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Brain Function

How information is carried from the sensory signals and transmitted to other areas of the
brain for further processing.

Information is carried through the central and peripheral nervous system, which is
responsible for sensing, control, and response. The motor control allows the nervous system to
respond. The neuron, which is the functional unit of the nervous system, receive messages, in
this case, stimuli, transmits and interprets them. then the effectors, either a gland or a muscle,
carries out the appropriate responses. When the sensory neuron receives a stimulus, it carries the
impulse or message through the dendrites, which are fibrous extensions, to other parts of the
body. The cell body comprises of various structures such as the nucleus and cytoplasmic
structures, and is responsible for controlling the neuron. At this point, the impulse prompts the
production of chemicals that facilitate the transmission of the impulse through the synapse,
which is the communication site between the cells. An impulse moves along the neuron
pathways as each neural cell membrane is charged by electrical charges passing across them
(Willis & Mitchell, 2014). The movement of the impulse along the nerve cells is facilitated by
the ions moving across the membrane. The electrical charge is not equal on each side of the
membrane, thus creating a resting potential.
The pre-synaptic neuron discharges the neurotransmitter, delivers it into the synapse, and
the post-synaptic neuron accepts the neurotransmitter. The chemical messenger spreads into the
synapse and is linked to specific receptors. The intercommunication between the receptor and the
neurotransmitter causes certain variations in the post-synaptic neuron leading to the production
of an electric signal. The signal is driven through the axon to the point it joins the terminal,

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leading to neurotransmitters being released into the subsequent synapse. After they are released,
they then go over to the synapse where the interaction then takes place on a different neuron, and
the process goes on.

Analyze the brain’s attentional filter and executive process. Include details regarding each
step involved in processing and attention, as well as relevant environmental impacts.

Executive processes are a collection of several processes in the brain that serve to
regulate and coordinate how information flows. It involves controlling attention, short term
memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. The executive functions can be divided into
either the monitoring mechanisms or the control mechanisms. The control mechanisms check for
the interference of the information being processed and guide it towards achieving a certain goal.
The monitoring mechanisms update the control signals accordingly, depending on either the
success or failure in information processing (Willis & Mitchell, 2014). Then after the processing
of information has reached a certain level, an attention filter established the significance of the
signals and determines the cognitive processes that it should be allowed to access. Processing
entails several stages, and attention modulates the effects. The attentional processes of the brain
are ways through which the brain highlights the relevant stimuli and filters out the rest. The
senses are constantly fed with massive amounts of information, and filtering allows individuals
to focus on only what matters at the time while tuning out the rest.

Explain the areas of the brain responsible for attention (attentional filter) and executive
functioning and address the relationship between executive functioning, attention, and the
learning process.

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Executive functions are found primarily in the frontal lobe or the prefrontal regions and
have numerous neuronal networks to the brainstem and cortical regions. The frontal lobes are the
largest structures which form part of the Cerebral cortex (Takeuchi et al., 2013). They hold
higher cognitive processes and are grounds to certain brain processes such as language, voluntary
movement, decision-making, and attention, and thought. The frontal lobes are also associated
with the executive functions of the brain such as intelligence, language processing, cognition,
and comprehension.
The attentional filtering processes of the brain take place in several organs. The reticular
activating system (RAS) is the first filtering organ that the information passes through when
entering the brain (Tremblay et al., 2015). When the cortex receives certain information that it
deems important or a priority, it sends a signal to the reticular nucleus, which is a part of the
thalamus. A transmitter is then used to inhibit transmission of other irrelevant signals to the
cortex from the thalamus.

Explain the various ways to stimulate the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and
strengthen the executive functioning networks. Include details regarding ways to stimulate
the RAS and strengthen the executive functioning network

The reticular activating system (RAS) receives input from the sensory nerves that connect
nerve endings coming to the face, mouth, skin, ears, eyes, and muscles. Any message being
transmitted from the organs passes through the RAS before entering the brain. The RAS can be
stimulated through physical activity. The RAS becomes stronger through certain exercises such
as studying a table more times, hence making the muscle stronger. Avoiding the division of
attention and prompting interest helps in strengthening the executive function of the brain (Willis

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& Mitchell, 2014). Also, emotionally charging the mind connections strengthens the brain’s
executive functioning networks and helps stimulate the RAS. When learning is associated with
emotional responses, the memory is enhanced. Also, people are more enthusiastic when they
explore new material which inspires them.

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References

Takeuchi, H., Taki, Y., Sassa, Y., Hashizume, H., Sekiguchi, A., Fukushima, A., & Kawashima,
R. (2013). Brain structures associated with executive functions during everyday events in
a non-clinical sample. Brain Structure and Function, 218(4), 1017-1032.
Tremblay, S., Pieper, F., Sachs, A., & Martinez-Trujillo, J. (2015). Attentional filtering of visual
information by neuronal ensembles in the primate lateral prefrontal
cortex. Neuron, 85(1), 202-215.
Willis, J., & Mitchell, G. (2014). The neuroscience of learning: Principles and applications for
educators[Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/