The brain functions to control your thoughts, memory, learning, speech, movement, sensations and behavior. Brain diseases and disorders adversely affect these functions. Red meat is a source of protein, iron and certain vitamin...
When you eat proteins and your body digests them, amino acids are what remain after the protein has been broken down. Your body uses amino acids for a variety of purposes, such as proper brain function. Ensuring that you get ce...
Whether you are trying to lower your cholesterol, regulate your blood pressure or lose weight, medical professionals will suggest that you get some exercise. Often ignored is the equally important impact of exercise on the body...
They reduce the risk of blood clots, lower LDL cholesterol, prevent damage to your blood vessels and help you maintain normal blood pressure. Drinking grape juice also improves brain function and lowers the risk of certain medi...
Tyrosine is essential for making the brain neurotransmitters norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine. Tyrosine uses the protein from the food you eat to produce neurotransmitters that affect your mood, focus, memory and alertn...
This is due to the carbohydrates in bread and other foods that provide glucose, the main energy source for your brain and body. The Linus Pauling Institute notes that the brain requires continuous glucose to function efficientl...
According to this guide, the brain requires all three of the primary macronutrients -- protein, carbohydrate and fat -- to function properly. It also requires antioxidants to defend itself from harm or dysfunction.
Gluten is only partially digested in your gastrointestinal tract, giving rise to protein fragments that prompt a vigorous immune response in people with certain genetic traits. This autoimmune reaction can have far-reaching con...
If you eat spinach regularly, chances are the antioxidants, nutrients and phytochemicals found in spinach leaves will have a positive effect on the health of your brain. The spinach plant, also known as Spinacia oleracea, has b...
The brain is the central organ of the body. It controls various body functions and is also responsible for thoughts, memory, cognition, speech and movement. Structural or physiological changes in the brain can lead to brain dis...
A child is born with roughly 100 billion neurons or nerve cells. Through childhood, the circuitry between these neurons develops through the formation of synapses or connections between nerve cells. Because of this rapid growth...
Through the first three years of life, your child's brain is hard at work, making more connections than it ever will again. In fact, a 3-year-old's brain is more active than the brain of a young adult, according to a webpage ab...
If you're feeling a little foggy, perhaps a handful of blueberries could help. Blueberries contain antioxidants and compounds that could help enhance cognition and other brain functions, if you believe the hype. While studies o...
A healthy diet is one important factor of rehabilitation. Although no one post-stroke diet exists, various dietary programs, eating habits and foods promote brain function and can enhance your overall recovery. For best results...
Just as proper food-based nutrition helps fuel healthy muscles and bones, the brain relies on the right blend of vitamins, minerals, fats and other nutrients to function optimally. Many vegetables provide nutrients that are cri...
The function of the human brain is divided into certain parts or region. Each is responsible for a specific set of life processes. The left and right halves of the brain control the higher functions of life that are associated ...
Foods all affect brain and body in some way. In the simplest case, they provide the energy that brain and body need to function. However, some foods have specific, more dramatic effects, sometimes almost immediately upon consum...
Controlling appetite isn't always an easy thing to do. For one thing, signals from the brain control how much you eat and when you feel full. It's actually your brain and not your stomach that lets you know you feel hungry. Ano...
Flaxseed oil, made from the seeds of the flax plant, may provide a number of benefits for mood and brain functioning. Do not use flaxseed oil in place of conventional medical treatment.
Not surprisingly, studies have shown that a diet high in fruit can help prevent many of the symptoms of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and other deteriorating conditions of the brain.
Drinking tea regularly helps your brain to function optimally. Any tea that contains caffeine is a stimulant drink. The caffeine in tea helps your brain stay alert, notes MedlinePlus. Tea also has anti-inflammatory properties a...
Although it is a water-soluble vitamin, it is the only one stored in small amounts in your liver. B-12 has several roles in a variety of functions, including normal neurological, or brain function. For optimal brain power, make...
That cup of coffee in the afternoon may do more than keep you from falling asleep at your desk. The caffeine in coffee could actually make your brain work better, enhancing your ability to perform mental tasks. Caffeine, found ...
Even then, that may not be sufficient to meet your body's daily requirements that include healthy brain functioning, according to the study.
