The Brain can do a lot
The human brain has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is larger than any other in relative to body size. Large animals such as whales and elephants have larger brains in absolute terms, but when measured using the cephalization proportion which pays for body size, the human brain is almost twice as large as the brain of the bottlenose dolphin, and three times as large as the brain of a chimpanzee. Much of the expansion comes from the part of the brain called the cerebral cortex, especially the frontal lobes, which are associated with executive functions such as self-control, planning, reasoning, and abstract thought. The portion of the cerebral cortex devoted to idea is also greatly distended in humans. The brain is the centre of the nervous system, in other the boss of the body. It has the same structure as other mammals, but is larger. The brain has brain cells called neurons, and it is estimated that a neuron can fire about once in every five milliseconds, or about two-hundred times a second. Neurons are connected to one-thousand other neurons, which means calculating all of the neurons that fire per second, according to prior knowledge, twenty million billion neurons are fire per second.
Mental illness
When we refer to mental illnesses, we are really describing diseases of the brain. Diseases of the brain are similar to other medical illnesses in which an important body organ system is not working properly or at full capacity. There are many instances where organ dysfunction results in human disease. For example, in congestive heart failure, chambers of the heart are enlarged and do not contract properly. As a consequence, blood is not circulated effectively throughout the body. By knowing what an organ does for our body, we can better understand what happens when that organ does not operate properly.
The human brain is very complex and scientists are just beginning to appreciate and understand its many functions. To understand why people develop mental illnesses, it may be helpful to learn a little bit about how the brain works.
The human brain is very complex and scientists are just beginning to appreciate and understand its many functions. To understand why people develop mental illnesses, it may be helpful to learn a little bit about how the brain works.
What does the brain do?
To understand how the brain works, it is first helpful to consider what the brain does. Our brains help us interact with the world around us. All of our senses (vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch) are processed through the brain. We may touch things with our fingers and smell with our noses, but it is only through brain activity that we can make sense of what we touch or smell. It tells us something is red, sour, hot, loud, fragrant, pleasurable, or painful. The brain's ability to help us understand and make sense of our environment is crucial for our survival. The brain also controls how we respond to our surroundings.
For example, picking a red apple from a tree for a snack illustrates many brain processes. First, your brain lets you know that the grumbling in your stomach means you are hungry. Next, the brain reminds you that in the past when you were hungry, an apple hit the spot. Your brain then remembers how you are able to get that apple (in this imaginary situation, you have an apple orchard in your back yard). Your brain next controls your muscles and allows you to walk out in the back yard to the nearest apple tree. Now, your eyes kick in. Looking at the tree, your brain interprets the images coming from your retinas to tell you that there are green and red apples on the tree. From your memory, the brain reminds you that the red apples are sweet, the green apples are sour, and that you prefer the red apples. You reach out and pick a red apple. Using your sense of touch, the brain knows that the apple is firm and not squishy, reminding you that the apple you hold is likely not rotten. You bite the apple, and enjoy its sweetness (the brain's interpretation of the apple's taste). After you eat the apple, your hunger is gone and you feel satisfied. This feeling of satisfaction is an emotional sensation produced by your brain (like the emotions of sadness, happiness, anger, pride, envy, etc.).
The story of the apple shows that the brain is used in sensing our body's needs (I'm hungry and should eat something); sensing our environment (sight, touch, and taste of the apple); organizing and planning (what steps do I need to take to get that apple?); memory function (I remember I have an apple orchard in my back yard); relating and comparing past events to present ones (my experience tells me that firm, red apples taste sweet, so I'll try to pick one just like that); initiating complex motor programs (picking the apple); and finally, producing the emotional response to the successful completion of the job (satisfaction). If the brain doesn't work properly, it can interfere with any of the processes described above.
For example, picking a red apple from a tree for a snack illustrates many brain processes. First, your brain lets you know that the grumbling in your stomach means you are hungry. Next, the brain reminds you that in the past when you were hungry, an apple hit the spot. Your brain then remembers how you are able to get that apple (in this imaginary situation, you have an apple orchard in your back yard). Your brain next controls your muscles and allows you to walk out in the back yard to the nearest apple tree. Now, your eyes kick in. Looking at the tree, your brain interprets the images coming from your retinas to tell you that there are green and red apples on the tree. From your memory, the brain reminds you that the red apples are sweet, the green apples are sour, and that you prefer the red apples. You reach out and pick a red apple. Using your sense of touch, the brain knows that the apple is firm and not squishy, reminding you that the apple you hold is likely not rotten. You bite the apple, and enjoy its sweetness (the brain's interpretation of the apple's taste). After you eat the apple, your hunger is gone and you feel satisfied. This feeling of satisfaction is an emotional sensation produced by your brain (like the emotions of sadness, happiness, anger, pride, envy, etc.).
