Our Brains
How much do our brains weigh? (In lbs)
2.86 Pounds
What two groups do the cells of the brain fall into?
Glial cells and neurons
To survive the brain needs two key things. What are they?
Avoid threats and seek out rewards
At what stage of life does Neuroplasticity most often occur?
Childhood
What are the three parts of the classical neuron?
1. A cell body or “soma”
2. Dendrites: like branches. They receive input from other neurons
3. The axon: a cable of varying lengths
What is the consistency of the brain?
Like tofu or a soft boiled egg
What are the functions of glial cells?
Supply structural and metabolic support for neurons
Which response is more important?
Threat
At what age did we once believe that the brain peeks?
25 years of age
What are the functions of neurons?
Receive, transfer, and process information
At birth our brains are __% of of the size they’ll be at adulthood
30%
How many neurons do our brains have?
86 billion
Our brains tend to be lazy. T or F
True
What is important in organizations?
Emotional intelligence and social skills
What are the 4 lobes of the brain?
- Frontal
- Parietal
- Occipital
- Temporal
At what age will our brains be at 80% of the adult size?
3 years old
What other place in our body do we have neurons?
Gut
Who spoke about the bat and the ball?
Shane Frederick
What is the use it or lose it approach?
If neurons and synapses are not used, the brain prunes them away
As we repeat a task, the connection between the synapses strengthens. What rule does this describe?
Hebb’s Law
What are the ridges and grooves that our brain has?
Gyri and Sulci
What are the connections between neurons?
Synaptic connections
What does the book mean by saying that our brains are “constant prediction machines“?
Our brains want to be able to predict and make sense of the world and therefore try to guess what will happen to us. This stems from the brains drive to protect us
Amnesia- a condition that prevents people from forming new memories and remembering past experiences is caused by damage to what part of the brain?
Hippocampus
Who suggested that our brains grew because of the need to handle the heightened demand for social skills and what is this called?
Robin Dunbar and the social brain hypothesis