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Investigation 1: PreLab
The Human Brain
In this Investigation, you will explore how the structure of the human brain relates to what the brain does. You will examine major brain regions, consider how different areas contribute to behavior and decision-making, and explore how neurons communicate information. The ideas on this page will prepare you to understand what you observe and investigate throughout the Investigation.
Focus Questions
1. How does studying brain structure help us understand human behavior and decision-making?
Studying brain structure allows scientists to link specific regions of the brain to particular functions and behaviors. Different areas of the brain are responsible for tasks such as movement, sensation, emotion, and decision-making. When a specific region is damaged or altered, changes in behavior often follow, helping researchers infer the role of that region. Understanding brain structure helps explain how different parts of the brain contribute to thinking, personality, behavior, and decision-making.
Ideas to Consider:
“Different brain parts do different jobs.”
“Damage can change behavior.”
“You can learn about thinking by studying the brain.”
“The brain controls more than just movement.”
2. What did the case of Phineas Gage reveal about the role of the frontal lobes?
The case of Phineas Gage demonstrated that damage to the frontal lobes can dramatically alter personality, judgment, and social behavior without eliminating basic intelligence or memory. After his injury, Gage retained many physical and cognitive abilities but showed profound changes in self-control and decision-making. This provided early evidence that the frontal lobes are important for planning, self-control, judgment, and other executive functions.
Ideas to Consider:
“He was the same person, but also different.”
“Personality can change if the brain is damaged.”
“The frontal lobe affects choices and behavior.”
“You can be smart but still make bad decisions.”
3. Why is it important to divide the brain into regions such as the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes?
Dividing the brain into regions helps scientists and doctors describe, study, and diagnose brain function more precisely. Each lobe is associated with major functions—such as vision, sensation, language, or planning—helping scientists and doctors better understand injuries, diseases, and brain scans. This organizational framework makes the complex brain easier to understand and communicate about scientifically.
Ideas to Consider:
“It’s like a map.”
“Doctors need names for parts.”
“Different jobs need different areas.”
“It helps explain symptoms.”
4. How do neurons communicate information within the brain?
Neurons communicate using electrical signals within the cell and chemical signals between cells. An electrical impulse travels down a neuron’s axon, triggering the release of neurotransmitters at the synapse. These chemicals cross the synaptic gap and bind to receptors on the next neuron, continuing the signal. This process allows neurons to rapidly communicate information throughout the brain, making thought, sensation, movement, and memory possible.
Ideas to Consider:
“Electricity and chemicals both matter.”
“Messages jump between cells.”
“Signals can speed up or slow down.”
“Interruptions cause problems.”
Preparing for Success
Before beginning this Investigation, carefully review the Background Reading and Concept Slides provided below. These materials will help you understand how the human brain is organized and why different regions perform different functions.
As you work through the material, read thoughtfully and examine the diagrams closely. Look for connections between brain structure and brain function—how the way a part of the brain is organized relates to what it does.
Don’t worry about memorizing every detail. Instead, focus on recognizing important patterns and relationships. These ideas will help prepare you for the Concept activities, PreLab work, and Lab Investigation that follow.
1. Structure and Function Are Closely Related in the Brain
Key Idea:
The physical structure of a brain region is closely related to the function it performs. The way brain tissue is organized helps determine how information is received, processed, and acted upon.
Background Reading (Readings open in a new window):
Relevant Concept Slides (Click to enlarge):
Why this matters:
Recognizing the relationship between structure and function allows you to move beyond memorization and begin thinking scientifically about why the brain works the way it does.
2. The Human Brain Is Organized Into Specialized Regions
Key Idea:
- The human brain is not a single uniform structure. Different regions are responsible for different functions, including movement, sensation, language, emotion, and decision-making.
Background Reading (Readings open in a new window):
Relevant Concept Slides (Click to enlarge):
Why this matters:
Understanding brain organization helps explain why different abilities depend on different parts of the brain. This idea explains why injuries or changes to specific brain regions can affect certain functions while leaving others unchanged.
3. The Brain Works as an Integrated System
Key Idea:
Although different regions of the brain have specialized roles, the brain functions as an integrated system. Most behaviors and abilities depend on multiple regions working together.
Background Reading (Readings open in a new window):
Relevant Concept Slides (Click to enlarge):
Why this matters:
This idea helps you understand that complex behaviors are rarely controlled by a single brain region. Instead, coordination among regions is essential for normal brain function.
4. Vocabulary Helps Describe Brain Organization Accurately
Key Idea:
Scientific vocabulary provides a shared language for describing brain structures and their functions clearly and precisely.
- Relevant Concept Slides (Click to enlarge):
Why this matters:
Using accurate scientific vocabulary supports clear communication and prepares you to discuss brain structure and function thoughtfully during class activities and future Investigations.
