Lesson 5: The Brain, Intelligence, and Thinking in Adolescence PDF

LESSON 5: THE BRAIN, INTELLIGENCE AND THINKING IN ADOLESCENCE Objectives: At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to be able to: - discuss that understanding brain laterality can help improve learning; - explore mind-mapping techniques suited to right-brain or left-brain domina...

LESSON 5: THE BRAIN, INTELLIGENCE AND THINKING IN ADOLESCENCE Objectives: At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to be able to: - discuss that understanding brain laterality can help improve learning; - explore mind-mapping techniques suited to right-brain or left-brain dominant thinking styles; - discuss the meaning of creative and critical thinking and how to enhance these thinking patterns; and - make a plan to improve learning using both left and right brain development.  Focus Question: How are our thinking patterns, emotions, and behavior relate to the functioning of the human brain?  “The world we have created is a product of our thinking, it cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” - Albert Einstein  Our behavior is linked to the functioning of our brain. Without the brain, our ability to think and make sense and meaning of our environment is not possible.  As early as 1664, The Brain Thomas Willis, an English doctor, concluded that the brain is responsible for mental functioning. Cortex The surface of the cerebrum is called the cortex. It has a folded appearance with hills and valleys. The cortex contains 16 billion neurons (the cerebellum has 70 billion = 86 billion total) that are arranged in specific layers. The nerve cell bodies color the cortex grey-brown giving it its name – gray matter. Beneath the cortex are long nerve fibers (axons) that connect brain areas to each other — called white matter. The human brain consists of three main structures: Cerebrum Cerebellum Brainstem  Brainstem -It sits at the bottom of your brain. -Your brainstem sends messages to the rest of your body to regulate balance, breathing, heart rate and brainstem also helps with your balance, coordination and reflexes. Components of the Brainstem The three components of the brainstem are the medulla oblongata, midbrain, and pons. The cerebrum, the largest portion of he brain, is responsible for most of the brain’s functions such as thought and movement. The cerebellum is a part of the brain that plays a vital role in virtually all physical movement. The cerebellum is the area at the back and bottom of the brain, behind the brainstem. The cerebellum has several functions relating to movement and coordination, including: Maintaining balance: The cerebellum has special sensors that detect shifts in balance and movement. It sends signals for the body to adjust and move. Coordinating movement: Most body movements require the coordination of multiple muscle groups. The cerebellum times muscle actions so that the body can move smoothly. Vision: The cerebellum coordinates eye movements. Motor learning: The cerebellum helps the body to learn movements that require practice and fine-tuning. For example, the cerebellum plays a role in learning to ride a bicycle or play a musical instrument. Other functions: Researchers believe the cerebellum has some role in thinking, including processing language and mood. It is divided into four (4) different areas: Frontal lobe Temporal lobe Occipital lobe Parietal lobe The frontal Frontal lobe lobe takes charge of our thoughts, language, memory, learning and perception. The occipital Occipitallobe, lobe located at the back of our brain, is responsible for vision. Temporal lobe Understanding language Memory Hearing Sequencing and organization -Interprets language, words -Sense of touch, pain, temperature (sensory strip) -Interprets signals from vision, hearing, motor, sensory and memory -Spatial and visual perception The brain is divided into two hemispheres: Left Hemisphere and Right Hemisphere  Right Hemisphere is often associated with creativity. Left Hemisphere is associated with logical abilities. By Polygon data were generated by Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS) - Polygon data are from BodyParts3D, CC BY- SA 2.1 jp, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79950202 Corpus Callosum This is the structure which connects both hemisphere. It is a bundle of axons that sends messages from one side to the other. Corpus Callosum Researchers show that females have thicker corpus callosum than males. Damage to the left Hemisphere Left hemisphere is associated with speech abnormalities. It is also correlated with handedness.  Righthemisphere The right Hemisphere is more associated with spatial reasoning, especially in doing visual-spatial tasks. Like a computer, the brain inputs information from the environment, processes this information, and stores them in our memory for later retrieval. The human brain weighs about 3 lbs., is a collection of nerve cells or neurons consisting of about 10 million cells. Structures of the limbic system involved in memory formation. The prefrontal cortex holds recent events briefly in short-term memory. The hippocampus is responsible for encoding long-term memory. Most neurons are found in the cerebral cortex, a 3 mm thick mantle with 6 layers that cover the surface of the brain. Neurons communicate with each other and it is the strength of these connections between neurons that determine the storage of knowledge. Connections between neurons are possible because of chemical substances called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are found in the synapse, a space in between the tail end of one neuron and the dendrites of another neuron. A synapse is a small gap at the end of a neuron that allows a signal to pass from one neuron to the next. Neurons are cells that transmit information between your brain and other parts of the central nervous system. Synapses are found where neurons connect with other neurons. An increase or decrease in the level of our neurotransmitters can affect the way we behave. For example, dopamine has been associated with attention, memory, and cognition. Endorphins are known to fight stress and pain. For example, dopamine has been associated with attention, memory, and cognition. Endorphins are known to fight stress and pain. Hypothalamus Is located in the floor of the third ventricle and is the master control of the autonomic system. It plays a role in controlling behaviors such as hunger, thirst, sleep, and sexual response. It also regulates body temperature, blood pressure, emotions, and secretion of hormones.  