NeuroExplorer

The human nervous system is a complex and fascinating structure whose capabilities are far-reaching. How surprising is it that we know so much more about stars billions of light years away than our own brains? Why is the brain so mysterious? Well, studying the brain is a significant challenge. First of all, we cannot simply open the skull and observe the living brain, for obvious reasons. Second, the brain's many functions are at the molecular level, making them impossible to observe, even with the world's most powerful microscopes. According to the World Health Organization,  "N eurological disorders, ranging from epilepsy to Alzheimer disease, from stroke to headache, affect up to one billion people worldwide. An estimated 6.8 million people die every year as a result of neurological disorders."  Therefore, understanding the human brain is crucial.

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. — Albert Einstein Physicist

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light. — J.K. Rowling Author  

When you picture the brain, what do you see? Most of the brain is the cerebrum, which controls higher functions like thinking and speaking. The cerebrum is split down the middle by the longitudinal fissure (the red line in the picture) into the left and right hemispheres. These two halves are able to communicate through a bridge of nerve fibers known as the corpus callosum. Each half of the cerebrum is divided into four lobes: the frontal lobe, the temporal lobe, the parietal lobe and the occipital lobe. Therefore, the brain has eight lobes all together. Each lobe is associated with different functions. The top layer of the brain's wrinkly surface is the cortex. The cortex not only covers the surface of the brain but also the space between the hemispheres. The part of the cortex that covers the cerebrum is known as the cerebral cortex. The cortex is gray matter, which consists of unmyelinated axons, dendrites, cell bodies and glial cells. However, the gray matter act

Let's take a look at a cell. One thing that you will find common among all cells is the cell membrane - whether it's an animal cell, a plant cell or a bacterial cell. While this layer may only be ten nanometers thick, it has an intricate molecular structure designed for efficient transport of material into and out of the cell. This property is known as selective permeability , the control of the passage of materials across the cell membrane. The cell membrane is designed in a way that substances having certain properties are unable to enter or leave the cell (this movement across the cell boundary is known as transport ). The fluid mosaic model  describes how substances, mainly cholesterol, phospholipids and proteins, slide freely in the membrane. First, let's start with the phospholipid bilayer . A phospholipid a complex lipid with a "head" and a "tail". The head is made of one polar/hydrophilic phosphate group and a glycerol molecule. The ta

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving. —  Albert Einstein Physicist

The 3-pound mass of jelly sitting in between our ears is extremely  delicate. It lacks cartilage or bone to hold it together, and it isn't made of muscle tissue. To ensure its safety, the brain is enclosed within a thick, bony structure - the skull . Throughout your life, you will bump your head several times, but your brain will stay unharmed; the skull's purpose is to protect the brain. The cranium is the part of the skull enclosing the brain, but not including the face or jaws. The cranium is comprised of eight flat bones connected at sutures (immovable joints). These plate-like bones grow over time. A baby's skull is extremely fragile; you can even feel the sutures on a baby's head. The soft spot at the top of the head is where the sutures all meet. Eventually, this spot closes over and the cranium is sealed shut. In addition to the cranium, the fourteen facial bones also make up the skull. If you were to remove the skull (and doctors are able to do this

On September 13th of 1848, railroad worker Phineas Gage was working on a railroad construction project, tamping gunpowder into a blasting hole with an iron rod. Unfortunately, the gunpowder exploded, shooting the rod skyward. It penetrated Gage's left cheek, ripped into his brain, and exited through the back of his skull! Surprisingly, Gage walked away, fully conscious, and described what happened to the doctor. The accident left him blind in the left eye. But that wasn't the only consequence; people began to describe Gage as irritated and aggressive. He was no longer mild-mannered and soft-spoken; his personality had completely changed. Phineas later moved from the United States and died after a series of seizures at age 36. Phineas' odd case is a great yet extreme example of how functions of the brain are localized, and how this manifests itself through psychological behaviors. Today, Phineas Gage's skull and the tamping iron are on display at the Warr