How Our Brains Work

Everything we do--whether we are working on a difficult project, exercising, writing an important paper, or even just waking up--is controlled by the brain. The brain is vital not only to our survival, but to every life process that happens in our bodies. How the brain works, and the ways that it completes its everyday tasks, is simply amazing.

The "computer" in our heads is actually, in essence, many tiny computers that are specialized to do a certain event. Our brain is made up of three major parts. The biggest and arguably most important part of the brain is the cerebrum. This part of the brain is responsible for the "higher level thinking." The cerebrum controls events such as complex movement, speech, controlling and maintaining our vision, and organizing things we do during the day. Along with the rest of the brain, the cerebrum is made of billions of little cells called neurons. These transmit every signal that is sent to the brain. It's like the internet. Many people have computers, and each signal that is sent is picked up by another computer. Eventually, all the neurons transmit the signals to the part of the brain that will do something about it; all of this happens in milliseconds.

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Another part of the brain is the cerebellum. This part of the brain controls all voluntary movements-movements that you can control. Riding a bike, driving a car, and playing an instrument are all activities that the cerebellum controls. The cerebellum is responsible for perfecting voluntary activities as well. The cerebellum allows voluntary movements (with practice) to become more fluent, smoother, and more easily to do without thinking about it. People who have damage to the cerebellum can still move, but their coordination is very bad. So it doesn't control movement, but voluntary activities, and your coordination.

The last major part of the brain, and the best one to say, is the medulla oblongata. This can also be considered the most important part of the brain. Everything you do that you can control is controlled by the cerebrum and the cerebellum. Everything that you cannot control, however, is controlled by the medulla oblongata (or the brainstem). This part of the brain controls breathing, blood pressure, blinking, heartbeat, and many other activities that we cannot control. When you are sleeping, for example, the brainstem is the most important part of the brain because it controls your heart beat and your breathing while you are not awake. Damage to the brainstem can be fatal, since it controls every involuntary activity. The medulla oblongata is also important because it connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord.

The brain is the computer of every "program" we want to run. Whether it's voluntary, or involuntary, the brain is responsible for every action we partake in.

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