by Lorelei Cohen

Created on: May 23, 2008

Seeing Uncle Henry slumped over, and sleeping in the old easy chair, it is hard to imagine that he is capable of using more than ten percent of his brain's capabilities. The truth is though, that even when he is sleeping his brain is busy doing it's work load, keeping him alive and functioning. It is keeping his lungs breathing, his heart beating, it is sending chemical messages to his body to keep him from peeing his pants while he sleeps, busy stirring his imagination and emotions as he contemplates his most recent dreams. Even when he rests his brain is busy using most of it's functions to keep him alive and thinking!

It is a proven myth that humans only use ten percent of their brain! The brain is a complex system designed with every area to have a usage, and although not all areas are always working at maximum performance, it is believed that most of the brain is constantly at work to keep you functioning in peak operating condition. Although every part of the brain may have a specific function to perform, most of the brains parts work in unison, to keep things running smoothly as a whole.

Divide the brain into six areas. Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Temoral Lobe, Occipital Lobe, Cerebellum and Brain Stem. The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, but the two sides of the brain communicate with each other to keep your movements in sync. Most of the processes that occur within the brain are constantly being communicated to other areas so that you can function as a singular creature. All areas of the brain are working!

The Frontal Lobe controls judgment, sexual urges, muscle movement, sense of smell, thought processes such as creative thought, problem solving and intellect. There is a lot going on here!

The Partieral Lobe works at taking care of our sensory perceptions, our sense of touch, our responses to various stimuli, as well as some of our language, reading and visual functions.

The Occipital Lobe appears to concentrate on vision and reading. Most of those here at Helium have a tendency to really make use of this area of their brains, although occasionally, the amount used by some individuals can be argued?

The Temporal Lobe of the brain works at memory and even it works at doing its job. It is busy storing information that we may need at a later date. It also works at controlling some of our language, speech, behavior, emotions, and hearing functions.

The Cerebellum and Brain Stem are busy keeping you alive. They control the cardiac and respiratory needs of the body. They keep you standing erect, allow the motor and sensory pathways to exist within your body, and basically keep you from looking like Uncle Henry does when he is sleeping.

Which brings us back to poor old Uncle Henry. The tell tale drool at the corner of his mouth gives him away every time. As soon as his body hits a resting spot, his eyes close, and he drifts off. But believe it or not, it is a fact, his brain is indeed using more than ten percent of it's functioning power.

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