Reflex Lab

Reflexes are actions performed as a response to a stimulus without conscious thought. In the Reflex Lab, we tested our partners different reflexes as such-- the photopupillary reflex, the knee jerk reflex, the blink reflex, the plantar reflex, and the reflex relating to our response time. When we stimulate something that incites our neurons to survival instinct, our sensory neuron activates the spinal record to respond accordingly.

• Angela, Haley, and I first tested our photopupillary reflexes. Haley covered her right eye for two minutes and quickly removed her hand at our count. Angela shined a flashlight at her right eye, and I recorded the video of the transformation of the pupil of her right eye. The pupil of her right eye constricted, or grew smaller, which was a fascinating process to watch. I knew that the photopupillary reflex is triggered when exposed to an increase in  sunlight, causing the pupil to contract. But to actually view the transformation of the pupil live was amazing, fascinating. 
• After testing the photopupillary reflex, we moved on to test the knee jerk reflex. Once again, Haley was our subject in experimenting reflexes. I recorded Angela hitting Haley's knee with a reflex hammer. It took Angela a couple of times for the leg to immediately kick out. What caused Haley's leg to immediately kick out was the knee jerk reflex. Angela's tap to Haley's knee caused the thigh muscle to stretch. Information was sent to the spinal cord and then the information was sent back out to the muscle, causing the knee to jerk. The second part of testing the photopupillary reflex was to test the reflex after the subject had done 30 air squats. Haley reacted quicker to the reflex hammer hitting her knee, proving that exercise increases the knee jerk reflex.
• Moving onto testing the next reflex, the three of us tested the blink reflex. I recorded Angela throwing a cotton ball at Haley, who was holding plastic wrap to protect herself. Although Haley was partly protecting herself with the plastic wrap, her blink reflex, an involuntary blinking of the eyelids caused by stimulation of the cornea, was still triggered when a cotton ball was thrown to her. I believe that the blink reflex is just a reflex we have evolved from the beginning of humankind in order to protect us from imminent dangers, such as spitting poison. Such dangers are not as prevalent in our lives, but the blink reflex is still useful for us in protecting us from... cotton balls.
•  After the learning the "hazards" of cotton balls, we moved on to test our plantar reflexes. Haley took off her shoes and socks for us to test the plantar reflex. I recorded the video, but the experimenter this time was actually our teacher Mr. Orre. He demonstrated to us how the toes will flex due to the plantar reflex as he slid the pen up along Haley's foot. This reflex became important in the medical field, as doctors can diagnose nerve damage in adults and Babinski's sign in newborns.
• The last test the three of us performed was designed to measure our response time to something we see. The experimenter would hold a yard stick and drop the stick in the next five seconds unannounced. The subject would have to grab the yardstick after the experimenter dropped the yard stick. The reaction time of the subject would be measured by how many centimeters or inches was in the lapse time between the drop time and grab time. Then, the centimeters or inches was translated into seconds, which represents the subject's average reaction time. The process of us responding to something we process requires visual information to our brains. Then a motor command would be sent to our brains to our muscles of our arms, helping us to catch the ruler. Later, we tested our response time while being distracted by texting. Our results are posted below.

Texting tended to slow down our response time significantly, since we were distracted by texting (or at least attempting) on our cell phones. Angela and I, for example, were slowed down when texting as shown by the table below, though I had a significantly worse reaction than Angela had. 

Name	Avg. Reaction Time (s)	Avg. Reaction Time While Texting (s)
Kelly H	0.176	0.28
Angela L	0.15	0.19

Angela and I were slightly better than the average female reaction. I, however, was slightly worse than the average for the female reaction while texting. We both were below 0.18 seconds as the average reaction time, and Angela scored 0.15 seconds from the average reaction time while texting, which was almost half the time of the average female reaction while texting. Based on my average reaction time while texting, I should definitely not text while driving!

My Brain Map

An interactive infographic by Open Colleges

Cerebral Cortex

1. The frontal lobes are humans' central command center. They control humans' personality and where problem solving, memory, language, impulse control, and judgement occur.

2. There have been studies that show that the intelligence level depends on how selective you are when remembering information. This is called selective attention, which makes our working memory capacity to be greater as it allows us to prioritize important information.

3. The frontal lobe is the last part of the brain to develop. To prevent the brain from deteriorating, we can do exercises to prevent the front lobe from deteriorating.

4. The neocortex governs our senses, spatial awareness, and motor skills. This part of the brain is more receptive to environmental enrichment than other parts; therefore, too many tasks for the brain will be too challenging for the brain.

