The exact definition of the somatosensory system is hard to pin down; the term generally refers to the tissues in your body that send sensory signals, including your skin, muscles and joints. Pain, balance and your senses of touch and temperature...
The cerebrum is the large upper area of the brain, which is physically divided at the midline into the right and left hemispheres. Within each hemisphere are five distinct regions, the insula, and the frontal, temporal, occipital and parietal...
Have you ever tripped on an uneven sidewalk but quickly reoriented yourself so you didn't fall? Consider yourself lucky. Thirty-five percent of adults older than 40 experience vestibular dysfunction, making them 12 times more likely to experience...
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 lobes: the frontal,...
Balance-training exercises affect the body on a muscular and neurological level. While this type of conditioning was once associated only with fall prevention and physical therapy, the words "dynamic balance" and "stability training" have become...
There are many important parts of the external brain. The surface of the human brain consists of two main parts: the cerebrum and the cerebellum. The cerebrum has many specialized areas that are associated with high-order cognitive functioning...
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition affecting 3 to 5 percent of the children in the United States, more commonly boys, according to Medline Plus. The symptoms of inactivity, hyperactivity and impulsivity may hinder...
Vitamins are essential chemical compounds required for numerous biological processes in the body. Most vitamins can be found in different foods, and eating a healthy diet including a variety of fruits and vegetables is your best bet to consuming...
The first year of a child's life is spent communicating entirely through nonverbal means. Infants use every part of their bodies to convey their wants and needs as their parents and caregivers respond to meet them. Dr. Bruce Perry states that this...
The nervous system has main two parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS contains the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS has the outer nerves and is further divided into the somatic nervous system...
The senses of smell, taste, vision, hearing and touch enable perception and interaction with the external environment. Dedicated areas of the brain receive and interpret input from the sense organs of the body. Disruption of any of the senses can...
Multiple sclerosis, commonly referred to as MS, takes time to diagnose. Once you get a diagnosis, treatments begin. Without insurance, MS can drain your financial savings and cause financial hardship. Health insurance, life insurance and...
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 how people process...
Gait exercises help develop or maintain a functional walking pattern. According to a May 2003 "Clinical Rehabilitation" study led by Hiroyuki Shimada, M.D., of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, performing gait exercises improved...
