insula) and the “feeling center” (amygdala) of the brain.

How does the brain send messages? ›

When neurons communicate, an electrical impulse triggers the release of neurotransmitters from the axon into the synapse. The neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to special molecules on the other side, called receptors. Receptors are located on the dendrites. Receptors receive and process the message.

Besides neurons, our brains contain lots of blood vessels and a third class of brain cells known collectively as glia — many of which are even more poorly understood than neurons. Scientists are making progress breaking those numbers down into something more comprehensible.

An obvious source is environmental stimulation: the ideas evoked by what we see and hear. However, spontaneous thoughts often appear when the environment is relatively stable, like when walking a familiar path or sitting on a bus.

The brain stem relays information between the brain, the cerebellum and the spinal cord, as well as controlling eye movements and facial expressions. It also regulates vital functions like breathing, blood pressure and heartbeat. The cerebellum coordinates movements and is responsible for balance.

Specialized sensory neurons respond to input from the environment. This input is then transmitted to the brain as electrochemical signals. In the brain, signals are received in categories. Thus the processing of sensory input begins with specific regions in the brain separately deciphering each message.

We know which parts are responsible for specific functions, such as spatial memory, emotion, vision, and language. We know a fair amount about how brain cells develop, how they speak to each other, what molecules are involved in learning and memory, and how they may be altered by disease or medication.