difference between brain and mind

Ans. Brain is a physical and tangible organ of our body. It can be touched by us, unlike the mind. It is composed of multiple nerve cells and blood vessels.

• It has a definite weight due to its specific structure.
• It weighs approximately around 3 pounds and includes almost 60% of the body fat.
• It is the central nervous system (CNS) that helps in coordinating the movement of our body.
• It mainly receives and distributes information to all our body parts.
• It mainly has three parts including the brainstem, the cerebrum, and the cerebellum.
• Unlike the mind, our brain can develop certain diseases and medical conditions.
• The cerebrum is the largest part of our brain. Cerebellum is located below the cerebrum and helps in the coordination of our movements.
• The brainstem is mainly responsible for connecting the cerebrum and the cerebellum to the spinal cord.

Ans. Mind is not a physical organ inside our body. It is an intangible thing that can only be felt as it has no structure or shape.

• As it is not physical, it is not composed of nerve cells and blood vessels.
• It cannot develop any disease.
• It provides us with the energy to process, think, perceive, decide, and evaluate things.
• It has three levels which include the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious mind.
• The conscious mind includes all our immediate experiences.

Ans. Human brain can be divided into three parts:

• Forebrain

Forebrain is the largest part of the human brain that basically deals with hunger, emotions, regulating body temperature, etc. It is made up of cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus.

- Cerebrum basically deals with controlling the thinking process, reasoning, intellect, and other senses. It is further divided into four lobes known as the temporal lobe, frontal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe.

- Thalamus plays an important role in sending sensory information from the organs and the motor information for their movements.

- Hypothalamus regulates all the important functions of the human body such as controlling blood pressure, regulating the body temperature, and controlling our sense of smell and taste along with performing many other functions.

• Midbrain

The central area of the brainstem located between the hypothalamus and the thalamus is referred to as the midbrain. It is mainly made of tectum and tegmentum.

- Tectum is mainly responsible for the reflex movements of our human body. 

- Tegmentum is present within the brainstem and is mainly engaged with bodily motions and sleep.

• Hindbrain

The central part of our brain is referred to as the hindbrain. It helps in regulating our breathing and heartbeat patterns. It is made of three main parts which are the pons, medulla, and cerebellum.

- Cerebellum regulates the voluntary motions of our body. It also maintains the equilibrium of our body during cycling, walking, swimming, etc.

- Medulla Oblongata regulates the breathing and digestion processes of our body.

- Pons is a vital part of our brainstem that controls respiration and regulates our sleep cycle.

Ans. The three levels of the consciousness of mind are:

• Conscious mind

All things that an individual is currently aware of and what they think about comprises the conscious mind. In terms of capacity, it is somehow limited and resembles a short-term memory.

• Subconscious mind

All the automatic actions and all the reactions that one can become aware of if they think about them refer to the subconscious. For instance, this may include one's ability to drive a car. Once we acquire that skill, we stop consciously thinking as to which gears to use, which pedals to press, or which mirror to look into.

• Unconscious mind

All the past memories and events are stored in the unconscious mind. Sometimes, these memories are inaccessible to us even when we try hard to remember them.

Ans. Nervous system is a sophisticated network of neurons that is entirely dedicated to the transmission of messages throughout the body. It is responsible for controlling the movement of an organism and influencing its environment by transmitting signals in the body. The human nervous system is mainly divided into two parts which are:

• Central Nervous System or CNS

This is the central processing unit of the body and is mainly composed of the brain and the spinal cord.

- Brain is the most vital organ of our neurological system. It helps us in learning new things and making decisions. It is mainly divided into forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.

- Spinal Cord refers to a bundle of tissues and nerve fibers. It helps in connecting various parts of the body to our brain.

• Peripheral Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System or PNS mainly connects CNS to all the other parts of the body. It has two types of nerve fibers which are:

- Afferent Nerve Fibres

- Efferent Nerve Fibres

Ans. The largest part of our brain that is divided into two halves or two hemispheres is known as the cerebrum. The two hemispheres are connected to each other through the corpus callosum. Each hemisphere is further divided into broad regions known as lobes which have various functions.

• Frontal Lobes

Frontal lobes are the largest lobes that are present in the front part of our brain. It helps in the coordination of high-level behaviors such as problem-solving, attention, planning, etc. The frontal lobes are also responsible for managing temper, emotions, and personality.

• Parietal Lobes

Located just behind the frontal lobes, the parietal lobes are mainly involved in organizing and interpreting the sensory information that is received from various parts of the body.

• Temporal Lobes

The auditory cortex is mainly located in the temporal lobe. They are present on both sides of the head near the ears and help in hearing, verbal memory, facial recognition, and the interpretation of reactions and interpretations of others.

• Occipital Lobes

Occipital lobes are present towards the back of the brain and are mainly involved in the processes of reading and recognizing shapes and colors.

Ans. Some of the main functions of the cerebellum are:

• Cerebellum has special sensors that help it in detecting shifts in movement and balance. It then sends signals for the body to accordingly move and adjust. Therefore, it helps in maintaining balance.
• Cerebellum also times muscular actions so that there is coordination in multiple muscle groups and all of them move together smoothly.
• The cerebellum is also responsible for coordinating eye movements.
• Cerebellum helps our body to learn movements and perform motor learning such as playing a musical instrument or riding a bicycle.

Ans. Protective covering known as meninges surrounds the spinal cord and the brain. It is mainly of three types which are as follows:

• Dura mater is the outermost protective layer of the brain that is extremely thick and tough. It lines the cranium or the inner dome of the skull and the meningeal layer that exists below it. Spaces that exist between the layers allow the passage of arteries and veins that help in supplying blood to the brain.
• The Arachnoid mater is a thin layer that appears weblike. It is made up of connective tissues and does not have blood vessels or nerves. Below this layer, lies the CSF or the cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid covers the entire central nervous system which includes the brain and the spinal cord. The fluid continually moves around these structures in order to remove the impurities.
• Pia mater is the last layer of the brain and is a thin membrane. It hugs the surface of the brain following its contours. It is rich in arteries and veins.

Ans. Some of the conditions affecting the brain are:

• Brain aneurysm: In this condition, an artery of the brain develops a weak area that eventually swells in a balloon-like fashion. It can even cause a stroke.
• Concussion: It basically refers to a kind of brain injury that leads to temporary disruption or disturbances in the functions of the brain. Most of the concussions are formed as a result of traumatic head injuries.
• Meningitis: It is usually caused as a result of infection. It includes inflammation of the lining surrounding the spinal cord and the brain. Some of the common symptoms of meningitis are neck pain, stiff neck, fever, sleepiness, and headache.
• Dementia: It refers to a decline in the cognitive functions of the brain as a result of the death or the malfunction of the nerve cells present in the brain. Dementia can be caused by conditions in which the nerves present in the brain get degenerated as well as by strokes and alcohol abuse.
• Brain Tumor: It refers to the abnormal growth of any tissue inside the brain. Brain tumors usually result in problems as they exert pressure on the brain whether they are malignant (cancerous) or benign.
• Epidural hematoma: This is mainly the bleeding between the dura lining (the tough tissue) present on the inside of the skull and the skull itself. This is usually caused shortly after an injury to the head. Initially, it has some mild symptoms that can eventually progress rapidly causing unconsciousness and even death sometimes if it is left untreated.