The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. As a part of the nervous system, the brain manages and coordinates all important bodily functions. Learning about the parts of the brain and their functions can be intriguing for children. The brain controls senses, motor skills, emotions, thoughts, respiration, memory, hunger, and body temperature. Read this post to know more about how the brain functions and other interesting information.
How Does The Brain Work?
The brain works like a computer. However, what makes it different from a machine is its ability to process emotions that lead to human intelligence. The brain consists of billions of nerve cells or neurons that receive information from different sensors or receptors of the body. This information is processed, and a relevant stimulus is sent back to various parts of the body (1). The complex and huge network of nerves, which connect the brain to the rest of the body, enable communication in a fraction of a second (2). Different parts of the brain have specific functions, but they work together to regulate all the processes.
Parts Of The Brain And Their Functions
The brain and spinal cord are part of the central nervous system (CNS). The brain weighs just about two to three pounds and appears like a walnut. The brain is comprised of three main regions — cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem (3). Let us discuss these parts and their functions in more detail (1) (3) (4).
Occipital lobe: Located at the back of the cerebrum, the occipital lobe is the primary visual area of the brain. The occipital lobe processes visual information for your eyes. In other words, the occipital lobe helps you make sense of the shapes, colors, and spatial orientation (position or direction of objects in space). Frontal lobe:Located at the front part of the brain, the frontal lobe is responsible for problem-solving, thinking, planning, organizing, short-term memory, movement, and motor planning, and personality characteristics. So, if you are wondering what keeps your kids organized at school or keeps your emotions under control, it is this lobe. Temporal lobe: Located near the ears, this lobe is responsible for auditory perception, speech, hearing, memory, and smell recognition. Parietal lobe: Located between the frontal and occipital lobe, the parietal lobe helps in processing sensory information, such as taste, touch, pain, and temperature. The lobe helps in understanding spatial relationships, which is the relative movement of objects and people in a space.
Facts About The Brain For Kids
Let us learn some fun facts about the brain.
