Clay Brains!

Introduction to the Brain

• The brain is the “nerve center” of the body
• Neurons (nerve cells) transmit information from the body and outside world and program our responses
• Allow you to perceive touch, pain, temperature, etc.
• Brain is responsible for our conscious and unconscious movements, thoughts, emotions, and memories
• The brain can do all this simultaneously because it is split into many distinct regions specialized for specific tasks and abilities

Cerebrum

• Largest part of the human brain
• Divided into two large separate hemispheres (left & right)
• Connected by bundles of nerve fibers that carry information from one side to the other
• The surface of the cerebrum is a deeply folded layer of nerve tissue called the cerebral cortex
• Deep folds increase the surface area, creating more space for more neurons which increases the brain’s processing power

Cerebrum

Frontal Lobes: (Front of the brain, above the eyes)

• Coordinates voluntary movements and speech, memory and emotion, higher cognitive skills (planning, problem solving, etc.), personality, attention

Parietal Lobes: (Top of the brain, behind frontal lobes)

• Integrates sensory signals from skin, processes taste, processes some types of visual information

Occipital Lobes: (Back of the brain)

• Processes visual information, responsible for recognizing colors and shapes and integrating them into understanding

Temporal Lobes: (Sides of the brain, below eyes)

• Carries out some visual processing and interprets auditory information

Midbrain

Midbrain: (Beneath the thalamus)

• Includes groups of neurons that coordinate eye movement (blinking, focusing) and trigger reflexes to sounds
• Inhibits unwanted body movements and helps coordinate sensory input and motor output to manage fine motor control (allows you to write/play instruments)

Hindbrain

• Plays role in glucose regulation and sleep, helps control movement

Cerebellum: (underneath occipital lobe, back of brain)

• Contains over half of brain’s neurons
• Deeply folded, divided into 2 hemispheres
• Functions: coordinates voluntary movements, helps brain learn new motor skills, has role in spatial and temporal perception

Pons: (below cerebellum)

• Influences breathing and posture

Medulla: (base of the brain)

• Carries nerve pathways connecting brain to spinal cord, contains neural networks that help control basic functions (swallowing, heart rate, breathing)

Brainstem = Midbrain + Pons + Medulla

Key Takeaways

• The brain is the control center of the body; neurons are what transmit signals in the brain that directs functions.
• The biggest part of the brain is cerebrum (split into 4 sections):
• Frontal Lobe
• Parietal Lobe
• Temporal Lobe
• Occipital Lobe
• The brainstem is below the cerebrum with the–
• Midbrain
• Pons
• Medulla
• The cerebellum is below the occipital lobe.
• Remember, the more folds, the smarter the

brain is!

What we will make

Materials

Clay brains!

Cerebrum:

• Frontal Lobe x 2
• Parietal Lobe x 2
• Occipital Lobe x 2
• Temporal Lobe x 2

Brain Stem:

• Midbrain
• Pons and Medulla

Cerebellum

• Clay
• Toothpicks

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Instructions

Preparation

1. Familiarize yourself with the various parts of the brain
2. Split up into two groups (~5-6 people each)
3. Be assigned a specific part of the brain and begin sculpting
4. Once everyone is finished, come back together and assemble the individual parts into one whole brain

Thank you!