The encyclopedia of anthropology defines the human brain as “by
far the most intriguing, complicated, and highly organized organ in the human
body. Furthermore, the human brain is
far more complex than all other known creatures, stars, galaxies, and planets
in the universe” (Carre', 2006). Justin Carre’ believes that because the human
brain is so complex it has made research a challenging task for
scientists. Even though research on the
brain and its functions presented a very challenging task for scientists, they
have still made progress in understanding its functions that has helped them develop methods of analysis
and treatment for illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety just
to name a few (Carre', 2006). The human
brain has a key role in every function that our bodies perform. I will briefly discuss what role the human
brain plays in cognitive functions as well as what researchers discovered after
studying Phineas Gage accident.
The human brain is responsible for the coordination of cognitive
function. In an article on cognitive
brain function it states that “bodily processes, emotions and everyday thought
and movement are all coordinated by one more areas of the cognitive brain”
(Jeanty, 2013). The human brain is made
up of many areas that work together, however the structure of the brain that is
responsible for processing cognitive functions is known as the cerebrum and consist
of four different areas. Cognitive
functions that are processed in the different areas of the cerebrum include the
ability to solve problems, perception, memory, speaking, learning and emotions.
The structure of the brain that separates the cerebrum into two
areas is known as the corpus callosum. According
to an article on cognitive brain functions the corpus callosum is a brain
structure that divides the cerebrum and separates hemispheres of the human
brain. Inside the cerebrum nerve cells
work together with nerve fibers to transmit sensory information between cells throughout
the brain. During the process of
transmitting signals, the nerve cells produce chemical called neurotransmitters
that control the coordination of cognitive functions (Jeanty, 2013). Serotonin, dopamine and gamma amino butyric
acid, to name a few, are neurotransmitters that are released every time a nerve
cell is stimulated. An individual’s emotional state as well as
their ability to concentrate and learn is affected by dopamine secretions in
the brain. The release of gamma amino butyric acid helps balances out other
neurotransmitter processes to prevent other parts of the brain from receiving
too much at a time.. Serotonin is released in response to signals received from
the five senses (Jeanty, 2013).
Cognitive functions rely on signals that are transmitted through
the corpus callosum and travel between each side of the human brain. The left side of the brain processes signals
that the right of the body receives from senses, just as the right side of the
brain processes signals received from the left side of the brain. Each side of the brain also known as
hemispheres processes sensory information received differently; for example,
the right hemisphere controls certain talents like music, the ability to
recognize a face and images. The left
hemisphere focuses on areas that involve common sense such as reasoning and the
ability to solve a problem. (Jeanty, 2013).
Emotions are regulated by an area of the brain known as the “limbic
system” which is in the middle of the cerebrum and the “brain stem”. Limbic system structure is made up of the thalamus,
amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus. The thalamus receives sensory
information from the body and then transmits it to the cerebrum. When the
amygdala is stimulated it can cause feelings of fear, aggression or sexual
responses. Memory is processed though the hippocampus by information being
transferred from “short term
memory to long-term memory”. The “hypothalamus”
retains the body's equilibrium by controlling the senses in the body and how an
individual responds to them (Jeanty, 2013).
One of the most well-known case studies in cognitive psychology is
that of Phineas Gage. Phineas Gage was
working with coworkers on some railroad tracks when he caused an explosion with
the tamping iron he was working with.
The tamping iron entered his head from the front and went through his
left cheek below his eye piercing the area of the brain known as the frontal
lobe, and then came out of the top front part of his head ("Phineas
Gage," 2004). Surprisingly Gage
survived this injury and never lost his memory, the ability to speak, his
senses, movement or intellectual abilities but it was not until after he was
said to be fully recovered that he began to display changes in his personality
and his social conduct that made his accident a ground-breaking case for the
history of neuroscience ("Phineas Gage," 2004).
The “Strange Case of Phineas Gage” contested interpretations that are quoted in neuro-
scientific literature in which they argue that personality change was the end
result after the accident because of brain damage. This article examines the story of Phineas
Gage closely and concluded that “there was nothing psychopathic in Gage’s
behavior and that changes in his life are more coherently explained by seeing
them as his way of dealing with disfigurement that he suffered after the
accident” (Kotowicz, 2007 p. 2).
There is no doubt that the disfigurement of Gage’s face had an
serious effect on his personality but there has also been research that
supports theories that damage to the frontal lobe can be linked to the
impairment of cognitive functions, such as body movement, the ability to solve
a problem, impulse and the ability to control it, memory processing, speech,
decision making, and how an individual conducts themselves socially. The Centre
for Neuro Skills states that “the frontal lobes are extremely vulnerable to
injury due to their location at the front of the cranium, proximity to the
sphenoid wing and their large size” (Centre for Neuro Skills, 2013). In conclusion the Centre for Neuro Skills
cited an article that states “MRI studies have shown that the frontal area is
the most common region of injury following mild to moderate traumatic brain
injury” (Centre for Neuro Skills, 2013).
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