The Brain

Thing: Post on my Blog: research summary and reflection (Informative Writing)

Audience: E12 class

Writer: Me

Purpose: To note important and informative parts of The Brain Documentary in a way that helps me understand the neuroscience and physiology behind the decision making process. 

Context: I am writing a blog post about brain research presented in class through a documentary film. I want to both summarize and reflect on the interesting and important pieces of information presented in the film. 

Requirements: 

• Film overview
• 3-4 examples from the film noting the part of the brain as well as the specific example. Use paraphrase or summary and 3-4 in text citations.
• Apply at least one example to your life
• Ask 3-4 extenuating questions stemming from the material presented in the film
• Find a labeled graph or image of a brain

The Brain. Dir. Richard Vagg. History Channel, 2010. DVD.

To begin the unit on self-reflection this year, my English 12 classes viewed The Brain, a documentary that provides an introduction to neuroscience complete with real world examples. The Brain shows the basic understanding about parts of the brain, their function as well as the various real world effects and consequences. One of the most powerful scenes for me as an educator is the section about the brain stem. The brain stem releases dopa-mine and is associated with pleasure seeking activities: sex, drugs, base-jumping. In the second section of the documentary, Cresta Christianson weighs her options about base-jumping, ultimately, she jumps, demonstrating to her the risk is worth the reward (Vagg). Risk taking behavior is common in the teenage years compile that with the fact that the frontal lobe is not finished developing until the mid-twenties has some pretty scary implications. Since eliminating the risk taking situations is not a realistic option for young adults, I think it is important then to educate them on the physiology of their brains and consequences of their actions so at least they can make informed decisions. This research definitely provides reason for risk-management and decision-making instruction, especially since risk-taking behavior may result in permanent life changes.
Another part of the documentary that was fascinating to me was the section about psychopathic behaviors and criminals. What startled me was the number of psychopaths in the average human population, 1/100 (Vagg). Although not all psychopaths are violent all share some specific traits. Specifically, research shows the decreased size of the amygdala as a physical trait even among white collar criminals (Vagg). One argument that is refuted through this information is that everyone inherently knows the difference between right and wrong. Clearly, the lack of ability for some people to empathize has a large impact on their behavior in society. It is frustrating to think that criminal institutions may be filled then with people who have brain impairment. I guess the question becomes how much does incarceration really help those people or our society then?
Lastly, the example of the cerebellum and muscle memory was interesting in correlation with athletics. Research proposed that after hours of practice the muscles may even remember the function and actions they are to perform which may explain how Clyve Wearing still remembers how to play the piano (Vagg). This would coincide with Gladwell's proposal about 10,000 hours of practice to become good at something. It seems then that beyond talent, tenacity becomes an important trait for athletes. A question I was thinking of by the end of this film had to do with brain repair. After seeing Clyve Wearing and his brain recovery and the plasticity of the human brain; I am wondering to what extent and how the brain can repair itself of minor damages? I want to know if diet and exercise might encourage brain repair. And if brain repair or changes happen without our knowledge, how powerful is our unconscious or the subconscious? How powerful are images we see, songs we hear, things we experience but don't consciously process, like advertising, and how much does that affect us unconsciously? As we discover more about the brain and its capability and progress in technological advancement, I also have to wonder what capabilities humans will have ten years from now. So, my last question is about the brain and technology; I was awestruck by the fact that DARPA has made major discoveries in synthetic brain replacement or "attachment"(Vagg). This leads me to ask how close are we to brain implemented computer access and what will that mean for the future of humanity?
Image: "Parts of the Human Brain". Google Images