Organization and Evaluation of Brain Function

Video one opens up with a clip of a race car driver. There are so many things that come into account in order for the driver to not only win the race but make sure he comes out of there alive! I really liked how the video compared the brain to a team. The brain is like a team that has many different members, and without each of these members, it would not function. For example, with the driver's frontal lobe, he is able to think and plan strategies so that he can win the race. He also uses his sensory cortex as he feels the pressure of his hands on the wheel. No single area of the brain can win the race by itself. They are always in constant contact with each other, even when you are sleeping!

But how do we know all of this??

Thanks to modern day tools, we are able to look inside the brain. Some of these tools include:
1. CAT scan-a machine that shows the location of actual brain tissue. This allows us to see brain structure.
2. PET scan- produces still pictures of the brain's activity . Its colors show which areas are most or least active. It does this by injecting glucose and seeing where the brain is using the most glucose.
3. EEG-the brain's electrical activity is recorded from sites on the scalp.
-They have also started combing neuro-imaging techniques like joining MRI with computer technology. This allows images to be reconstructed into three-dimensional pictures, allowing you to focus on any region of the brain from any angle. Combined images help researchers see the overall affect of a brain injury.

These advancements in neuro-imaging technology are so important because it allows us to see all levels of the brain and brain function. Hopefully, with further advancements, we will invent better treatments so we can understand neurological diseases better.

It is important to recognize that without all of these techniques, we probably wouldn't even have an AP Psychology course because no one would be able to understand the brain and its functions! I think it's really cool to see how the advancement in technology not only changes our lives in school, but everything! This made me very excited for the future, as I anticipate better machinery to investigate the brain.