The Brain

Ancient Egyptians considered the brain to be a useless organ and often threw away the brain before the mummification process

Melissa Hiebert Staff

The brain is one of the most important organs. In charge of emotion, thought, memory and pretty much all bodily functions, it is also one of the least known organs in the human body. The average human brain weighs around 3 pounds and contains about 100 billion neurons, which process and send information. Each neuron is connected to about 25,000 other neurons. The brain is divided into a left and a right hemisphere, connected by the corpus callosum.

The major part of the brain is the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is divided into four different sections, the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the temporal lobe and the occipital lobe. The frontal lobe is located just behind the forehead and is said to be in charge of speaking, planning, problem solving and concentration, among many other things. Behind the frontal lobe is the parietal lobe, which is associated with perception and sensory information. The occipital lobe is in charge of visual processing. And finally, there are the temporal lobes, which are associated with memory, hearing and understanding language.

Another useful part of the brain is the cerebellum, which is located at the bottom back part of the brain, near the brainstem. This part of the brain is associated with movement and motor skills. The brainstem itself is in charge of basic functions such as breathing.

Many civilizations throughout history have been interested in the workings of the brain. Ancient Egyptians, however, considered the brain to be a useless organ and often threw away the brain before the mummification process (while preserving other more important organs). Yet an ancient Egyptian document also outlines 26 different cases of brain injury as well as suggested treatments.

In South America, evidence can be found of early attempts at brain surgery. Due to a large number of skulls found with holes in them, archaeologists have suggested that Incans practiced trepanation, the process of making a hole in the skull with tools made out of volcanic rock and bronze. It is believed that the Incans engaged in this practice to relieve headaches and mental illness, as well as for spiritual or mystical reasons.

The disorders and illnesses that can be associated with the brain seem to be endless, ranging from mood disorders to epilepsy, from aphasia to schizophrenia. One unusual mental disorder is Capgras Syndrome, in which a person thinks everyone around them is an ‘imposter,’ identical clones that resemble the people closest to them. Another brain disorder is labelled the ‘alien hand syndrome,’ in which the person affected feels like they have no control over a certain body part, as if it moves independently from their body.

Philosophers have long debated the connection of the mind and the brain, debating whether the mind is more than simply the sum of its parts. There is evidence of a profound connection between the brain and personality. In one well-known case, Phinaes Gage, a railroad worker, had his frontal lobe pierced by a metal rod in an accident. Gage miraculously survived with minimal permanent physical damage, though his personality drastically changed. While he had been described as polite and hard working before the accident, afterwards he was rude, vulgar and unable to hold down a job. This case is presented in many psychology textbooks to demonstrate the relationship between the brain and personality.

The complexity and fragility of the brain combined with its close association with the mind and emotions make the brain one of the most interesting parts of the human body. That, and thousands of zombies everywhere can’t be wrong. Mmmm brains.