Assignment 3: Brain Anatomy and Function
Description of the brain mechanism
1. Frodo touches the sticky spiderwebs. This sensation is processed in the sensory
cortex, which is in the parietal lobe. This part of the brain processes information that
is gathered by our senses, such as touch in this case 1.
2. Frodo’s fright when he hears a voice, as well as his fear for spiders, is processed in
the amygdala, located in the temporal lobe 2.
3. When standing on something sharp, he instantly pulls his foot back. This is a somatic
reflex, where the sensory input is quickly processed in the spinal cord, causing him to
pull his foot back before thinking about it 3.This reflex is especially fast because it
does not go to the brain first.
4. When he sees something out of the corner of his eye, this is processed in the
occipital lobe, located in the cerebral cortex. His fear is once again processed in the
amygdala 4.
5. Is sudden boost of energy is related to the fight
or flight reaction, also caused by the amygdala.
This results in an increased heartrate and
respiration. When he runs and struggles with
keeping his balance, this is processed in the
cerebellum, which is the area of the
responsible for motor skills, such as balance.
6. Lastly, the spider venom possibly containing
opioids will cause the production of dopamine,
which is a neurotransmitter that regulates
emotions 5.
What have I learned about the brain?
I have learned that the brain is even more complicated than I originally thought. And that
there are way more small, intricate area’s than I had ever heard of. Such as the amygdala
which I had never heard of. Also, I was surprised to find out how relatively big the occipital
lobe is.
Most inspired
What surprised and thereby intrigues me the most is the way reflexes work. The fact the
information does not even reach the brain, is fascinating to me. How just by reaching the
spinal cord a reaction be triggered is even more surprising to me.
1
h#ps://askabiologist.asu.edu/understanding-
touch#:~:text=The%20sensory%20cortex%20is%20an,about%20touch%20and%20other%20senses
2
h#ps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arEcles/PMC2882379/
3
h#ps://www.osmosis.org/answers/somaEc-
reflex#:~:text=A%20somaEc%20reflex%20is%20an,the%20brain%20and%20spinal%20cord
4
h#ps://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s2/chapter15.html#:~:text=The%20primary%20visual%20corEcal%2
0receiving,appearance%20in%20Nissl%20stained%20Essue.&text=Nearly%20the%20enEre%20caudal%20half,d
edicated%20to%20processing%20visual%20informaEon
5
h#ps://artakeback.org/wellness/opioids-harm-the-body-
brain/#:~:text=Opioids%20target%20the%20brain's%20reward,place%20in%20just%203%20days
Description of the brain mechanism
1. Frodo touches the sticky spiderwebs. This sensation is processed in the sensory
cortex, which is in the parietal lobe. This part of the brain processes information that
is gathered by our senses, such as touch in this case 1.
2. Frodo’s fright when he hears a voice, as well as his fear for spiders, is processed in
the amygdala, located in the temporal lobe 2.
3. When standing on something sharp, he instantly pulls his foot back. This is a somatic
reflex, where the sensory input is quickly processed in the spinal cord, causing him to
pull his foot back before thinking about it 3.This reflex is especially fast because it
does not go to the brain first.
4. When he sees something out of the corner of his eye, this is processed in the
occipital lobe, located in the cerebral cortex. His fear is once again processed in the
amygdala 4.
5. Is sudden boost of energy is related to the fight
or flight reaction, also caused by the amygdala.
This results in an increased heartrate and
respiration. When he runs and struggles with
keeping his balance, this is processed in the
cerebellum, which is the area of the
responsible for motor skills, such as balance.
6. Lastly, the spider venom possibly containing
opioids will cause the production of dopamine,
which is a neurotransmitter that regulates
emotions 5.
What have I learned about the brain?
I have learned that the brain is even more complicated than I originally thought. And that
there are way more small, intricate area’s than I had ever heard of. Such as the amygdala
which I had never heard of. Also, I was surprised to find out how relatively big the occipital
lobe is.
Most inspired
What surprised and thereby intrigues me the most is the way reflexes work. The fact the
information does not even reach the brain, is fascinating to me. How just by reaching the
spinal cord a reaction be triggered is even more surprising to me.
1
h#ps://askabiologist.asu.edu/understanding-
touch#:~:text=The%20sensory%20cortex%20is%20an,about%20touch%20and%20other%20senses
2
h#ps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arEcles/PMC2882379/
3
h#ps://www.osmosis.org/answers/somaEc-
reflex#:~:text=A%20somaEc%20reflex%20is%20an,the%20brain%20and%20spinal%20cord
4
h#ps://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s2/chapter15.html#:~:text=The%20primary%20visual%20corEcal%2
0receiving,appearance%20in%20Nissl%20stained%20Essue.&text=Nearly%20the%20enEre%20caudal%20half,d
edicated%20to%20processing%20visual%20informaEon
5
h#ps://artakeback.org/wellness/opioids-harm-the-body-
brain/#:~:text=Opioids%20target%20the%20brain's%20reward,place%20in%20just%203%20days