Investigation One Vocabulary
Brain
Definition:
The organ in the head that controls thoughts, movements, senses, emotions, and many body functions.
Why this matters:
The brain is the body’s control center. Nearly everything you do—from thinking and learning to moving and feeling—depends on the brain working properly.
Example — What this looks like:
Think about everything your brain helped you do this morning—from waking up and getting dressed to eating breakfast and getting ready for school. All of those activities depend on your brain working with the rest of your nervous system.
Brain Stem
Definition:
The part of the brain that connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls basic life functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and swallowing.
Why this matters:
The brain stem carries out many automatic functions that are essential for life. It helps regulate breathing, heart rate, and other vital processes without requiring you to consciously think about them.
Example — What this looks like:
You continue breathing while you are sleeping or concentrating on something else. Your brain stem helps keep that essential process going automatically.
Cerebellum (seh-ruh-BELL-um)
Definition:
The part of the brain located at the back of the head that helps coordinate balance, posture, and smooth, precise muscle movements.
Why this matters:
The cerebellum does not start movement. Instead, it helps make your movements smooth, coordinated, and accurate.
Example — What this looks like:
When you catch a baseball or walk across a balance beam, your cerebellum helps coordinate your muscles and maintain your balance so your movements are controlled and precise.
Cerebrum (suh-REE-brum)
Definition:
The largest part of the brain, responsible for conscious thought, memory, language, voluntary movement, and interpreting sensory information.
Why this matters:
Many of the abilities you associate with being human—including thinking, learning, remembering, communicating, and making decisions—depend on the cerebrum.
Example — What this looks like:
When you solve a math problem, remember something you learned yesterday, or decide how to respond to a question, your cerebrum is actively involved.
Frontal Lobe
Definition:
The front region of the cerebrum involved in voluntary movement, planning, decision-making, problem-solving, and speech.
Why this matters:
The frontal lobe helps you plan ahead, solve problems, control your behavior, and make thoughtful decisions. You will explore these functions in greater detail in later Investigations.
Example — What this looks like:
When you stop and think about what you are going to say before you say it, your frontal lobe is helping you make that decision.
Function
Definition:
The job or role performed by a structure or system.
Why this matters:
Understanding function helps you think about what a structure actually does rather than simply memorizing its name. This helps explain why each part of the brain is important.
Example — What this looks like:
The cerebellum is a structure in the brain. One of its functions is helping coordinate smooth, precise movement.
Nervous System
Definition:
The body’s communication system, consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that receive, process, and transmit information throughout the body.
Why this matters:
The brain does not work alone. The nervous system allows your brain to receive information from and communicate with different parts of your body.
Example — What this looks like:
If you accidentally touch a hot pan, your nervous system carries information from your hand toward the central nervous system and coordinates a response that helps protect you.
Occipital Lobe (ock-SIP-it-ul)
Definition:
The region at the back of the cerebrum primarily responsible for processing visual information.
Why this matters:
Seeing happens in the brain, not just in the eyes. Your eyes collect visual information, but the occipital lobe helps process what you see.
Example — What this looks like:
When you read a page, your eyes collect visual information from the words while your occipital lobe helps process that visual information.
Parietal Lobe (puh-RYE-uh-tul)
Definition:
The region of the cerebrum that processes touch, temperature, pain, pressure, and the body’s position in space.
Why this matters:
The parietal lobe helps you recognize where you have been touched and understand where different parts of your body are positioned.
Example — What this looks like:
If you close your eyes and someone gently taps your shoulder, your parietal lobe helps you recognize where on your body you were touched.
Structure
Definition:
The physical form or organization of something and how its parts are arranged.
Why this matters:
Scientists often ask how the design of a structure helps it perform its function. The relationship between structure and function is a central idea throughout Human Cognition.
Example — What this looks like:
Think about a bicycle tire. Its round structure allows it to roll smoothly. In the same way, structures in the brain have characteristics that help them perform particular functions.
Synapse (SIN-aps)
Definition:
The tiny gap between two neurons where chemical messengers carry signals from one neuron to the next.
Why this matters:
Neurons do not simply touch one another. They communicate across tiny gaps called synapses using chemical signals.
Example — What this looks like:
Imagine people passing a message down a line. At a synapse, one neuron passes a chemical message across the gap to communicate with the next neuron.
Temporal Lobe
Definition:
The region of the cerebrum involved in hearing, language, memory, and recognizing objects and faces.
Why this matters:
The temporal lobe helps you process sound, understand spoken language, and form and retrieve many memories. You will encounter these functions again in later Investigations.
Example — What this looks like:
When you recognize your favorite song after hearing only a few notes, your temporal lobe is helping you process and recognize what you hear.