Cup hands and hold in front of you Imagine you are holdnig in your hands a wrinkled walnut about the size of a cantaloupe, ..pinkish gray…with the consistency of Jell-O…weighing about 3 Lbs. The matter you are holding in your hands I s the human brain…the best organized and most functional 3 lbs of matter in the known universe…
One philosopher commented: if the human brain were simple enough to understand, we would be too simpleminded to comprehend it! It is the only organ that studies itself there as many neurons as there are stars in the Milky Way! Glial is greek for glue: these cells hold the delicate neurons in place and also provide insulation and nourishment
to get a sense of this number: if you were to count to 1 trillion, counting 1 number per second, how long would it take? 32,000 years! (Sorgen and Wolfe) -. Pinwheel Galaxy, composed from 51 exposures taken by the Hubble Telescope - A galaxy that is made up of an estimated 1 trillion stars, 100 billion of which may be like the sun. 88 keys on a keyboard…how many songs possible? Millions and millions…now think about possible combinations for 100 billion neurons (amount born with)! Read “how much is a million”
Like tiny delicate strands of a spider’s web 3. From Sorgen and Wolfe
Unlike the computer, Your brain ins changing as you learn today…the more engaged you are in the information the more your brain will respond and grow new connections. Instead of wearing out through use, it grows and gets better Functional MRI (magnetic resonance indicator), can take real time movies of the brain in action
From learning disabilities to post traumatic stress disorders each and every one of us is amazing in our potential, we come into this world with incredible gifts…understanding the brain provides us with keys to unlock this potential in ourselves and our children. Some of the research will validate what you already know and some will help you be more intentional in your life…some may open up new possible ways of being and working with children and adults that you may choose to pursue.