5. The role of the pre frontal cortex is to organize our thoughts and actions to match cohesively with internal goals. The pre frontal cortex has a huge part in controlling our personality, including how we behave in social situations.

6. The pre frontal cortex helps us keep our goals of each task in mind while multitasking.

7. The Broca's area is associated with speech and language development. There have been studies that suggest tongue twisters may improve the functioning of the Broca's area.

8. The somatosensory cortex is responsible for thinking the following: “Is it hot in here or is it just me?”

9. The visual cortex helps to differentiate colors and distinguish complexities.

10. The dpital lobe is the brain's visual processing center. There are different regions in the occipital lobe that have different functions, such as sensing motion and differentiating colors. If one of your lobes become damaged, it might result in partial blindness, total blindness, difficulty of differentiating colors and even hallucinations.   

11. If my temporal lobes were damaged, I might forget where I parked my car to get to class or where the bus stop is.

12. The“fast brain” refers to the eye fields. The eye fields control eye movements and help the brain register information very quickly. 

Neuron
13. Exercise and a healthy diet provide many benefits for our brain to function. Other studies have shown that socializing is also another factor in healthy brain function.

14. The dendrites' lifespan is influenced by your experience which is laid by your input activity. Using the multi-sensory or multi-modal learning, which help us engage in storing data about a particular activity, affects the lifespan of the dendrites.

15. Studies show that using the "big picture" will help us full understand a subject, and then break the subject into its relevant parts. Using mnemonic devices also help us remember personal, humorous, spatial, or relatable information about a topic in order to recall the information at a later date.

16. Glutamate plays a key role in learning new information and storing long term memory. It is also essential for studying our brain, making the glutamate have more benefits than other neurotransmitters.

Limbic System
17. The corpus callosum is where we get our oral language skills and the ability to comprehend how language is structured.

18. A study showed that children who practiced music for two and a half hours per week showed increase in 25% of their corpus collosum, indicating that the two hemispheres of the brain were communicating more effectively due to the musical practice.

19. The thalamus is important because it is responsible for motor control, sensory information, and states of consciousness. It also relays information from the senses and sends the information to the cortex; it also processes information too.

Relate and Review
After watching the tutorial, I learned that the corpus collosum is in charge of our oral language skills and ability to comprehend the structure of languages. In order to improve upon these skills, I can always start to play an instrument, such as the piano or violin, in order to increase the functionality of my corpus collosum. Other structures of the brain I learned were the frontal lobes, the thalamus, the occipital lobe, and the visual cortex. The frontal lobes govern our central command system, controlling our personality and problem solving skills. The thalamus relays information from the senses and sends information to the cortex, making the this structure an invaluable part of the brain. The occipital lobe is the brain's visual center that is designed to sense motion and differentiate colors. The visual cortex also helps to differentiate colors. 

Brain Dissection

1.

The picture above shows the anterior and posterior sides of the brain. The color of the pins coordinate with structures of the brain. The red pin is the brain stem, the black pin is the posterior side of the brain, the green pin is the cerebellum, the yellow pin is the cerebrum, and the white pin is the anterior side of the brain.

Here is a sketch of the posterior and anterior side of the brain.

2.

Structure	Function
Cerebellum	Region of the brain that receives information from sensory systems, regulates motor movements, and coordinates voluntary movements
Brain Stem	Posterior part of the brain that regulates the heart rate, breathing, sleeping, and eating
Cerebrum	Largest part of the brain associated with controlling voluntary movements and other higher brain functions
Anterior Side	Nearer to the front, situated in the front of the body
Posterior Side	Closer to the back, situated in the back of the body

3. The function of myelin in a neuron is to increase the speed at which impulses propagate along the myelinated fiber.

4.

The picture above shows the brain cut along the sagittal plane. The yellow pin is the thalamus, the green pin is the optic nerve, the white pin is the medulla oblongata, the black pin is the pons, the blue pin is the midbrain, the red pin is the corpus callosum, and the gray pin is the hypothalamus. 

Here is a sketch of the brain that is cut along the sagittal plane.

5.

Structure	Function
Thalamus	Structure located in the middle of the brain that works with consciousness, sleep, and sensory interpretation
Optic Nerve	Structure that transfers information from the retina to the vision centers in the brain through electrical impulses
Medulla Oblongata	Part of the brain that helps to regulate breathing, heart and blood functions, digestion, sneezing, and swallowing
Pons	Small structure in the brain that is a bridge among different parts of the brain, including the cerebrum and the cerebellum
Midbrain	Portion of the central nervous system associated with vision, hearing, motor control, and other functions
Corpus Callosum	Brain structure that integrates motor, sensory, and cognitive performances of the body
Hypothalamus	Portion of the brain that links the nervous system to the endocrine system through the pituitary gland

6.

