The brain is the command centre of the body, like a supercomputer controlling everything we do, think, and feel. It’s made up of billions of tiny cells called neurons that communicate with each other using electrical signals. The brain is the generator for who we are, how we think, and what we feel.
Meet the Brain Dream Team
Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)
The Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) is the front part of the brain responsible for thinking, decision-making, and emotions. It helps us remember things, focus, and control impulses. When we learn new things, the PFC changes its connections between brain cells, allowing us to adapt and respond better to different situations.
Just like the wise owl, the prefrontal cortex is the smart decision-maker of our brain. It helps us think, plan, and make wise choices. It’s responsible for higher-order cognitive functions, like an owl’s sharp intellect.
Amygdala
The amygdala is an almond-shaped brain structure located in the temporal lobe. It deals with emotions, especially fear, and is vital for memory and motivation as part of the limbic system.
The amygdala acts like a guard dog, always vigilant and alert to potential threats. Like a guard dog reacts quickly to protect its territory, the amygdala is responsible for processing emotions, particularly fear and strong emotions. It helps us respond to dangerous or emotional situations, ensuring our safety and well-being.
Hippocampus
The hippocampus is seahorse-shaped and located in the brain’s temporal lobes. It’s crucial for learning, memory, and converting short-term to long-term memories.
The hippocampus is like a memory elephant because it’s crucial for learning and memory. Just like how elephants have an excellent memory and can remember locations and experiences for a long time, the hippocampus helps us form and consolidate and store long-term memories. It acts as our brain’s memory center, converting short-term memories into long-term memories and assisting with spatial navigation, much like how elephants remember vast territories and navigate through them.
These three brain parts work together like a team:
- The amygdala alerts the PFC when we feel strong emotions, and the PFC decides how to respond.
- The hippocampus helps us remember how we felt and what happened, so we can learn from our experiences.
- When we learn something new, the PFC and hippocampus work together to store it in our memory.
Sometimes, the amygdala might react too strongly, making us feel scared or anxious even when there’s no real danger. But the PFC can step in and calm down the amygdala, reminding us that everything is okay. On the other hand, when we face challenges, the PFC and hippocampus work hard to help us find the best solutions and remember what we’ve learned.
The Brain Dream Team:
- Keeping us safe
- Helping us learn
- Allowing us to handle our emotions and decisions in the best way possible!