The Brain Dominance Theory versus the Whole-Brain Theory  IF YOU GOT MORE A’S THAN YOU ARE LEFT-BRAIN DOMINANCE YOU ARE LOGICAL PLANNER RATIONAL LOVE PUZZLE ANALYTICAL THINKER  IF YOU GOT MORE B’S THAN YOU ARE RIGHT-BRAIN DOMINANCE YOU ARE CREATIVE INTUITIVE EMOTIONAL LOVE ART FREE THINKER  Brain dominance is a theory that infers that we have a preference for using one hemisphere of the brain over the other hemisphere. The left hemisphere of the brain is more rational, analytical, and verbal, while the right hemisphere is more holistic and intuitive, responsive to visual imagery. This test is designed to reveal your “dominant side” and examine how you can use this insight to maximize your learning experience. People who are Left Brain Dominant Are often good at... Looking at details Focusing on one thing Giving direct answers Organization Individual competition Establishing routines Working through ideas Following schedules  They almost always... Do things the same way Like a neat environment Are self-motivated Value facts over feelings Ask "how do I do it?" People who are Right Brain Dominant Are often good at... Seeing the big picture Cooperating in groups Giving and receiving praise Reading Body language Going with the flow Doing several things at once Focusing on ideas/themes Reading between the lines  They almost always... Visualize the future Think fast on their feet Have good rapport with others See many solutions Accept many kinds of people Try to avoid conflict  The Brain Dominance Theory states that our behavior is a function of the heightened activity of either left or right brain hemisphere.  Brain Lateralization Left Right - Analytical Thought - Intuitive Thought - Detailed Oriented - Holistic Perception Perception - Random Sequencing - Ordered Sequencing - Emotional Thought - Rational Thought - Non-verbal - Verbal - Adventurous - Cautious - Impulse - Planning - Creative Writing/Art - Math/Science - Imagination - Logic - Left Field Vision - Right Field Vision - Left Side Motor Skills - Right Side Motor Skills  The Whole-Brain Theory. The whole brain theorists believe that the brain is divided into four (4) quadrants where each quadrant is responsible for particular abilities. Whole Brain Model: Learning & Study My Thinking Self (A) - Analytic (D) - Auditory - Brainstorming (Vocabulary) - Imagery Right Brain - Likes and uses - Analogies/Myths Left Brain concrete words - Mind-Mapping (B) (C) - Auditory - Kinesthetic (Grammar - Likes to Move rules) - Tactile (likes to - Logical touch) Sequences - Likes Music - Upright searing - Brighter Light My Feeling Self Multiple Intelligences  Intelligence has been viewed as the capacity to understand the world, think rationally, and use resources effectively when faced with challenges. However, for Howard Gardner, intelligence is the ability to solve problems or to produce something is a particular setting. In his theory of multiple intelligences, he believes these innate intelligences are expressed in different sensory modalities. Multiple Intelligences according to Gardner MUSICAL BODILY-KINESTHETIC VISUAL-SPATIAL INTERPERSONAL Picture People Smart Smart Self Word INTRAPERSONAL Smart Smart VERBAL-LINGUISTIC Nature Logic Smart Smart NATURALISTIC LOGICAL-MATHEMATICAL  MUSICAL INTELLIGENCE The ability to produce and appreciate music. These musically inclined people think in sounds, rhythms, and patterns. BODILY-KINESTHETIC INTELLIGENCE The ability to control body movements and handle objects skillfully. They express themselves best through movement because of their good sense of balance and hand-eye coordination. INTERPERSONAL INTELLIGENCE The ability to relate to and understand other people. They can sense feelings, intentions, and motivations and are adept at recognizing non- verbal language, for example, body language.  VERBAL-LINGUISTIC INTELLIGENCE The ability to use the words in both oral and written communications. People with this ability think in words rather than visuals. LOGICAL-MATHEMATICAL INTELLIGENCE The ability to reason, apply logic, and work with numbers. They think in logical and numerical patterns, making connections between pieces of information.  NATURALISTIC INTELLIGENCE The ability to recognize and categorize things. They are lovers of nature and see patterns on how nature works. INTRAPERSONAL INTELLIGENCE The ability to understand ourselves, who we are, and what makes us the way that we are. VISUAL-SPATIAL INTELLIGENCE The ability to perceive the visual. They tend to think in pictures and need to create vivid mental images to retain information What is THINKING?  Thinking involves manipulating mental representation and prevent us from making a mistake (Robertson, 1999).  Critical thinking requires logic and coherence as we try to analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and interpret information rather than simply apply technical abilities (Andolina, 2001).  Creative thinking maybe defined as the production of effective novelty through the operation of our mental processes (Halford, G., 2004).  Creative thinking maybe defined as the production of effective novelty through the operation of our mental processes (Halford, G., 2004).