Synapse Storyteller: A Journey into the Neuroscience that Weaves the Future
The Neuroscience of Visual Thinking
Research in neuroscience has begun to shed light on the relationship between visual thinking and the brain. It is known that the "visual cortex," which receives visual information, and the "prefrontal cortex," which processes and understands information, are activated during visual thinking.
Furthermore, it is said that visual thinking utilizes the functions of both the right and left hemispheres of the brain. The right brain excels in spatial recognition and imagery, while the left brain excels in language processing and logical thinking. Visual thinking can be performed more effectively by working these functions in a balanced manner.
Oliver Sacks: The Physician Who Unraveled the Mysteries of the Brain and Humanity
Oliver Sacks was a neurologist born in England in 1933. He is known for his research on elucidating various symptoms caused by brain disorders and the mechanisms of human consciousness and sensation.
Sacks' unique approach was to empathize with the stories of each individual patient, striving to understand their symptoms not only from a medical perspective but also from a human perspective. As a result, he published many books for the general public, making the world of neuroscience widely known to ordinary people.
His representative works include "Awakenings," "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat," and "An Anthropologist on Mars," all of which became global bestsellers. These works, through the stories of patients who regained lost abilities or acquired entirely new senses due to brain disorders, make us think deeply about the infinite possibilities of the human brain and human dignity.
Sacks passed away in 2015, but his legacy continues to have a significant impact not only on the development of neuroscience but also on the way each of us lives our lives.
What are "Happiness Chemicals"?
"Happiness chemicals" is a colloquial term for a collective name for neurotransmitters secreted in the brain that affect feelings of happiness, pleasure, and motivation. Typical examples include dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and β-endorphin.
Dopamine is secreted when achieving goals or receiving rewards, bringing motivation and a sense of accomplishment.
Serotonin regulates sleep, appetite, body temperature, etc., and contributes to physical and mental stability.
Oxytocin is secreted during childbirth, physical contact, etc., and fosters love, trust, and compassion.
β-endorphin is secreted during exercise or difficult times, suppressing pain and bringing a sense of euphoria.
It is believed that the secretion of these substances can be increased through lifestyle habits, diet, and exercise.
Please note that "happiness chemicals" is just a colloquial term and not a scientifically accurate expression. The feeling of happiness is complexly formed by various factors, and hormones alone do not control everything.
What is Borderline Intellectual Functioning?
Borderline intellectual functioning refers to a state on the distribution of intelligence quotients (IQ) that lies between the average (IQ 85-115) and intellectual disability (IQ below 70). Approximately 1 in 7 people fall into this category, and they may face various difficulties in daily life, such as learning difficulties, challenges in interpersonal relationships, and anxiety about social life. As it is not considered an intellectual disability, it is difficult to receive public support and understanding from others. In recent years, with advocacy from individuals with borderline intellectual functioning and advancements in research, there has been progress in understanding the causes of their difficulties and exploring support methods.
Glial Cells: The Invisible Support System of the Brain
Glial cells are crucial cells that constitute the brain, existing in numbers several to tens of times greater than neurons (nerve cells). In recent years, their importance has been increasingly recognized, shifting from the perception of being mere "assistants to neurons" to being considered "key players in brain function."
Their main roles are as follows:
Structural and Nutritional Support: Glial cells support neurons, supply nutrients and oxygen, and remove waste products, thereby maintaining healthy brain function.
Support for Information Transmission: Glial cells process and recycle neurotransmitters, contributing to the efficiency and accuracy of information transmission.
Brain Defense: Glial cells act as immune cells, protecting the brain from pathogens and damage, thus safeguarding brain health.
Recent research suggests that glial cells are also involved in higher brain functions such as neurotransmission, memory, and learning.
In this way, glial cells support various brain functions and are indispensable for maintaining brain health.
Brain Functional Localization: A Puzzle Unraveling the Mysteries of the Brain
Brain functional localization is the concept that each part of the brain is responsible for different functions. It's as if the brain is like a puzzle, with each piece having its unique role.
For example, the occipital lobe is thought to be responsible for vision, the temporal lobe for hearing, the parietal lobe for bodily sensations, and the frontal lobe for movement and thinking. The occurrence of specific functional impairments due to brain damage such as stroke supports this theory.
However, in recent years, the idea that the entire brain is connected like a network has also become mainstream. Although localization and network theories seem contradictory at first glance, integrating both perspectives is crucial for understanding the complexity of the brain.
With advancements in neuroscience, brain functional localization is constantly evolving. In the future, further unraveling of the brain's mechanisms may lead to new treatments and the development of artificial intelligence.
Dyslexia: A Learning Disability with Difficulties in Reading and Writing
Dyslexia is a type of learning disability where individuals, despite having no intellectual developmental delays, experience significant difficulties in reading and writing. It is sometimes referred to as reading disorder or literacy disorder.
The main symptoms are as follows:
Difficulty recognizing and distinguishing letters
Frequent misreading and typos
Slow reading speed
Difficulty writing
Frequent spelling errors
The cause is believed to be brain dysfunction. Genetic factors may also be involved.
Dyslexia can be overcome with appropriate support. Early detection and early intervention are crucial.
The Role of "Dreams" and Related Phenomena
Dreams are a series of sensations and thoughts that we experience during sleep. Their content varies widely, from realistic to unrealistic, sometimes accompanied by emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, while other times feeling nothing at all. Various theories about the role of dreams have been proposed since ancient times, but in recent years, the following four roles have been considered particularly important:
Organization and Consolidation of Memories
It is believed that memories experienced during the day are organized and transferred to long-term memory during dreams. In particular, dreams during the sleep stage called REM sleep are thought to play a crucial role in memory consolidation.
Processing of Emotions
Dreams also function as a space to process emotions that could not be fully processed during the day. Nightmares are thought to occur to process negative emotions.
Expression of Creativity
In dreams, free thinking that is impossible in the real world becomes possible, and it is believed to have the effect of stimulating creativity.
Simulation
It is also thought that dreams have a simulation function to cope with dangerous situations and the like.
Some phenomena related to dreams include:
Lucid dreaming: Dreams where one is aware of dreaming and can control the dream's content
Precognitive dreams: Dreams that foresee events that will actually happen
Sleep paralysis: A state where one is conscious but unable to move their body
Sleepwalking: The symptom of unconsciously walking around during sleep
Dreams are still a phenomenon full of mysteries that have not been fully elucidated, but they are thought to play an important role in our physical and mental health.