Above shows the brain cut along the sagittal plane and the horizontal plane, being cut into four parts. The black pin represents the gray matter, and the white pin represents the white matter. 

Here is a sketch of the brain with gray matter and white matter labeled.

Relate and Review
During the brain dissection, we dissected a sheep brain and labeled the brain structures three times-- the original state of the brain, the state of the brain after cut along the sagittal plane, and the state of the brain after cut along the sagittal and horizontal plane. Although I did not participate in dissecting the brain, I took pictures and helped in the labeling process. Throughout the brain dissection, I found the brain really disgusting because I could see the grooves of the brain and the slimy covering of the brain. The brain dissection confirmed my aversion of seeing brains and helped me visually recognize the structures of the brain we learned in our lecture notes. Seeing the brain live helped me to learn the structures better and connect the lecture notes to a real-live situation.

Sheep Eye Dissection

The anatomy of the sheep's eye parts is noted in the videos. The physiology of those parts are listed below the videos. The sequence the parts are listed is the same sequence as the one shown in the video.

Internal Anterior Anatomy

• The vitreous humor is a semi-fluid that fills the central cavity of the eye.
• The retina contains the photoreceptors for vision.
• The blind spot is the point of entry of the optic nerve on the retina that is insensitive to light.
• The choroid contains an extensive network of blood vessels that bring nourishment and oxygen to itself and the other two layers.
• The choroid peel layer is used to nourish the back of the eye. The retina layer is firmly attached to the choroid at one place.

External Anatomy

• The cornea is the transparent layer forming in front of the eye.
• The sclera is the white of the eye.
• The optic nerve transmits impulses to the brain from the retina at the back of the eye.
• The external eye muscle is on the front and rear surfaces of the eye.
• The fatty tissue is on the front and rear surfaces of the eye.

Interior Posterior Anatomy

• The ciliary body controls the shape of the lens and produces the aqueous humor.
• The lens changes the shape to focus light on the retina.
• The suspensory ligament is a ligament that supports a body part, especially an organ. The suspensory ligament holds the normal lens in place in the sheep eye.
• The iris is the colored portion of the eye. 
• The pupil is the opening in the iris through which light passes.
• The aqueous humor is found behind the cornea and helps to maintain the shape of the eye.

The Art of Thinking Clearly: By Rolf Dobelli

1. Author Rolf Dobelli's major claim was that simple errors we make in our day-to-day thinking can be avoided. Dobelli lists 99 short chapters of how to address these daily problems.

Three daily problems that are addressed are the following:

"We are more sensitive to negative than to positive things... We remember bad behavior longer than good-- except, of course, when it comes to ourselves" (97).

"If you happen to work in an industry where [auctions] are inevitable, set a maximum price and deduct 20 percent from this to offset the winner's curse" (106).

"C'est le ton qui fait la musique: it's not what you say but how you say it" (125).

The first problem addressed-- being "more sensitive to negative rather than to positive things" -- should not be frowned upon as being impossible to resolve. We should be focused on how something will help us dodge the disadvantages. Such a situation exists when the fear of losing something motivates people more than gaining something of equal value. Customers purchase insulation products after being told of how much money they are losing without insulation rather than how much money they would save with insulation. Although this theory can also cause harm to us, we should always focus on the benefits of this theory.

The second quotation, said by Warren Buffet, advises investors to "set a maximum price and deduct 20 percent from this" in order to prevent any formation in deficit. Buffet's advice is beneficial because it addresses a common error done by many of us-- overpaying for a product. His method will eliminate any chance of overpaying and will perhaps help us earn money.

The French phrase stated above really presents a common error we all face-- the presentation of an idea. The presentation of an idea affects how one can perceive the idea, making the role of sales people important. They have the prime roles of selling products in such a convincing way in order for consumers to be willing to purchase the products. A prime example is shown on the BravoTV real-estate show Million Dollar Listing New York. The show chronicles three superb real estate brokers who sell multi-million dollar condos, townhouses, and houses to their customers. The method these real estate developers employ to sell the houses is magical. These real estate brokers are set apart from every other real estate broker because of their charisma and charm to sell their products. Not everyone can harness that ability to sell products, showing that "it's not what you say but how you say it."

