How Well Do You Know Your Brain?
The human brain is extremely complex and researchers are learning new things about it all the time. Here are a few common misconceptions that people have about the brain.
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Step 1:
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Know Your Brain
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Hi, I'm Marcy from the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Center at brainandspinalcord.org. Today, I am going to be quizzing you about how well you know your brain. Be sure to check the website for all relevant links and a recap of this article. In this fun and interactive video, I'm going to give you several statements and you're going to tell me whether you think the statement is fact or fiction. By the end of this video, you'll know a lot more about your brain. Ready? Let's get started.
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Step 2:
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Human Brain?
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Fact or Fiction? The human brain is firm and gray. Fiction. When you picture a human brain, you most likely picture an object that's gray in color and firm to the touch. That's because most of the brains you've seen in books or on television are dead brains that have been preserved with various chemicals. A fresh living brain, on the other hand, is deep red in color and soft and jelly-like to the touch.
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Step 3:
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Brain Usage?
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Fact or fiction? Humans use only 10 % of their brains. Fiction. Every single part of the brain has a noted function. Let's talk about what you are doing right now which is sitting and watching this video. The cerebellum which is responsible for balance and coordination is allowing you to sit and watch this video without falling over. The temporal lobes are helping you process what you're hearing while the frontal lobes are helping you reason and think.
Your hypocanthus will help you remember the point of this example which is that you use way more than 10 % of your brain. While there is still a lot we don't know about the brain and how it works, we do know that every part of the brain has an important job to do.
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Brain: Right or Left
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Fact or fiction? A person is either right-brain dominant or left-brain dominant. Fiction. While this myth arose from genuine scientific hypothesis, more recent studies have shown that the two hemispheres of the brain are co-dependent. Here's an example. It's been long accepted that language was processed in the left hemisphere only. But, recent science shows that both hemispheres are actually responsible for language. The left side processes grammar and pronunciation, while the right side processes intonation.
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Brain Sides
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Fact or Fiction? The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and vice versa. True. If the left side of the brain becomes injured, whether the injury is the result of a trauma or stroke, the right side of the body will be affected. On the other hand, if the right side of your brain has been injured, the left side of your body will be affected.
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Brain Damage
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Fact or fiction? Brain damage is always permanent. Fiction. New science shows that we are not born with a finite number of brain cells. We know that the brain can rewire itself in order to compensate for certain losses. But, we've also recently learned that the brain can generate new cells through a process called neurogenesis.
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Step 7:
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Traumatic Brain Injury
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Fact or Fiction? Traumatic Brain Injury is the number two cause of death and disability in children and young adults. Fiction. Traumatic Brain Injury is actually the number one cause of death and disability in children and adults. Approximately 1.5 million Americans experience a traumatic brain injury each year. And about 5.3 million Americans are currently disabled as a result of traumatic brain injury. In addition, it's estimated that traumatic brain injury claims more than 50,000 lives in the United States each year.
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Step 8:
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Conclusion
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This concludes our segment on how well you know your brain. Remember to check our website for the most up-to-date information including resources and tips regarding brain and spinal cord injuries.