Your entire body relies on a nutritious diet to function properly, and your brain is no exception. Eating plenty of foods from each of the food groups ensures that your brain gets the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay heal...
This is particularly true for the prevention of specific chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. Investigators also have found evidence of a connection between brain health and function with ...
Scientific studies show that wild blueberries can impact brain health, especially in older age. Wild blueberries might help prevent certain age-related degenerative disease. Consult with your doctor before trying to prevent, tr...
Cognition specifically refers to the ability to use information, from simple to complex, to meet the challenges of life. Research on the role of nutrition on brain function continues to expand.
The brain, the central command center of the body, plays a crucial role in swimming. The brain contains nerve cells that communicate with each other and with the muscles to enable the movements needed for swimming. Swimming inv...
Green fluorescent protein is a special protein made by a type of jellyfish. Although this protein does not have any important dietary function, it has proven to be very useful for scientific applications. Scientists use green f...
Aerobic exercise is a type of exercise that forces you to make repeated movements with large muscles located throughout your body. Participation in aerobic exercise can improve your brain function in a number of ways.
If you have trouble concentrating and remembering, you might want to try boosting your brain function with herbs. Herbal teas, tinctures and capsules have a long history of use in improving memory and intellect, and increasing ...
This root definition, says the Franklin Institute, applies to your body and mind no matter what your age. Improving your level of physical fitness not only helps protect against medical conditions that can affect your brain, su...
According to the National Geographic website, the brain is the control center, which contains billions of nerves that process information to other parts of our body. MedlinePlus says that certain trauma that affects the brain c...
Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fats with a specific molecular configuration which have been linked to a wide range of health benefits, including some within the brain. From the incorporation of brain fat...
But Alzheimer’s disease is only one example of how the human mind can falter. Even if you are young and vital, your brain is a fragile and metabolically demanding organ. Supplying it with good nutrition throughout your li...
If you live on a junk food diet, you are likely to feel like junk. Conversely, according to Patrick Holford, in his book "New Optimum Nutrition for the Mind," if you feed your brain all the nutrients that it requires, you can ...
The evidence is unarguable: poor food choices can wreck your physical health. The relationship between food and cognitive performance is less well established, but scientists continue to explore this connection in an effort to ...
Brain cells or neurons require much the same nutrients as other cells in the body. Yet there are specific nutrients crucial to brain function in that their deficiency can lead to severe neurological problems. Vitamins are one s...
Research is revealing promising results for the ability of some of the most common foods and nutrients to preserve and restore brain function and ability to concentrate.
Optimum performance of the brain is crucial for the proper functioning of the entire body. However, as an individual ages, many brain functions especially cognitive properties such as memory, attention, language and problem sol...
The human brain, with its relatively large ratio compared to body size, has tremendous energy requirements, totaling more than three times those of the chimpanzee, our closest genetic relative, according to the website BeyondVe...
Your spa pack is considered the "brains" of the spa --- it controls all major functions, including the pumps, blower and heating unit, according to Hot Tub Works. If you experience a spa malfunction, it likely has to do with a ...
Vitamins are required by the brain for essential chemical reactions. These reactions are slowed, altered or absent if the needed vitamins are deficient. Diseases caused by vitamin deficiency usually involve both the central and...
A decline in brain function, which can lead to memory loss and a reduced ability to concentrate, is a dreaded reality of the aging process. In the Far East, herbs have been used to enhance cognitive abilities and mental clarity...
The hormones, foods and habits that promote the accumulation of belly fat may also cause fuzzy thinking, scattered concentration and a decline in memory. The metabolic factors that produce belly fat contribute to decreased cogn...
Depending on the level of anesthesia administered, it may take up to an hour to completely wake up or recover from general anesthesia. Because anesthesia numbs the brain, which controls body functions, side effects occur within...
While the lens is clear and flexible when you are young, aging can affect function and clarity, making it more difficult to see clearly.
Without smooth muscle blood flow, digestion and respiration would cease to occur. Unique structure and function allows physiological systems to operate without conscious directive from the brain. Smooth muscle allows the body t...
The brain is the home of complex processes such as memory, language and attention. Neuroscientists have long believed that these higher-order functions are associated with distinct areas in the brain. But no single area in the ...