2. The reading is related to our class because we have been studying about the nervous system in class. Even if we had not ventured in discussing the rationale behind human thinking, there are parts of our nervous system that affect the way we think. The cerebrum, for example, plays a huge role in controlling voluntary movements and providing reasoning. This large part of the brain is a large part of understanding the rationale behind human thinking.

An overall message that was mentioned in the book and class lectures is that there is more to the human brain than we can perceive. In class, we mentioned the four major parts of the brain -the cerebrum, the diencephalon, the brain stem, and the cerebellum- and the division of labor in the brain's two hemispheres. We learned that the left hemisphere controls symbolic thinking, detail, and literal meaning; and the right hemisphere controls the spatial reception, the overall picture, and context & metaphor. In those hemispheres, however, there is more to our brains than those specific characteristics mentioned in our lecture notes. "Why do we prefer the wrong map compared to none? Why do we not bow down to authority? Do we give lame excuses as a sense of justification?" All of these questions cannot be discerned by a simple answer; the many responses to these questions justify that our brains are almost too complex to perceive.

3. Two questions I would ask the author about the reading are the following:

What inspired you to write this book about our day-to-day thinking?

How long did it take you to gather all the information needed to write this book?

4. The reading is purely credible because Dobelli provides circumstances which any reader can relate to. A circumstance which I fully believe is the fact that humans automatically regard good-looking people as more pleasant, honest, and intelligent. The reason we come to that conclusion is because of the halo effect. The halo effect is that a single quality produces a positive or negative impression that outshines everything else. In the attractive humans' circumstance, we assume that they have such positive qualities because of their physical characteristics, making us disregard any of their negative characteristics. The halo effect is omnipresent in our lives, making it purely impossible to think negatively of good-looking people or any good character traits in people. Although the halo effect is not my favorite theory, the theory does apply to my life and I have to be willing to accept the fact that it exists.

The availability bias also poses as a theory which applies to many circumstances. The availability status is using statements that pertain to one individual to prove something that pertains to many individuals. When using the availability bias, we do not address to all situations when solving a problem. Instead, we use one situation to validate the answer to the problem.

Doctors often fall victim to the availability status. They have their favorite treatments which they use for all possible cases. More appropriate treatments for certain diseases may exist; however, doctors practice what they know.

Many people, including myself, tend to use the availability bias theory to solve any problem. For me, the availability theory became an important explanation for thinking about only one possible solution rather than more. I tend to use the most familiar method in solving the problem and discarding any harder methods to solve the problem. For example, after coming home from school, I typically eat unhealthy snacks before starting my homework because of the quickness of preparing the food. Eating unhealthy snacks became part of my routine and eating more healthy snacks has not entered my mind because those snacks take too long to prepare. Call me lazy, but I was simply using the availability theory subconsciously. 

5. The implications of this work are intended to help anyone make better decisions in varying circumstances and to explain the rationale behind humans' thinking. Dobelli's book, although exploring into the theoretical sense, explains more circumstances in a practical sense. He explores into the practical sense by explaining a realistic example of human beings being peer pressured. A simple experiment was carried out in the 1950s in which the subject was given an original line and three other lines. The subject was supposed to indicate the line that resembles the original line the most. When the subject was alone in the room, he gave the correct answer; however, when five other people entered the room and gave wrong answers, the subject gave the wrong answer. The reason for us acting like this is because following others was a good survival strategy back in the cave-man era. Humans still tend to implement this survival strategy unconsciously, as shown by the subject's choices in the 1950s experiment. In present-day, however, we are tending to stray away from using this survival strategy, making us becoming more independent.

Clay Brain

Creating the clay brain was quite fun and informational at the same time. I learned where the thalamus and spinal cord were and also had fun playing with PlayDough!

The Woman with a Hole in Her Brain

In Helen Thomson's "Woman of 24 Found to Have No Cerebellum in Her Brain," the 24 year-old woman recently discovered she did not have a cerebellum after visiting the hospital for mild dizziness. Instead of having a cerebellum, she has cerebrospinal fluid, which cushions the brain and provides defense against diseases. The cerebellum's main function is to control voluntary movement and balance and involved in our development of motor functions. Surprisingly, the 24 year-old woman only suffered a mild case of developing her motor skills at a young age, which amazed doctors and me. I actually found the 24 year-old woman's story amazing because I just cannot imagine how one can live without the cerebellum or any part of the brain.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the midbrain is located within the brainstem and between two developmental region of the brain. Its functions are motor movements, particularly movements of the eye and in auditory and visual processing. Although its functions impact the brain excessively, the midbrain is small enough to live without. Yes, some of our motor movements will be hindered without the midbrain. But, we have the cerebellum to compensate for the absence of the midbrain.