Which is the most complex mechanism on earth? Is it rocket science in NASA? Are you thinking so much? The answer is the brain mechanism that is actually making you think.
The human brain is a coalition of many specialized systems that work together to perform all tasks such as controlling thoughts, memory, emotion, motor skills, breathing, temperature, hunger, and all activities that a human being performs.
There is a large number of researches being conducted to understand the structure and working of this complex organ. Many contemporary models and theories on the brain have been published of which, the highly simplified explanation of brain activity is given by the Triune Brain Model.
The Model
This model was proposed by Neuroscientist Paul Maclean in the1960s. It is now discredited, but it is still widely used due to its longevity and simplicity. For a noob or school student in the field of Neuroscience, it can be the best starting point for the field. Due to its longevity, this concept is also called “one of the most successful and widespread errors in all of science”.
In Paul’s view, the brain evolved as a three-layered organ, each of which possessed different evolutionary origins despite being highly interconnected. As represented in the figure, the different layers seem to be formed one over the other. The Primal brain is the first and the oldest layer formed, which is followed by the formation of the emotional brain, and the latest and the youngest is the rational brain which is a unique layer present only in humans.
Primal Brain
It is also called the “reptilian” brain and is said to be composed of the brain stem and basal ganglia. It is so-called because these structures dominate in the brains of reptiles and snakes. It is responsible for basic survival functions, such as breathing, heart rate, body temperature, etc.
Emotional Brain
The emotional or “mammalian” brain is the second layer over the reptilian layer consisting of the limbic system. What constitutes a limbic system is debated by scientists, but the commonly cited parts include the amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, etc. This part plays a major role in human emotion. The way we react to external stimuli, the feelings associated with them are part of the working of the mammalian brain.
The fight-flight-freeze response of humans is the response from the limbic system. The Amygdala acts as an early warning system for danger and initiates quick responses without much thinking. If the stimulus is ‘close enough to real danger’ the brain reacts following the ‘rather be safe than sorry’ motto.
Rational Brain
Rational or the “primate” brain forms the topmost and the youngest layer of the human brain. It consists of the curved and wrinkled layer of the brain just behind the forehead. It is the well-developed brain that enables logical and rational thinking, cognitive and creative thinking, and helps in motor, language, sensory and social abilities. But this part of the brain becomes ‘inactive’ once the primal brain takes over.
Though this model is a very simplified version of how the brain works, this model has been useful in user experience designs and marketing to understand how customers make any decision and how to get their concentration on the product or service. How to engage the different parts of the brain is explained in the next post.
References
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/triune-brain
https://www.thescienceofpsychotherapy.com/the-triune-brain/
