The Brain and Knowledge

  The Brain and Knowledge

The brain is an essential part of the human body. Without the brain, we simply cannot live. The brain controls our breathing, keeps our heart beating and blood pumping. It is the site of integrating nerve responses, allowing us to feel pain and move our limbs, and it is the processing site of all our senses. It is where our personalities are found, it controls our thought processes, it allows us to learn and grow. Without it, you would not be you. How does our ability to learn, grow, and change, develop throughout a lifetime? What factors can negatively influence the chemical makeup of the brain? What can we do to allow our brains to function at the highest level possible?

Researchers have found that the prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed until the age of 25. This is the part of the brain that is associated with higher thought and cognition. “The prefrontal cortex offers an individual the capacity to exercise good judgment when presented with difficult life situations. The prefrontal cortex acquires information from all of the senses and orchestrates thoughts and actions in order to achieve specific goals. (Arain et al. 2013). This is the reason that adolescents and teens often are reckless and occasionally thoughtless while growing up, they lack the ability to reason and make sense of difficult decisions. This shows that as one gets older, they are changing, whether they realize it or not. With age comes maturity and a greater ability to think more deeply about situations. This information is consistent with the way we treat kids as they grow. Slowly over time we transition from baby voices and simple answers to a never under array of questions to giving truthful and thoughtful answers to giving more responsibility and allowing them to decide for themselves. We change and grow over time for various reasons, but a large part of that is owed to the development of the human brain. 

Knowing the human brain is essential, it's interesting to consider the ways that we can negatively impact the brain and its development. The is made up of neurons that send signals throughout the body. They allow us to move, feel pain, and interpret different senses. There is a complex system of how the signals are passed from neuron to neuron. There are synapses that send neurotransmitters to the next, relaying the signal. There are different neurotransmitters for different types of synapses and what is being communicated. Drugs, both legal and illegal, change or block the type of neurotransmitter that is used to relay the message in the synapses. Different drugs work in different ways and therefore have different results. Some inhibit pain, some create feelings of euphoria, there are a wide variety of effects that they can have on the body. What isn’t known is the long-term effect that these drugs can have on the brain. By signaling to the brain to release more or less neurotransmitters, these drugs are changing the chemical makeup of the brain. This could lead to some potentially detrimental side effects. These side effects are only enhanced when the brain is not yet fully developed. The use of drugs chemically alter the brain in ways that are just beginning to be understood.

The power that the brain has is something that I have observed that most people take for granted. Have you ever heard the phrase, “Mind over matter”? When a person is told that, it is trying to convey that their brain is stronger than the obstacle they are trying to overcome. That obstacle could be one of physical endurance or mental perseverance. Whatever the case, the body isn’t always able to discern its limits correctly. In my observations, people are generally able to endure more than they thought they could, they can push themselves harder than they originally thought possible. When we begin to understand that we are the only thing standing in our way, amazing achievements are more possible. Throughout my life I have learned that this is true, we are capable of much more than we considered possible.

I grew up playing basketball and played all four years of high school. I have also coached for my old high school for three years and loved every second of it. It has been strange at times, to be back in my old gym having a much different role in it. I see players make mistakes and slowly begin to crumble as they experience thoughts of self doubt and pity. I see others make mistakes but they learn from them instead and become better players. I have found that when it comes to game time, there are only so many corrections that can be made. They know what they did wrong if they miss a shot or pass the ball to the other team. The fundamentals are all already there, they were developed in practice. The muscle memory that can be formed by the brain is there. They possess the skills needed to be successful. Yet that is not all it takes. There is a mental side to the game. The ability to confront and deal with challenges takes time to develop. Confidence is not something that can be easily taught. As I watch them play, I see the same tendencies and self-doubt that I had when I was in high school. Looking back now, I would play differently in high school and try to help my players learn to think and act differently, to play with more confidence and less stress. A big part of that knowledge comes from a new perspective that I didn’t have while in high school. I have learned and matured in countless ways since then, as I would assume that most people would similarly agree about themselves. With the knowledge I have now, I realize that I had mental limitations that seemed insurmountable at that time. However, my experience of playing basketball and now coaching have shown me first hand how one really does mature over time. What I thought was insurmountable then is much more attainable now. I would say that my cognitive abilities have greatly increased, consistent with the knowledge that the prefrontal cortex continues to develop until the age of 25. The brain is an amazing part of the human body. It is always changing and developing, allowing us to grow as humans.

References: 

Arain M., M. Haque, L. Johal, P. Mathur, W. Nel, A. Rais, R. Sandhu, and S. Sharma. Maturation of the adolescent brain. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2013;9:449-61. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S39776. Epub 2013 Apr 3. PMID: 23579318; PMCID: PMC3621648.