• Higher order functions (such as memory, attention, emotion, thought, consciousness, identity) require large-scale or global processes in the brain. While many activities of the brain are functionally segregated and localized, activity is synchronized and coordinated despite the lack of a central coordinatory area.

• The left side of the cortex relates most directly to the right side of the body and vice versa. Smell is an exception. The right side of the nose connects to the right side of the brain.

• A century of clinical neurology has shown clearly that the two hemispheres are specialized for different mental capacities. The most striking asymmetry involves language. The left hemisphere (for virtually all right-handed people and most left-handers) is specialized not only for the actual production of speech sounds but also for the imposition of syntactic structures on speech and for much of what is called semantics - comprehension of meaning.

• The right hemisphere, on the other hand seems to be concerned with more subtle aspects of language such as nuances of metaphor, allegory, and ambiguity. A person with an extensive stroke to the left hemisphere but with an undamaged right-side brain may still be able to swear and even sing. Such a person may still be able to distinguish a male voice from a female voice.

• Other obvious specializations involve vision and emotion. The right hemisphere is concerned with holistic aspects of vision and with the appropriate emotion to evocative situations.

• http://christianhubert.com/writings/brain.html Text and Images

How do mental functions map on to the brain? During the 1940's and 1950's, the brilliant Canadian neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield performed extensive brain surgeries on patients with local anaesthetic. During the operations, he stimulated specific regions of the patients' brains with an electrode and simply asked them what they felt. All kinds of sensations, images, and even memories were elicited by the electrode, and the somatosensory areas of the brain that were responsible could be mapped. Penfield concluded that memories left permanent imprints on the brain. (also called engrams) Among other things, Penfield found a narrow strip running from top to bottom down both sides of the brain where his electrode produced sensations localized in various parts of the body. This "sensory homunculus," as it is now called, forms a greatly distorted representation of the body on the surface of the brain, with the parts that are particularly important taking up disproportionately large parts. (see image below) (see also body image ) For the most part, the map is orderly but upside down. However, the map is not entirely continuous. The face is not near the neck, where it should be, but is below the hand. The genitals, instead of being between the thighs, are located below the foot.

• A German Shepherd has 225 million scent receptors while a human has only 5 million. The percent of a dog’s brain devoted to analyzing smells is 40 times larger than that of a human. It is estimated that dogs can smell somewhere between 1,000 to 100,000 times better than humans.

• Of dogs: Blood hounds are #1, followed by Basset hounds for being the best sniffers.

Which animals do you think are the worlds best for:SightSmellHearingTasteTouch

Smell 2:

Best Underw

ater Sense of Sm

ell

Smell 4:

Best Landmine

Sense of Smell

Smell 3:

Best Bird Sense of Sm

ell

Smell 1:

Best Sense of Sm

ell

Smell 6:

Best Sniffer Detective

Smell 7:

Best Mate Sense

of Smell

Hearing 1:Best N

atural Sonar System

Smell 5:

Best Air Sniffer

Hearing 2:Best N

avigator U

sing Sound

Taste 3:Turbocharged

Taste Buds

Taste 2:Best Tasting

With

Their Feet

Taste 1:W

hat Can Hum

ans Taste? (5 things)

Hearing 6:Best Hearing

Defense

Hearing 5: Sharpest Hearing

Hearing 3: Cats versus

Dogs?

Hearing 4:Best Rain

Detector by Hearing

Taste 4:I Can’t Taste

Sweets

Taste 7:I Have the

Strangest Taste

Taste 5:Chocolate Kills M

e

Taste 6:I Love the Taste

of Fat

Touch 4:M

ost Sensitive (Touchy)

Nose

Touch 3:Deadly Vibration

Detection

Touch 1:Best Fire Detector

Touch 2:Best Earthquake

Detector

Touch 8:M

ost Sensitive Hairs

Touch 7:Good Vibrations

Touch 5:Best W

hiskers

Touch 6:Best “Touch at a

Distance”

Vision 3:Best Bird N

ight Vision

Sharpest Vison Facts

Vision 1:Best Therm

al Vision

Vision 2:Best M

amm

al N

ight Vison

Vision 7:Best U

nderwater

Vision

Vision 6:Sharpest Vision

Vision 4:Best Looking All

Around

Vision 5:Best M

otion Detectors

Vision 11:Best

Independent Vision

Vision 10:Best Colour

Vision

Vision 8:Looking U

P, Looking Dow

n

Vision 9:M

ost Eyes

LargestFastestSmartest.com

• Best camouflaged, largest and heaviest, longest & tallest, smallest

• Coldest, deepest, highest, hottest, oldest, on the farm

• Best athletes, builders, medics, deadliest, fastest, strongest

• Best and worst friends, parents• Greediest, smelliest

Taste FactsW

ho can taste better than us?

Smartest Facts

Smartest Ape

Smartest 1:

Smartest

Mem

ory

Smartest 2:

In the Ocean

Smartest 3:

Smartest

After Us

Smartest 6:

Biggest Brain For Body Size

Smartest 4:

Smartest Bird

Smartest 5:

Smartest Bug