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The human brain is simply fascinating, and although it is at the very core of all human reasoning, intellect, and ability, it is still largely unexplored and misunderstood. The physical and social sciences have collaboratively conducted hundreds, if not thousands, of studies aimed at understanding the connection between the brain and human behavior, but even more interesting are the physiological processes that are intertwined to create a roadmap of human behavior, response, and consciousness that drives our very existence. These physiological processes are comprised of nervous systems functions, sensory system functions, and brain functions, which are all interrelated to form cognition above and beyond our innate survival responses controlled at the sub-cortex level. This analysis will not only outline the processes that take place between the different body systems, but it will also seek to identify the relation between these processes and human behavior.
In fact, it is very simple to understand just how these connections are formed. All sensory information is transmitted through the central nervous system. For the purpose of science, the central nervous system is divided into different categories. The first part of the nervous system is known as the peripheral nervous system, which is responsible for collecting all of the information exterior to the spinal cord and the brain. The second part of nervous system is known as the autonomic system, which incorporates all of the nerves that carry information for the internal glands and organs. Lastly, the somatic system is the part of the nervous system that connects the spinal cord to the rest of the body and its organs. However confusing this may sound, the relevance of human behavior lies primarily in the autonomic nervous system, which is divided into the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems; responsible for some of the most primitive reflexes known to man. Nerve impulses that trigger the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are reflexes that either stimulate or calm the human body and mind, shaping the way individuals perceive the world, process information, and develop higher level cognition.
The brain may be the most mystifying organ in the human body and because of its apparent ability to form its own connections, it is arguably the very link responsible for the sustainability and advancement of the human species. Underlying the cortex, that part of the brain responsible for decision making, is a more primitive brain known as the medulla, which is responsible for vital life sustaining functions, including breathing, swallowing, and the regulation of heart beat. The medulla is a direct extension of the spine, which serves the important function of support for the upright human body, but is also the protector of massive bands of nerves that travel from every part of the body to collectively meet at the command system of the nervous system; the brain. Slightly above the medulla is the cerebellum, which is responsible for the regulation of other involuntary necessities such as muscle coordination and tone, posture, and the storage of memorized habits and skills. The remainder of the brain develops above and around the cerebellum and is responsible for all higher level thinking, consciousness, and cognition.
As we understand, the neurotransmitters in the brain are responsible for making nerve connections that create specific actions and behaviors. These connections are actually what form the brain matter itself and connections are constantly being added and removed from the time the brain starts developing in its infancy. Connections that are not used are disregarded and connections that are used frequently are strengthened, therefore shaping the behavior of the individual throughout early childhood and into young adulthood. Although some connections are inevitable because they are genetically available, unused connections can still be disregarded within the framework of the brain. Other times, connections are improperly made, causing what psychologists refer to as mental disorders or developmental disorders, because the brain connections misfire, or because the brain of an individual does not develop to its full potential when compared to the rest of the human population. All of these connections or misconnections that occur within the brain are inexplicably linked with the central nervous system and are responsible for shaping human behavior above and beyond our primal instincts.
Because human cognition is such a complicated subject, it is often accompanied by debated surrounding nature versus nurture and the assumptions that human behavior are either innate or learned. The truth is that research has proved that human behavior can be changed and that different connections can be formed within the brain even into adulthood. This doesn’t mean that each individual is solely responsible for the connections that are made in their own mind or that genetics do not play a role in shaping the connections within the human brain, but it does mean that there is room for change. Human behaviors can be changed based on how we perceive ourselves and the rest of the world, how we choose to act upon certain thoughts, and how we choose to shape the thoughts of our children.
However, the brain is a powerful organ that relies on sensory information from a number of different channels and most of the connections that are made within the brain are innate or have become a learned behavior, which is why change is such a hard task for humans. Practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy have been implemented in an effort to change undesirable behaviors, although these practices are still in their infancy so measurable results are few and far between. Supplementing chemical imbalances is a practice familiar to most of us as psychiatry, although the effectiveness of medication is debatable as well. It is even speculated that specific culture can influence the connections made within the brain, which makes sense from a perspective of cultural relativism, because we often view the habits of other cultures as different, taboo, or not-acceptable.
In this context, we can understand that our brain perceives the rest of the world from the connections that it has formed through its own sensory inputs from infancy. It wasn’t long ago that Pavlov’s dogs were used to investigate the results of conditioning on the human brain, and it has been an extension of this thinking that has led to a widespread scientific movement to improve the underdeveloped and improperly developed brains of individuals by strengthening connections. These connections are formed through an intricate system of nerve impulses that are both physiological and psychological, but also innate and learned, producing an interdependence on sensory processes, cognition, and survival instincts.
References
Coon, D., & Mitterer, J. O. (2007). Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth.
Dawson G, A. S. (2000). The role of early experience in shaping behavioral and brain development and its implications for social policy. PubMed, 12(4), 695-712. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11202040
Wade, C., & Tavris, C. (2011). Psychology. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education.
