Overview
This lecture introduces the "hand model" of the brain, illustrating brain structure and function for practical understanding and promoting integration for well-being.
Hand Model of the Brain
- The hand can represent the brain: thumb in the palm, fingers over the top, oriented as in the head.
- The wrist represents the spinal cord; the palm is the brain stem; the thumb is the limbic area; the fingers are the cortex.
Brain Areas & Functions
- Brain Stem (palm): Regulates breathing, heart rate, digestion, and responses to threat (fight, flight, freeze, faint).
- Limbic Area (thumb): Generates emotions, motivation, assesses meaning, forms certain types of memory, and supports attachment.
- Cortex (fingers): Creates sensory maps; occipital cortex (vision), temporal lobe (hearing), frontal cortex (thought and association).
- Prefrontal Cortex (fingernails region): Integrates the cortex, limbic area, brain stem, body, and social experience.
Integration and Well-being
- Integration means linking differentiated brain areas for coordinated, harmonious functioning.
- Lack of integration can lead to chaotic or rigid behavior ("flipping your lid"), disconnecting brain areas.
- Human Connectome Project finds well-being is best predicted by how interconnected your brain regions are.
- Mindfulness and reflective practices promote integration and improve well-being, creativity, and collaboration.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Brain Stem — Oldest brain region; manages basic life functions and threat responses.
- Limbic Area — Mid-brain region for emotions, motivation, meaning, memory, attachment.
- Cortex — Outermost brain part for sensory processing and complex thought.
- Prefrontal Cortex — Frontal region responsible for integration and higher-order functions.
- Integration — The linking of different brain areas for optimal function.
- Connectome — The network of neural connections within the brain.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice the hand model to visualize brain functions.
- Engage in mindfulness or reflective practices (e.g., Wheel of Awareness) to promote brain integration.