The Amazing Neuroscience and Physiology of Learning

A brief introduction to the hardware that runs your most important software

Credit: Zenina Asya

“How can a three-pound mass of jelly that you can hold in the palm of your hand imagine angels, contemplate the meaning of infinity, and even question its own place in the cosmos?”

-V.S. Ramachandran

Lizard Brain

In his 2015 book “Activate Your Brain”, Scott G. Halford draws on what neuroscientists call the Triune model of evolution by dividing our brains into three main parts, each of which developed with distinctive functions:

1. The first and oldest part is known as the Reptilian Brain. This section regulates the bodily functions we don’t consciously control, like breathing and sweating.
2. Second is the Mammalian Brain (think Limbic System) which constantly scans our environment for danger or reward. It’s also the emotional hub of our brain, dealing with feelings and memories.
3. The third section is what sets us apart from all other known life. This is the Prefrontal Cortex, or the Human Brain. It is responsible for reason, analysis, and the handling of emotions that stem from other parts of the brain.