A comatose patient is alive, but does not respond to any environmental stimuli. A coma may result from an injury or be caused by an underlying illness such as meningitis or malaria. The prognosis for a coma varies significantly...
Marathoners push through a physical barrier that could not be broken without motivation. People accomplish tasks every day that many would consider impossible. Have you ever wondered where they get this motivation and what, if ...
Obtaining adequate amounts of essential nutrients is just as crucial for brain function as it is for the rest of your body's functions, according to the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service we...
Columnar epithelial cells are named because they are somewhat rectangular in shape and resemble a column in their orientation. Columnar epithelial cells are often specialized so that they can have a variety of different functio...
As a child is growing, different parts of his brain specialize in different language-related functions. Thus, the left hemisphere typically begins to process most aspects of linguistic function while the right hemisphere specia...
These nerve fibers run throughout your body to carry sensory impulses from your body to your brain and motor impulses from your brain to muscles and other organs. According to Structure and Function of the Body, the one trillio...
The brain is the body's decision and communication center. It controls every part of a person's daily life, from breathing to learning and from perception to speaking. Although scientists have a clear understanding of where and...
The arteries transport oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the brain and a constant flow of blood is necessary for the health of the brain tissues and nerves. Information from California State University notes that the brain uses...
The forebrain includes the cortex, the latest to appear in evolutionary development, and deeper structures. The cortex is responsible for the higher functions, those relating to conscious thought and sentience, while the other ...
The ventricles produce and contain cerebral spinal fluid, or CSF, that bathe the brain and spinal cord to provide protection, buoyancy, waste removal and endocrine function. Each brain hemisphere contains a lateral ventricle, w...
Homeostasis is a process of maintaining certain body states at equilibrium, to ensure normal body function to sustain life. The brain, in conjunction with the autonomic nervous system, or ANS, regulates emotions, appetite, hear...
The brain is an electrochemical organ. The electrical activity of the brain is displayed in the form of brainwaves. These waves, called electroencephalography, or EEG, were first discovered by Richard Caton in 1875. At first, i...
The human brain is a complex organ that weighs three pounds. It holds intelligence, interprets sensations, controls behavior and initiates body movements. It has different interdependent parts that work together to perform all...
While the various parts of the brain have been observed to have discreet functions for processing specific types of information, the process of thought, or cognition, uses a neural network of interconnections between separate a...
Nerves control the functions of the body as well as the organs, cells, muscles and brain. The nervous system is divided into two main types that also have subdivisions. The peripheral nervous system is the primary system of ner...
This system essentially controls emotions, and the autonomic and endocrine responses associated with emotions. The limbic system also mediates the functions of self-preservation, i.e. the fight-or-flight reaction. Memory and le...
When a patient sustains head trauma, the damage can affect the brain, causing a loss of brain function. If head trauma, occurs, patients need to seek medical attention to prevent serious complications.
The human brain is responsible for overseeing an entire network of nerves that relay messages throughout the body, regulating every aspect of its activity. Our brains are complex and have evolved specialized structures to handl...
The human brain is part of the body’s central nervous system; in conjunction with the spinal cord and nerves, it controls everything that the body does. The main functions of the brain are controlled by three of the brain...
They consist of specialized muscle fibers that lie parallel to the extrafusal, or regular, muscle tissue. Muscle spindles are also known as intrafusal muscle fibers to distinguish them from regular muscle tissue. Muscle spindle...
Thiamin is needed daily to preserve brain function. This water-soluble vitamin, sometimes referred to as vitamin B1, is found in whole-grain cereals, some legumes, pork chops, watermelons, acorn squash and yeast. The recommende...
The brain is a main organ of the body. The brain controls memory, vision, hearing and body movement. The brain has three main regions called the hindbrain, midbrain and forebrain. Vital body functions are controlled by the hind...
Thirty-one pairs of nerves exit the spinal cord through openings in the vertebral column. These are spinal nerves. There are four main areas of the vertebral spine: the cervical spine, or neck; the thoracic spine, or chest; the...
Throughout life, new stimuli and learning experiences help to reorganize and reinforce neural networks, so it is important, especially as a person ages, to do exercises designed to improve brain function.
The forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain comprise the three functional regions of the brain. Within each region, individual lobes and structures exist, which control specific bodily functions and mental processes. Coordination of ...