The story of the apple shows that the brain is used in sensing our body's needs (I'm hungry and should eat something); sensing our environment (sight, touch, and taste of the apple); organizing and planning (what steps do I need to take to get that apple?); memory function (I remember I have an apple orchard in my back yard); relating and comparing past events to present ones (my experience tells me that firm, red apples taste sweet, so I'll try to pick one just like that); initiating complex motor programs (picking the apple); and finally, producing the emotional response to the successful completion of the job (satisfaction). If the brain doesn't work properly, it can interfere with any of the processes described above.
How does the brain work?
Scientists working in the fields of neuroscience have learned a lot about the brain, although there is still much that we do not understand.
The brain is intimately involved in all aspects of our day-to-day living. It operates in everything we do, from simple tasks like watching television, to complex tasks like rocket science. The brain takes in information from the environment, analyzes it, and gives us a plan of action for dealing with that information. Within the brain, there are areas specialized for certain jobs, but all of these parts work together to produce the whole. A problem in one small part of the brain can have big consequences, including the development of a serious mental illness.
The brain itself is made up of many millions of cells. Neurons are an important type of cell within the brain. Like the brain as a whole, these cells work to accept information, process that information, and then perform some action in response to that information. Neurons do not act in isolation; rather, they are connected to many other neurons. Neurons communicate with one another using chemicals called neurotransmitters. There are many different types of neurotransmitters in the brain. They include glutamate, GABA, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine. Problems with certain neurotransmitters are believed to be associated with specific illnesses. For example, too little dopamine is associated with Parkinson's disease, and too much is associated with schizophrenia. Problems with serotonin and norepinephrine are associated with depression and bipolar disorder. The location of communication between neurons is called the synapse. Most of the psychiatric drugs we use act by modifying chemical communication at the synapse. The neurons' long-term adaptation to these changes likely underlies the beneficial effects of these drugs.
Mental illnesses are like other illnesses. They are based in abnormal biology affecting an organ system. In the case of mental illness, that organ system is the brain. Mental illnesses are not a result of character flaws or moral weakness. They are true medical diseases, just like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, asthma, cancer, or arthritis. People with mental illness need to be treated with the same level of concern and respect as we treat people with any other medical condition. The hope is that a better understanding of brain biology coupled with increasingly effective treatment will lead to the eradication of the stigma of mental illness.
The brain is intimately involved in all aspects of our day-to-day living. It operates in everything we do, from simple tasks like watching television, to complex tasks like rocket science. The brain takes in information from the environment, analyzes it, and gives us a plan of action for dealing with that information. Within the brain, there are areas specialized for certain jobs, but all of these parts work together to produce the whole. A problem in one small part of the brain can have big consequences, including the development of a serious mental illness.
The brain itself is made up of many millions of cells. Neurons are an important type of cell within the brain. Like the brain as a whole, these cells work to accept information, process that information, and then perform some action in response to that information. Neurons do not act in isolation; rather, they are connected to many other neurons. Neurons communicate with one another using chemicals called neurotransmitters. There are many different types of neurotransmitters in the brain. They include glutamate, GABA, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine. Problems with certain neurotransmitters are believed to be associated with specific illnesses. For example, too little dopamine is associated with Parkinson's disease, and too much is associated with schizophrenia. Problems with serotonin and norepinephrine are associated with depression and bipolar disorder. The location of communication between neurons is called the synapse. Most of the psychiatric drugs we use act by modifying chemical communication at the synapse. The neurons' long-term adaptation to these changes likely underlies the beneficial effects of these drugs.
Mental illnesses are like other illnesses. They are based in abnormal biology affecting an organ system. In the case of mental illness, that organ system is the brain. Mental illnesses are not a result of character flaws or moral weakness. They are true medical diseases, just like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, asthma, cancer, or arthritis. People with mental illness need to be treated with the same level of concern and respect as we treat people with any other medical condition. The hope is that a better understanding of brain biology coupled with increasingly effective treatment will lead to the eradication of the stigma of mental illness.