This PowerPoint will walk you through important details about the human brain. This information will be useful to you as we read through Flowers for Algernon.

1. Flowers for Algernon
Overview of the Brain and how it
functions. Fill in the blanks on your
guided notes as we go through the PPT.
Feel free to add information where you
please.

2. What do you already know?
• Write down anything you know about the
parts of the brain and how it functions?
What facts, parts, or knowledge do you know
about the brain either in humans or other
animals?
– Take 1 minute, write down what you know about
the brain.
– After 1 minute, share with a partner.
– Add to your list if you’d like.
– Be prepared to share with the class.

3. Triune Brain
• A structural model
of the human brain
that divides the
brain by its three
physical areas.
• These areas are divided according to whether
the structures resemble those found in reptiles,
early mammals, or of more recently evolved
mammals.

4. To Review… What kind of brain?
Neo cortex
(Cerebral Cortex)
Emotional Brain
(Limbic System)
Survival /Reptilian
Brain

5. The Triune Brain uses words that reflect
Recently evolved mammals:
calculating, deliberate,
logical, higher thinking
the emotional/logical brain distinction:
Reptilian: animal, cold-blooded,
predatory

6. Triune Brain
Neocortex
(Cerebral Cortex)
Emotional Brain
(Limbic System)
Survival /Reptillian Brain
(The R Complex)

7. Reptilian Brain
• The oldest part of the brain and the part of the
“Triune Brain” structural model that includes such
early-evolved, inner structures of the brain. Also
called the R complex.

8. The Reptilian Brain
The 3Fs are important in how you learn too.
If you are trying to learn something new- something hard – it can
be seen as a threat. You might do one of the 3 F’s of the
Reptilian Brain.
• FLEE: You might find excuses not to do it – try to walk
away from the work
• FIGHT: You might argue against the teacher, the
book, the lesson, spending your time thinking of
arguments why you shouldn’t be doing it
•FREEZE: Your mind might simply go
blank; panic attack, or fainting.

9. Limbic System
• A group of brain
structures that
together regulate
motives, emotions,
memory, and
physiological
processes.

10. The Limbic Brain
The Limbic Brain controls emotions.
It is this part of the brain that decides whether you are motivated to
learn something.
If it thinks it is useful it will let it through
If it thinks it is a threat it will cut off all other thoughts from
your brain to let all your brain deal with the threat
It is this part of the brain that stores emotional memories – so if
you were made to feel threatened by doing a test, then it
remembers that next time you do a test and treats it as a threat.
This explains why some people go to pieces in exams and tests

11. The Neo cortex (Cerebral Cortex)
The NEO CORTEX is also called the
Cerebral Cortex.
The Neo-Cortex is where you do your THINKING.
The Neo-Cortex has the “Strategist”, looking for
solutions to problems for you.
If the reptilian brain and the limbic brain let
messages through, it is the neo-cortex that
processes that information and tells your body how
to react.
•Makes Speaking and Writing possible
•Processes sensory information (smell, taste, hear,
feel, and see).

12. Hemispheric Specialization
Right Brain
Intuitive, creative logic.
Active in fear, anger,
pessimism and worry
Left Brain
Verbal, analytic logic.
Active in joy, empathy,
optimism and trust

13. The Left Brain and the Right Brain
The Left Brain
This is where these
tasks are carried out
• Language
• Logic and Maths
• Words of songs
• Memory of facts
• Analysing
The Right Brain
• Vision and space
• Rhythm
• Music
• Pictures and images
• Imagination
• Relationships
between facts

14. Look at the chart and say the color not the word.
Color

15. Which of the two faces appears happier?

20. •1.Your Intelligence can be improved
•2.You have several different types of
intelligence ( This is called “Multiple
Intelligences” )
People usually think of
those who use their
brain well as being
intelligent. Your
intelligence would be
measured by your I.Q..
Some people think your
I.Q. is fixed and that
you can’t get any more
“clever”. However…

21. Multiple Intelligences
There are usually said to be 9 Multiple Intelligences. These are….
• Linguistic ( to do with language )
• Mathematical ( including logical thinking )
• Musical ( everything to do with patterns and sounds )
• Inter personal ( working with other people )
• Intra personal ( looking critically at how you are working )
• Visual / Spatial ( being able to judge shapes, distances and so
on )
• Kinaesthetic ( control over your movement, sporting skills,
drawing etc )
• Naturalistic ( sensitivity to your natural environment )
• Existential (the meaning of life, existence, human connections)

23. The Human Brain Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UukcdU258A
Listen carefully, the man is British.
Note: Watch from Beginning-4:30, skip 2 min, then
from 6:30 to end.

24. Works Cited
• www.acwa.asn.au/Conf2006/Wed_Bath.ppt
• www.response-education.org/Brain.ppt