The cerebrum houses the four major brain regions responsible for higher functioning. According to the Center for Neuro Skills, these four regions include the frontal lobes, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and the temporal lobe. T...
That results in major complexity. However, the brain has several ridges, fissures, lobes, distinctive cell clusters and other visible landmarks that make the process of attributing function to specific locations within the brai...
The brain is divided vertically from front to back. While appearing like mirror images, there is some functional division between the lobes. These divisions are not absolute. In some people, the functions are reversed from side...
The brain stem links the spinal cord to the brain. Messages between the brain and the rest of the body pass through the brain stem in large nerve bundles. However, the brain stem is more than a nerve impulse highway. According ...
The brain consists of different regions that have distinct functions but communicate with each other. The brain consists of the cerebral cortex, brain stem and cerebellum. The cerebral cortex is further broken down into four lo...
Located at the base of the forebrain, the basal ganglia are responsible for different functions, like voluntary movement. The different parts of the basal ganglia communicate with each other and transmit neurotransmitters to ot...
The brain, a complex structure, allows a human being to perceive and react to her environment, contemplate "the big questions," and experience a myriad of emotions. The brain controls the body and maintains the delicate interna...
The brain is divided into two halves: the right hemisphere and the left hemisphere. In addition, there are several different areas of the brain each responsible for different functions.
The brain, spinal cord and spinal nerves literally control all the functions of the body. When the spinal cord becomes injured, it can cause debilitating symptoms including quadriplegia, paraplegia and even death. There are two...
The spinal cord and nerves play vital roles in receiving, sending and sorting signals from the environment to the body, but the brain is the master controller. The brain can be divided into several sections and structures that ...
As scientists continue to examine cognitive function using brain imaging techniques, the cortical map is becoming more and more detailed.
One of the most common presentations of the brain and the cognitive functions that occu...
The human body is amazingly complicated, and much of the way it works is a mystery. At the core of all the complex bodily systems is the brain, which controls all the actions and processes of the body. The brain contains seve...
Cognition refers to the higher order functions that are needed for learning and interacting with a person's environment. Each human brain is capable of multiple cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, executive function...
Dreams are mental experiences that are formed in the brain during sleep. Many parts of the brain contribute to dream creation. The result of this weave of biochemistry and imagination is an intensely activated brain that ser...
The brain controls multiple bodily functions, ranging from simple to high-level tasks. Each part of the brain is responsible for separate duties, but they interact with each other through neural connections. The brain can be di...
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is stopped. Recovery from a stroke is often challenging, but steps can be taken to ease the process and enhance both physical and mental function along the way. According to th...
Although the cause of neurodegeneration is multifactorial, nutrition can play a major role in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress to preserve brain function.
The brain is a complex organ. It controls and regulates everything your body does. The human brain is divided into sections. Each section is responsible for various functions such as breathing, speaking, vision and so forth. At...
It must then decide how to best respond to all the incoming information. To fully understand how the brain works, it is important to be aware of the various sections or regions within the brain and what functions each region co...
One of the side effects of cancer treatment is difficulty with brain function during treatment. Many cancer patients and survivors refer to this as "chemo brain." According to the Mayo Clinic, the types of treatment that can ca...
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects 1 percent of the world's population, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A patient with schizophrenia cannot tell the difference between real and unreal experienc...
The cerebrum, which is the largest part of the brain, is divided into four areas, or lobes, each of which houses different functions. The cerebrum is also divided into two hemispheres: the left, which helps you think creatively...
Scientists and researchers have barely scratched the surface in their exploration of the different regions of the brain and how all parts work together to create thoughts, store memories and produce your unique personality. The...
Sporadic ataxia, for instance, progresses very slowly and may be difficult to diagnose, especially if there is no family history of neurological disease. Cerebellar ataxia originates from a dysfunction in the cerebellum, usuall...
In most cases, breaking an addiction to Ativan isn't that easy. Ativan causes your body to become physically dependent on it, and long-term use can actually change the way the brain functions. Withdrawing from it, even slowly, ...
Each person's stroke episode is different, but there are expected deficiencies depending on the location in the brain where the tissue damage took place. Ask the stroke victim's neurologist to give you a ballpark idea of what s...
