How does the brain function?

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Brain is  one of the most complex systems of our body. It is the boss which runs all the activities and is also aware of everything running within the body. Hence the most difficult study of biological sciences is the study of You do not have access to view this node, more so in humans, as it is more developed, highly evolved and also applied. Humans have evolved as the topmost species solely on the basis of brain which the other organisms lack.


What is the Brain?

The human brain comprise of around 50 to 100 billion nerve cells or neurons that are in constant interaction with each other. The neurons transmit messages with the help of electrochemical processes. This electrochemical process can be explained as the movement of sodium, potassium, and chloride ions in and out of the cells with the help of established electric current. Our brain weighs only 3 pounds but is known to control the whole body mechanism.


What are the different functions of the Brain?

The human brain is unique as compared to the brain in animals and other living organisms because it provides us with power to plan, think, speak and also imagine. Our brain along with the peripheral nerves and spinal cord form a complex integrated control and information processing system. The study of brain as well as nervous system is termed as neurobiology and neuroscience.Some of the regular functions performed by You do not have access to view this node are:

  • Controls body pressure, blood temperature, blood pressure, breathing and heart rate
  • Accepts flood information about the surrounding through various senses like hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, touching etc.
  • Handles physical motion while walking, standing, sitting or talking
  • Helps you dream, think, experience emotions and reason
  • These tasks are controlled, coordinated and also regulated by You do not have access to view this node


How does the brain work?

The brain is a complex system and with the help of the millions of neurons and their network it passes on the signals.  Its functions can be basically divided on terms of the different activities each part of it performs.

Cerebrum: The cerebrum sums up 85% of weight of brain, and this is the organ which makes humans intelligent. It is composed of two halves which are present on either side of head. According to some scientists, the right half enables you to think about certain abstract things such as colors, music and shapes. The left half of cerebrum is found to be more analytical and helps you with logic, math and speech. Also the right half of the cerebrum controls the left half and vice versa. Cerebrum comprise of motor area which flows through the two halves from one ear to the other like a headphone. It controls the voluntary muscles (muscles that move the moment you want them to)

Cerebellum: This is placed at the back of brain, just below cerebrum and is much smaller than the cerebrum-1/8 of its size. It controls movement, balance and coordination and because of this organ you can stand straight, move around while remaining balanced.

Brain stem: This mighty yet small part of brain is placed beside the cerebrum and opposite to cerebellum. Brain stem joins the whole brain with spinal cord. It controls all the essential functions which are required by us for sustaining like digesting food, circulating blood, or breathing air. Brain stem is in charge of involuntary muscles which work automatically and are also present in stomach and lungs. The blood pumping intimation is given by these muscles to the heart. It is also responsible for going through various messages which are in millions transmitted by the body.


  • Hippocampus: It is a part of You do not have access to view this node which makes you remember or recall things and thus deals with memory. The two types of memory are short term and long term memory. Hippocampus performs the function of transferring information in between the short term memory and long term memory.
  • Pituitary gland: It is a very small part, which can resemble pea and produces as well as releases hormones into the body. This gland helps you to grow and plays a major role during the puberty. It releases special hormones which make children grow into men and women.
  • Hypothalamus: It is located at the center of brain and is always in the middle of every action. Hypothalamus acts like a brain thermometer and regulates the body temperature and transmits the message telling the body to shiver or to sweat.


What are the disorders related to brain?

Inflammation of brain is a very common disorder which leads to several problems like vision loss, paralysis and weakness. You can loose brain cells in case you suffer from stroke and this can affect your capacity to think. Brain tumors press on nerves and disrupt the functioning of brain system as a whole. Some diseases have genetic roots while there are still some diseases like Alzheimer’s disease about which we still do not know much about. The symptoms of brain disorders vary as per the type of problem or disease. Sometimes the damage is total while sometimes the treatments like surgery, physical therapy or medicines can offer cure.


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