Brainstem Autobiography

The stem-like part of the Brain is called the Brainstem and it’s a small but important part of how our body’s function. It is highly considered a basic region of the brain and so it is vital to survival for all animals. It connects the brain and the spinal cord which gives it control to the body’s physical conditions and movements, it coordinates involuntary and voluntary reflexes. The parts of the Brainstem are about the size of a thumbtack, however, did you know that these parts of the Brain control you heart and lungs? The tiny area on the bottom of the Brain controls a large part of your life. The Brainstem is located in the posterior region and in the lower section of the brain, it is in between the cerebrum and the spinal cord. This

For examining the Brainstem, three important devices that can be used include the EEG, fMRI, and the MEG. Electroencephalography (EEG) Machines are used in laboratories and hospitals. Its purpose is to measure electrical activity generated by cortical layers of the Brain. The electrical signals are from gray matter regions that include many pyramidal cells. Large groups of pyramidal cells generate electricity that soon gets recorded as EEG electrodes. The electrodes go past electric fields and record processes and also monitor different states of the Brain. Examples of states of the Brain are motivation, engagement, and drowsiness. The second machine is the Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FRMI) and it measures brain function by detecting changes in blood flow that relate to neural activity. This is done on the hypothesis that active neurons need a greater amount of oxygen. This device uses a superconducting magnet and it rotates around a person lying down. It measures the magnetization difference in oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood, which shows the different levels of brain activity in the different regions. The last machine is the Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Machine which captures magnetic fields that’re generated from neural activity. Just like the FRMI the MEG requires the patient to lay still. It has to happen in a shielded

Five major disorders of this section of the Brain include Brainstem Disorder, Stroke, Weber’s Syndrome, Basilar Artery Thrombosis and Stenosis, and PICA. They all affect people in various ways because they affect each part of the Brainstem in different places. Brainstem Disorder can change a person’s personality and ability to process their movements. A stroke is caused by a deficiency in the blood supply of the brain. Weber’s Syndrome affects the midbrain which causes problems in the arteries near the brain and leaves a white ‘stain’ on the scalp of the patient. Basilar Artery Thrombosis and Stenosis can lead to other complications causing the Brainstem to stop being able to control the body’s functions. Lastly, PICA, the most common type of Brainstem disorder is a type of stroke that affects eating habits so that the patient has no