by Zara Gladman
On Friday 19th October 2012, schools, universities and individuals across the country will attempt to set a record for the World’s Largest Memory Game.
Guided by neurobiologist Dr Daniela Peukert, I stuck on my thinking cap and took a journey around this highly complex organ . . .
We all have one. Einstein’s was smaller than average. The scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz pined for one. I am of course talking about that squidgy, tofu-like lump of “grey matter”, encased in your skull: the brain.
This amazing organ controls just about everything you do, from making a cup of tea to falling in love.
The biggest part of the brain, the cerebrum, can be broadly divided into two regions called “hemispheres”. Generally, the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and vice versa. The right hemisphere is also associated with functions like creativity and imagination (as demonstrated by my skilful rendition of “That’s why I love biology” on the guitar). The left hemisphere is the “logical” side of the brain and is connected to analytical thought, numbers and language.
Emotional brain activities such as fear, anger and love are associated with the amygdala, located in the temporal lobe (Justin Bieber is renowned for his ability to stimulate the amygdalae of teenage girls).
The amygdala also has functions in the long-term memory, along with its neighbour the hippocampus. Short-term memory is controlled in the prefrontal cortex at the front of the brain.
For a whistle-stop tour of the brain and some of its functions, watch “The Everyday Brain” video, with Dani the Neurobiologist and her brave volunteer (that’s me!). There’s a chance to test what you’ve learned afterwards, so watch carefully…
Thanks for contacting is Samantha – you can email intern@societyofbiology.org to find out more
Hello I was just wondering how i could become involved in the memory game on the 19th of October