The Blaisdell Blog

  Since it is brain awareness week, let’s look at the brain you gave your child. It is interesting that intelligence does not lie in the number of brain cells (the neurons) that a person has but, in their ability to communicate with one another.   For example, an adult has learned much more than an infant, yet the average 2-year-old has twice as many neurons as you do, and you have about 100 billion!   The adult brain has fewer synaptic connections than a child does, but they are in synchronized and organized communication, displaying knowledge, intelligence, talent and ability.   A classic example of “It’s not what you have, it’s how you use it.” There are several different types of cells in the brain, but the cells that are the seat of learning are called neurons.   Pictures of neurons usually show a structure that would look good as the monster in a science fiction movie.   The neuron has a central portion with spidery fingers (dendrites) reaching out in all directions and a l

  This is the beginning of Brain Awareness Week.   Let’s learn a little about this incredible organ.   I am going to publish three blogs this week highlighting what the brain is, how a child’s brain functions and what you can do to improve the brain function of your children and grandchildren.   These blogs are retooled excerpts from my book Beating the Bell Curve which is a book for parents on how to maximize your child’s learning experience.     If you asked most people to describe the brain, they would probably describe the wrinkled surface called the cerebral cortex.   This is the thinking part of the brain.   The cortex is wrinkled instead of smooth to fit more surface area into a small space.   The cerebral cortex is about as thick as an orange peel and if you pressed it out flat it would be as big as an unfolded sheet of newspaper.   Your brain is the size of a large grapefruit.   It is three-quarters water.   The remainder of it is mostly fat and protein.   It is soft eno