n.+Appendix+A+-+How+Brain+Works

1. The Importance of Making Connections It appers that if people remain active and continue to learn, their brains make more connections. People with more or higher levels of education and work at complex jobs show more brain development with more connections.

2. Nuerotransmitters acetylcholine- used for long term memory serotonin- calming, assist in carrying messages to all parts of the brain. melatonin- released in the middle of the brain and causes drowsiness. Our biological clock activates its release. endorphins- involved in feelings of well being. They help us deal with physical and emotional pain. norepinephrine- is released whenever something unusual happens.It raises our heart rate and breathing. dopamine- it stops nuerons from firing. They also give feelings of pleasure. Also helps us focus and make decisions. gaba- helps keep the brain from being overstimulated glutamate- works with gaba to kee the brain in balanced state. 3. Brain Structures thalamus- sorts information coming from outside the body and sends it to the appropriate place of the brain. hypothalamus- it sorts internal informattion in the brain. It iniates stress response. cerebral cortex- top layer of brain that is divided into 2 hemispheres and 4 lobes. occipital lobes- process visual information parietal lobes- this processes toch and spatial information temperal lobes- process speech and hearing frontal lobes- these are responsible for future planning, decision making,abstracting and problem solving.