Regional Differences

Adapted from NIH The Brain: Our Sense of Self

People often compare the brain to a computer.

1.What do you think this means?

2.How is the brain like a computer?

BELL TASK

Objectives1. Be able to explain that specialized regions fo the

brain process information from specific sources (such as the eyes, ears or skin).

2. Recognize that the location of functionally specialized regions in the brain are similar in different individuals

3. Be able to explain that responses by the brain differ among individuals, helping to make us who we are

How is the brain like a computer?

• 3 important brain functions1.Receive information2.Interpret the information3.Respond to the information

Information in Information Out

What kind of information does the brain receive?

How does the brain direct / control your responses to information?

Thinking Prompt

• Ponder this silently:

1.Where do different types of information come into the brain?

2.From where in the brain is information sent out?

How we “see” inside the brain

• With your partner, go to the class wiki page for the brain

• Under Day Two, click on your assigned link• Read about PET scans, MRI, and CT scans• Complete the table using complete responses

PET scan MRI CT scan

Works by

Measures

Shared features

Differences

Images of the brain• Do an internet search for PET scan, MRI or CAT

scan images of the brain. oDescribe what you see in the images. oCan you identify active and inactive

regions of the brain in each image?

Images of the Brain• Allan Jones: A map of the brain

o Video with great visuals of how we map brains from deceased individual

• Christopher deCharms: A look inside the brain in real timeso Video of an MRI in real time of a living human

• View both videos from the TED talks site: How does my Brain Work playlist

Decisions, Decisions• Listen to / look at the scenario as the teacher

reads to you.1. Work with your partner to

1. Make a list of the information your brain would receive in the scenario (info in)

2. Decide what your response to the scenario would be (info out)

3. Identify the type of information (like visual or auditory) for each item in 1 and 2

4. On your brain outline, color in the regions of the brain that would be active in the scenario

Share with 2 other groups

• Share the following:o Information presented in the scenarioo Brain regions that receive the information

(color – coded by source)o Group’s response to the scenarioo Brain regions active in carrying out the

response

Compareo Did you all color the same regions? Why or

why not?

HOMEWORK:Write a 5-10 sentence paragraph describing:• Similarities in all pairs lists of information

in and out and in brain diagrams• Differences in scenario responses and

diagrams• How responses can be different from

different individuals even though the information coming in from outside the body and the brain regions that process this information are the same.