Renee Descartes described the pineal gland as the “Seat of the Soul.” This tiny gland can be located in the brain’s center. So what makes this super tiny gland so important in our day-to-day functioning? The pineal gland is a pea-sized and shaped gland located in the brain’s center. While researchers do not yet fully understand its function, they do know that it produces and regulates hormones, including melatonin. Melatonin is important in the regulation of sleep....

A complicated signaling route inside a cell starts with a single critical event: binding a signaling molecule, or ligand, to its receiving molecule or receptor. To understand these complex biochemical processes, it is imperative first to understand their participants. A ligand is any molecule or atom that binds reversibly to its target receptor. A solitary atom or ion can serve as a ligand. However, it may also comprise a more complex molecule of several atoms....

Sleep discussions generally focus on why we sleep, what happens if we don’t get enough sleep, sleep disorders, and even the stages of sleep. But, have you ever wondered why we dream and what any of those dreams we have mean? This is where the Activation Synthesis theory comes in. The Activation Synthesis theory is the activation of specific brain regions, and its synthesis is what causes dreams. There are bursts of neural activity that stem from the brain cell through the cerebral cortex that, causes the frontal lobe to interpret those signals and give them meaning....

We’re all familiar with the nervous system in mammals (particularly humans) and how the various impulses and responses are communicated through the intricate neural network stemming from the brain and spinal cord. But, what would we find if we had to closely examine a synapse? The axon terminal is a critical part of the nervous system, and we’ll investigate why below. The axon terminal is an essential part of the neuron....

For as long as 150 years, scientists knew that Broca’s area was critical in transforming thoughts into words. Only recently did the exact function and role of Broca’s area become known. The Broca area is located in the inferior frontal gyrus, the part of the brain known as the motor speech area. The area is responsible for speech production, including regulating breathing while speaking and vocalizing. It’s also linked to language processing and comprehension....

There are 4 types of variables that are mostly focused on. These are dependent, independent, extraneous, and confounding variables. Confounding variables play a huge role in both dependent and independent variables. Confounding variables can be tricky as they have the ability to muddy study results. However, there is a way to try and stop that from happening. Here is what you need to know about confounding variables, including helpful examples....

Continuity means that something continues indefinitely. It can also describe how our eyes follow a line until it is interrupted. When we apply the theory of continuity, it adds a different flavor to what we think about. For some, the idea implies that our identity is linked to the continuity of our memories. For others, the matter is a little more complicated. Hold onto your hat as we dive into the meaning of continuity psychology, Gestalt’s theories, and what all this means for our lives....

The body is constantly working to maintain chemical and hormonal equilibrium or homeostasis, but it can be somewhat challenging with chronic stress and constant activation from several bodily responses. So, what helps to regulate and control these responses? The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (or the HPA Axis) is vital to managing bodily stressors. It directly affects the functioning of the thyroid gland, the adrenal gland, and the gonads. It also influences growth, milk production during pregnancy and controls water balance through cortisol....

Social psychology comprehensively covers societal issues such as social perception, nonverbal behavior, aggression, discrimination, conformity, and leadership. Social perception and interaction are the most commonly studied behaviors. By studying both individuals and groups, social psychologistswork to correct and even prevent negative interactions. In many ways, this field is an interdisciplinary school of thought which combines elements of both psychology and sociology. If you enjoy watching people and finding out what makes them “tick,” as well as what mental factors make societies function the way they do, a career as a social psychologist might be the ideal one for you....

The ventral root plays a vital role in the spinal cord. The ventral root, also known as the anterior, and dorsal root, known as the posterior, are all subdivisions of the spinal cord’s white matter. Each includes axon tracts linked to particular functions. The efferent motor root of a spinal nerve is known in neuroanatomy as the ventral root of the spinal nerve, motor root, or anterior root. The axons of the motor neurons are housed in a ventral root made up of ventral rootlets....

The ventral stream is an important part of the brain. Although the brain is divided into various regions, the different parts work together to achieve complicated processes. Vision is one example of a highly complex series of processes involving information passing through different brain regions. But what links these brain regions, how is the information divided, and where is it processed? The ventral stream is an essential neurological pathway that carries information from the primary visual cortex to the inferior temporal lobe and other important structures....

Our pink-grey brain looks like a continuous strand of thin sausages folded up so it would fit into our skull. But amongst the two spheres of “grey matter” are these hollow cavities. From the side, these cavities look like the creatures Ellen Ripley battles in the Alien movies. Nor does it appear a lot of thinking goes on in these spaces. Yet, the ventricles of the brain do serve a vital purpose....

When looking at the brain, you will see the two main lobes, the occipital and the temporal. The spinal cord terminates at the brainstem, which is attached to the Cerebellum. The Cerebellum is tucked underneath these two lobes a the back of the skull on top of the brainstem. The cerebellar Vermis is located at the center of the Cerebellum’s two lobes, in the Cerebellum’s coriconuclear region. The Vermis relates to body posture and mobility and divides the two cerebellar hemispheres....