The brain is structurally one of the most complex parts of the human body and is the seat of intelligence, body movements, interpreter of senses and controller of behaviour. It is the hardware of our souls and controls our thoughts, emotions, memory, sensation of touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, hunger, temperature and every process which regulates our body.
Weighing approximately 3 pounds in an average adult, the brain is mainly 60% fat and the remaining 40% is a combination of water, proteins, carbohydrates and salts. It is not a muscle at all but consists of blood vessels and nerves which comprise neurons and glial cells.
The brain consists mainly of grey and white matter which are two entirely different regions of the central nervous system (CNS). The grey matter consists of the darker, outer portion of the brain while the white matter consists of the lighter, inner section which is underneath. For the spinal cord, the white matter is on the outside and the grey matter sits within.
Each region of the brain serves a different purpose and while the grey matter is mainly in charge of processing and interpreting the information the white matter is in charge of transmitting information to the other parts of the nervous system.
Our reactions and behaviourisms are controlled by the brain which is in charge of sending and receiving chemical and electrical signals throughout the body. For example, we may feel a lot of pain at times or we may feel tired. There may be times when we do not feel connected to other human beings and this is mainly because a certain part of our brain is off-kilter, where people struggle with a lot of negativity and moodiness.
Our emotions are completely dependent on how the brain functions and we would not be able to be who we are unless the brain functions effectively. Our brain determines how happy or how sad we are, our social skills, motor skills and how well we interact with others. Anxiety, depression, being obsessive-compulsive, prone to anger or even whether we are easily distracted all depend on how well our brain functions. Everything depends on the physiology of the brain rather than psychology of the brain.
Sometimes things go wrong with our brain functioning and this is mainly because of the dysfunction of the deep limbic system which is at the centre of the brain and is in charge of the bonding and the mood control centre.
The brain is divided mainly into the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the medulla. Besides this, there are the basal ganglia, the prefrontal cortex, the cingulate and the temporal lobes. All of these brain systems are intricately linked with one another and each system affects the other.
Besides this is the midbrain which is the middle of the brain that connects the cerebrum and the spinal cord. The brainstem includes the midbrain, the pons and the medulla.
Situated at the base of the forebrain and the top of the midbrain, the basal ganglia have strong connections with the cerebral cortex and the thalamus, as well as other parts of the brain. The dysfunction of the basal ganglia system results in a lot of neurological problems and cognitive deficits which are mainly because of damage to the prefrontal cortex. If this part of the brain works too hard, it results in anxiety, panic, fear and even conflict avoidance. An overactive basal ganglia results in anxiety and nervousness whereas an underactive one leads to problems in concentration and fine motor control problems.
At the front tip of the brain, where the frontal part of the frontal lobes is the prefrontal cortex, which is in charge of regulating our thoughts, emotions and actions.
This area of the brain is mainly in charge of reasoning, problem-solving, comprehension, impulse control, perseverance and creativity. If this part of the brain is underactive it leads to blunted emotional responses, aggressive behaviour and an irritable mood. It can also lead to a host of psychiatric problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder and even schizophrenia.
Part of the brain which runs through the middle part of the frontal lobes is the area which is known as the cingulate gyrus. It is a part of the limbic system and plays a huge role in emotion and behaviour. This part of the brain plays a very important role in decision-making, communication, language expression, emotional response to pain, and regulating aggressive behaviour. It is also known as the gear shifter and allows a person to shift attention from thought to thought and between behaviours. If this part of the brain is overactive people tend to have problems getting stuck in loops, repetitive worries or behaviour patterns. A person tends to become rigid and worries a lot if this part of the brain is overactive.
Known to be the second largest lobes, the temporal lobes are located at the bottom middle part of the brain – right behind the temples within the skull. These lobes are divided into the superior temporal lobe, the middle temporal lobe and the inferior temporal lobe. It is the centre of many critical brain structures including the hippocampus and amygdala. This part of the brain is involved with memory, language, facial recognition and temper control. If there are any problems with this lobe, it might lead to temper flare-ups, memory and learning problems and rapid mood shifts.
In fact, if this part of the brain can be optimised it may lead to gaining a lot of inner peace.
Understanding and being able to manage these five parts of the brain – the basal ganglia, the prefrontal cortex, the temporal lobes, the cingulate system and the deep limbic system can help you understand the reason why you behave the way you do and what you can do about it.
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