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==Key Stage 3==
===Meaning===
The [[brain]] is an [[organ]] in the [[Nervous System|nervous system]]which controls movement of the body.
==Key Stage 4Foundation==[[File:BrainDiagramKS4.png|right|300px|thumb|A [[diagram]] of the [[brain]], including the [[Cerebrum]], [[Cerebellum]], [[Medulla]] and [[Pituitary Gland]].]]
===Meaning===
The [[brain]] is part of the [[Central Nervous System|central nervous system]] which processes information sent by [[nerve]]s.
===About the Brain===
: The [[brain]] is responsible for coordinating the [[muscle]]s and [[gland]]s around the body.
: The [[brain]] is the location of the [[Pituitary Gland|pituitary gland]] which controls the release of [[hormone]]s in the [[Endocrine System|endocrine system]].
: There are several important structures in the [[brain]] including:
:*The [[Cerebrum]] (or [[Cerebrum|Cerebral Cortex]]) which deals with memory, language and conscious thought.
:*The [[Cerebellum]] which deals with balance and the coordination of movement.
:*The [[Medulla]] which controls the heartbeat, breathing and peristalsis in the [[Digestive System|digestive system]].
:*The [[Pituitary Gland]] which [[secrete]]s [[hormone]]s which control other [[Endocrine Gland|endocrine glands]] in the body.
==Key Stage 4 Higher==
[[File:BrainDiagramKS4.png|right|300px|thumb|A [[diagram]] of the [[brain]], including the [[Cerebrum]], [[Cerebellum]], [[Medulla]] and [[Pituitary Gland]].]]
===Meaning===
The [[brain]] is part of the [[Central Nervous System|central nervous system]] which processes information sent by [[nerve]]s.
===About the Brain===
: The [[brain]] is responsible for coordinating the [[muscle]]s and [[gland]]s around the body.
: The [[brain]] is the location of the [[Pituitary Gland|pituitary gland]] which controls the release of [[hormone]]s in the [[Endocrine System|endocrine system]].
: There are several important structures in the [[brain]] including:
:*The [[Cerebrum]] (or [[Cerebrum|Cerebral Cortex]]) which deals with memory, language and conscious thought.
:*The [[Cerebellum]] which deals with balance and the coordination of movement.
:*The [[Medulla]] which controls the heartbeat, breathing and peristalsis in the [[Digestive System|digestive system]].
:*The [[Pituitary Gland]] which [[secrete]]s [[hormone]]s which control other [[Endocrine Gland|endocrine glands]] in the body.
===Investigating the Brain===
: There are several ways in which the structure and function of different parts of the [[brain]] can be investigated.
====MRI Scans====
: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a safe technique to observe the structure of a person's [[brain]] without surgery. It allows researchers to [[observe]] the size and shape of different structures in the [[brain]] and compare these to psychological traits of an individual.
: Recently an advance called fMRI has allowed researchers to observe the flow of [[blood]] in the [[brain]] which can indirectly show which parts of the [[brain]] are active when people think about different things. This has shown that thoughts, such as imagining a picture of a family member and performing a mathematical calculation, are done in separate areas of the [[brain]].
====Brain Damage====
: It is not ethical to remove parts of people's [[brain]]s just to see what happens. However, studying people who have had accidental [[brain]] damage allows us to get the same kind of information.
: People who have suffered from [[brain]] damage may should unusual behaviours. Researchers can relate these behavioural changes to which part of the [[brain]] is damaged, giving information about which parts of the [[brain]] are important in certain processes.
====Direct Electrical Stimulation====
: It is not ethical to open people's [[brain]]s just to perform electrical stimulation to see what parts of the [[brain]] are involved in different processes. However, people who require [[brain]] surgery (for a variety of reasons) may consent to have this done for research purposes.
: Since [[neuron]]s send [[Impulse (Biology)|electrical impulses]] around the [[brain]] it's possible to cause these by touching an [[electrode]] against the [[brain]]. Patients who have consented to this have demonstrated that stimulating parts of the [[brain]] may make them think of a song or a childhood memory.
===References===
====AQA====
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1782945563/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1782945563&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=9a1d023a374038e6072f33c4f3cf808b ''Brain, page 69, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA '']
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1471851338/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1471851338&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=425855d5890466e47189e1c21b67a1ea ''Brain, pages 138-40, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA '']
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198359373/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0198359373&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=952a73bbb09d222ecc4b50d200679849 ''Brain, pages 152-153, 160-161, 166-167, 170-171, 182-183, 187, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA '']
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0008158754/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0008158754&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=27ad53b0283feeff7fc5ae04a9e205f94 ''Brain, pages 171, 173, 178-9, 214, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA '']
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1782945954/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1782945954&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=100574c08fbbb64318256eb79ed61a76 ''Brain, pages 193, 194, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA '']
====Edexcel====
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1292120207/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1292120207&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=22455ff53961978667722edaa64c0be5 ''Brain problems, pages 40-41, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel '']
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1292120207/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1292120207&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=22455ff53961978667722edaa64c0be5 ''Brain tumours, page 41, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel '']
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1782946748/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1782946748&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=a4f0348fc37d0ba1bb52d27f8679581f ''Brain, page 27, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel '']
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1292120193/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1292120193&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=572df39392fb4200db8391d98ae6314e ''Brain, page 34, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel '']
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1292120207/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1292120207&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=22455ff53961978667722edaa64c0be5 ''Brain, page 42, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel '']
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1782948120/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1782948120&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=dedef775c6a43dbb0a609441525adac0 ''Brain, pages 75, 76, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel '']
====OCR====
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1782945660/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1782945660&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=83aa4500ad7759e7f401a1c5ba5df758 ''Brain, page 45, Gateway GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR '']
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198359810/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0198359810&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=d768d99f1a06f7c12fab40e5aef85a55 ''Brain, pages 94-95, 97, Gateway GCSE Biology, Oxford, OCR '']
==Beyond the Curriculum==
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRFXSjkpKWA}}