Our brain is a thinking organ that understands things and grows by meeting the world through action and observation. Mental encouragement helps in improving brain functions and protects brain against cognitive decline, as does physical exercise. The human brain is capable of constantly adapting and rewiring itself. It can grow neurons, even in old age. Throughout life, neural networks restructure and reinforce themselves in reply to new stimuli and learning experiences. This body-mind communication is what excites brain cells to grow and connect with each other in different ways. They do so by expanding branches of intricate nerve fibers called dendrites, which are the antennas through which neurons communicate with each other. A healthy, properly-functioning neuron can be linked to tens of thousands of each other neurons, creating more than a hundred trillion connections.

Structure of the Brain

The brain can be considered the most complex organ in the human body and the centerpiece of your nervous system. Although a human brain works as a unified whole, neuroscientists can identify areas within it that perform specific functions. The brain is organized into three interconnected layers: the central core, limbic system, and cerebral cortex, all of which contain structures that regulate everyday life.

The central core helps regulate basic life processes, including breathing, pulse, arousal, movement, balance, sleep, and the early stage of processing sensory information. The limbic system mediates motivated behaviors, emotional states, and memory processes. It also regulates body temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar level, and other housekeeping activities. The cerebral cortex directs the brain’s higher cognitive and emotional functions. It is divided into two almost symmetrical halves called the cerebral hemispheres.

Each hemisphere contains four lobes:

• Frontal Lobe
• Occipital Lobe
• Parietal Lobe
• Temporal Lobe.

These lobes oversee all forms of conscious experience, including perception, emotion, thought and planning, as well as many unconscious cognitive and emotional processes.