The brain The brain is the centre of the nervous system that acts as the main coordinating centre,

receiving information, interpreting it and transmitting information to effectors. The outer layer of the cerebrum composed of folded grey matter is called cortex. It is the largest region of the brain and plays an important role in consciousness. It is comprised of four major sections: Frontal lobe - concerned with the higher brain functions such as decision making, reasoning, planning and consciousness of emotions. Parietal lobe concerned with orientation, movement, sensation, calculation and some times of recognition and memory. Occipital lobe (visual cortex) concerned with processing information from the eyes, including vision, colour shape recognition and perspective. Temporal lobe concerned with processing auditory information. Discovering the function of each brain region Studies of individuals with damaged brain areas: Some patients who have suffered from brain damage show the ability to recover some of their brain function. This shows that some neurones have the ability to change. The effect of strokes: Stroke can cause brain damage which lead to problems with speaking, understanding speech, reading and writing. Some patients can recover some abilities after a stroke, showing the potential of neurones to change. This is known as neural plasticity. Depression The cause of mental disorders such as depression has been unknown. However, the idea that the disruptions of neurotransmitter function cause depression is vigorously promoted by pharmaceutical companies and the psychiatric profession at large. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry signals from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse. There are many neurotransmitters, each having different purposes; however the ones that affect a persons mood are serotonin, noradrenalin and dopamine. In nonmelancholic depression, it is likely that the transmission of serotonin is

reduced or less active, whereas in people with melancholic depression, the transmission of noradrenalin and dopamine are likely to have failed or disrupted. Parkinsons disease Parkinsons disease is associated with the death of a group of dopaminesecreting neurones in the brain. This leads to the reduction of dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with the control of movement and emotional responses.

The effect of drugs on synapse Some drugs affect the synthesis of the neurotransmitter. For example L-dopa used in the treatment of Parkinsons disease is converted into dopamine, increasing the concentration of dopamine to reduce the symptoms of the disease. Some drugs such as ecstasy (MDMA) works by binding to molecules in the presynaptic membrane that are responsible for transporting the serotonin back into the cytoplasm. This prevents the reuptake of the synapse and increases the concentration of serotonin which brings about the mood changes in the users of the drug.