The human brain can be defined as the central organ of the human nervous system. The brain along with the spinal cord makes up the central nervous system. There are different parts of the brain that are responsible for performing different functions. It is important for an individual to know that due to the stages of human evolution the human brain has become apter at performing higher cognitive functions over time. This has allowed all human beings to become more complex creatures who are capable of performing a number of highly intelligent procedures.
The human brain has been able to reach its current level of complexity and functionality due to evolution. Human cognitive development plays a vital role during entire course of mankind. Herein blog will illustrate a few facts that can establish a correlation between human cognitive development and evolution and brain altogether.
The Parts of a Human Brain
The human brain is an important structure that has the largest size when compared to other vertebrates relative to the size of the organism. On average, a human brain weighs around 1.5 kilograms and has a volume of 1,274 cubic centimeters in an adult male while in an adult female the volume of the brain is 1,131 cubic centimeters. The brain is a very fascinating organ that weighs almost 2% of the total body mass of an individual. Therefore before elaborating on human cognitive development one should know parts of a human brain. According to various experts, the brain can be divided into three main parts. Those three main parts of the brain are:
The Cerebrum
The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. It is also further classified into two different parts including the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere. Some of its functions are interpreting touch, vision, hearing, reasoning, speech, emotions, learning, and control fine movements.
The Cerebellum
The cerebellum is the second major part of the brain which is located inside the cerebrum. It includes maintaining posture and balance and coordinating different muscle movements.
The Brain Stem
This is the third major part of the brain which primarily functions as the relay center between the cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord. The brain stem performs a number of automatic functions including regulating body temperature, breathing, heart rate, wake and sleep cycle, coughing, sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting.
Apart from this, the brain is also often classified into four different lobes.
- Frontal Lobe
This lobe performs the function of controlling the emotions, personality, and behavior of an individual. This lobe is also responsible for speaking and writing capabilities of an individual and controls the body movements. Other functions performed by this lobe including planning, judgment, problem-solving, self-awareness, concentration, and intelligence. Students who try to learn more about this structure usually get puzzled while describing specific major points. For this purpose, it is advised to take help from an assignment writer to achieve ambiguity concerning the subject matter.
Parietal Lobe
This lobe is primarily responsible for interpreting language, words, sense of touch, temperature, and pain. This lobe also interprets signals from hearing, vision, sensory, memory, and motor functions. Spatial and visual perceptions also play a large role in this lobe.
Temporal Lobe
The temporal lobe helps in understanding language, memory, hearing, organizing, and sequencing.
Occipital Lobe
This lobe is primarily responsible for processing visual information like light, color, and different movements.
The Functions Performed by Human Brains
- Perception
- Motor Control
- Arousal
- Hemostasis
- Motivation
- Learning and Memory
It is important for an individual to understand that the human brain does not function separately. But instead, the different parts of the human brain constantly interact to carry out a range of important functions.
Evolution of Human Cognition
The human brain is a highly complex structure that has evolved over a long period of time to be able to perform the functions which it does now. The most prolific way to understand the evolution of the human brain in terms of human cognitive development discussed given below. Here are some major points illustrated from the online assignment help services resource material that may help you to gain insights specifically.
The Size of the Brain and Intelligence
Some studies conducted to measure the size of the brain of different species. Those studies revealed that the human brain was rather bigger in comparison to the brains of mice and chimps. This resulted in the theory that bigger the brain higher the p
otential for intellectual capabilities. When the brains of Neanderthals compared to that of modern humans and chimps then it exposed that the brain has gone under considerable changes over the centuries. Shockingly, the brains of Neanderthals were more similar to the modern-day chimps than to the modern-day humans. This shows a certain type of plasticity when it comes to the brain.
The Development of the Brain and Language
One of the key characteristics which can help in distinguishing human beings from other creatures on this planet is the highly sophisticated languages. Information may convey quickly from one organism to another with the help of language now. Memory also plays a strong role in not just understanding the language but also conveying the meaning of ideas and even language itself. There is considerable evidence now which suggests that language has developed with the help of evolution and changes in the FOXP2 gene. To know more about the FOXP2 gene, you should contact assignment help services from delivered by academic experts.
The Evolution of the FOXP2
FOXP2 is highly conserved between different species. This means that this gene is different for organisms belonging to different species. These differences primarily lie in the amino acids that are a part of a gene. There are many studies that show that this gene is responsible for the learning of language or a way of communication in all species. And this gene has developed over the centuries because of evolution. This has been possible to identify because of constantly studying the brains of the Neanderthals.
The Conclusion:
The human brain is a highly complex and central organ that is capable of performing a number of important functions like memory, intelligence, arousal, motivation, and hemostasis. There are different parts of the brain like the brain stem, cerebrum, and cerebellum which are responsible for performing the different functions. The human brain has been able to reach its current level of complexity and functionality due to evolution. This can be understood in terms of human cognitive development that has taken over the entire course of mankind. Some of those ways in which this can be understood include the studies on the size of the brain and level of intelligence, developing language and the capabilities of the brain, and the evolution of the FOXP2 gene.