Step 1: Ask A Question - When areas of the brain are injured, does
"brain mapping" occur?
BRAIN MAPPING is when one area of the brain takes over for a part of
the brain that is missing or damaged.
Step 2: Hypothesis - Yes. I think other areas of the brain take over
for areas that are missing or damaged.
Step 3: Procedure - I will show an xray (MRI) of my brother's brain.
I will make and bring to class a clay color-coded model of a brain. I
will explain what each area of the brain does, and show that my
brother is missing some of those parts. I will explain how I tested
whether or not my brother can see even though his Visual Cortex
(occipital lobe) is missing.
Step 4: Observation - I kept track of toys shown to Jimmy and
whether or not he reached for them or responded to them. I did this
every day for two weeks. When I showed Jimmy toys with sound, it
was too hard to tell whether or not he was reacting to seeing the toy
or hearing the toy, so I switched to toys that made no sound at all.
He reacted best to seeing toys that were bright or shiny, like stuffed
animals, blocks, and pom-poms. Jimmy reacted to these toys with a
smile and laugh, and he tried to reach for the toys!
Step 5: Conclusion - Even though my brother is missing his entire
occipital lobe (which is the part of the brain that helps us see), he
can still see! This means that his brain has "mapped", and a
different area of his brain has now taken over for the missing
occipital lobe.
"brain mapping" occur?
BRAIN MAPPING is when one area of the brain takes over for a part of
the brain that is missing or damaged.
Step 2: Hypothesis - Yes. I think other areas of the brain take over
for areas that are missing or damaged.
Step 3: Procedure - I will show an xray (MRI) of my brother's brain.
I will make and bring to class a clay color-coded model of a brain. I
will explain what each area of the brain does, and show that my
brother is missing some of those parts. I will explain how I tested
whether or not my brother can see even though his Visual Cortex
(occipital lobe) is missing.
Step 4: Observation - I kept track of toys shown to Jimmy and
whether or not he reached for them or responded to them. I did this
every day for two weeks. When I showed Jimmy toys with sound, it
was too hard to tell whether or not he was reacting to seeing the toy
or hearing the toy, so I switched to toys that made no sound at all.
He reacted best to seeing toys that were bright or shiny, like stuffed
animals, blocks, and pom-poms. Jimmy reacted to these toys with a
smile and laugh, and he tried to reach for the toys!
Step 5: Conclusion - Even though my brother is missing his entire
occipital lobe (which is the part of the brain that helps us see), he
can still see! This means that his brain has "mapped", and a
different area of his brain has now taken over for the missing
occipital lobe.
Here's Jimmy reacting to seeing his
favorite Elmo toy this morning before
we left our house!
favorite Elmo toy this morning before
we left our house!
Here's Jimmy responding to a shiny red
pom-pom being held by our mom.
pom-pom being held by our mom.
FUNCTIONS OF THE HUMAN BRAIN
(What each part of the brain is responsible for)
(What each part of the brain is responsible for)
Jimmy is missing his occipital lobe (which controls vision), part of his temporal lobes
(which control hearing, speech, and memory), and part of his parietal lobes (which
control reading and understanding of language). His cerebellum (which controls
coordination and balance) and frontal lobe (which controls thinking) are damaged.
(which control hearing, speech, and memory), and part of his parietal lobes (which
control reading and understanding of language). His cerebellum (which controls
coordination and balance) and frontal lobe (which controls thinking) are damaged.
Xray (MRI) of a normal brain
Xray (MRI) of Jimmy's brain
ANATOMY OF THE HUMAN BRAIN
Mystery of the Human Brain - Brain Mapping!
By: Jessica Renee Holmes
Here's Jimmy's
Vision Teacher
working with him in
school on Family
Day. He is looking
at the bright toy in
front of him.
Even though
Jimmy's brain has
"mapped", he still
reacts best to toys
that are bright or
shiny. This is
because his retinas
are damaged,
which makes it
hard for him to
see.
Vision Teacher
working with him in
school on Family
Day. He is looking
at the bright toy in
front of him.
Even though
Jimmy's brain has
"mapped", he still
reacts best to toys
that are bright or
shiny. This is
because his retinas
are damaged,
which makes it
hard for him to
see.