Changes: Brain

Revision as of 04:03, 3 July 2006

A medical scan of a Vulcan brain.

"Brain and brain! What is brain?" - Kara (TOS: "Spock's Brain")

The workings of the brain

Borg brain — An open Borg skull showing the brain of a Borg drone.

The brain is the part of the central nervous system that is the center for regulation and control of the body. The brain is made up of neurons that make use of chemical reaction and electricity by way of neurotransmitters to function. Each brain has a unique circuitry pattern.

The mind is also the house of consciousness, subconscious, metaconscious, thought, memory, emotion, the ability to dream and the powers of extrasensory perception by way of psionic energy.

See: Emergent property

The brain can have extremely powerful effects on a person's body. Under certain circumstances, medical patients have been known to alter their own blood pressure, lower their body temperature and even manifest a tumor in response to psychological stimuli. The Clown, an artificial being which depended on input from living brains, used this to his advantage in keeping several Kohl, and later Harry Kim and B'Elanna Torres, captive. When an individual tried to leave the Clown's artificial environment, he would begin to raise their noradrenaline levels by pretending to cut off their heads with his guillotine. With enough stress, he could induce a heart attack and literally scare the individuals to death. (DS9: "Things Past", VOY: "The Thaw")

Dopterians, Breen and Ferengi have a four lobed brain structure, which can not be read by telepathic species. (TNG: "The Loss", DS9: "The Forsaken")

In many, but not all species, hallucination is a sign that the brain is malfunctioning. Many cultures purposely alter their perceptions of reality for spiritual or recreational reasons. The Denobulans, for example, hallucinate to reduce stress. Some Native American cultures self-induce hallucinations to experience a vision quest.

Psychologists study the mind.

Psychiatrists treat the malfunctioning mind.

Referenced parts of the brain

Energies of the mind

Technologies for the brain

Brain scanners and probes

Mind-sifter
Neural monitor
Neuralyte probe
Psychotricorder
Romulan mind probe

Mind control technology

Technologies of repair

Interface and communication technology

Procedures for the brain

In 2253, Leonard H. McCoy developed a medical procedure involving brain tissue engrafting. (VOY: "Lifesigns")

Spock's brain was removed by the Eymorg in 2268. (TOS: "Spock's Brain")

Julian Bashir performed brain surgery on Bareil Antos in 2371. Parts of his brain were replaced artifically. It allowed Bareil to live long enough to help Winn Adami sign the Bajoran-Cardassian Treaty. (DS9: "Life Support")

Mental Hospitals and Institutes

See: Mental Hospitals and Institutes

Disorders of the brain

Psychological disorders

Neurological disorders

Mind altering substances and phenomenon

Many cultures purposely alter their perceptions of reality for spiritual or recreational reasons. Religious examples include Bajorans, Nechani, Vulcans and Human cultures such as Native Americans.

Star Trek has generally been less accepting of recreational perception alteration, narcotics have been cast as immoral reflecting the American traditions and beliefs of the writers.

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 ==The workings of the brain==
+[[Image:Borg brain.jpg|thumb|An open Borg skull showing the brain of a [[Borg drone]].]]
-[[Image:Borg brain.jpg|thumb|An open Borg skull showing the brain of a [[Borg drone]].]]The '''brain''' is the part of the [[central nervous system]] that is the center for regulation and control of the [[Anatomy|body]]. The brain is made up of [[neuron]]s that make use of [[Physics and chemistry|chemical reaction]] and [[electricity]] by way of [[neurotransmitter]]s to function. Each brain has a unique [[Brain circuitry pattern|circuitry pattern]].
+The '''brain''' is the part of the [[central nervous system]] that is the center for regulation and control of the [[Anatomy|body]]. The brain is made up of [[neuron]]s that make use of [[Physics and chemistry|chemical reaction]] and [[electricity]] by way of [[neurotransmitter]]s to function. Each brain has a unique [[Brain circuitry pattern|circuitry pattern]].
 The mind is also the house of [[consciousness]], [[subconscious]], [[metaconscious]], thought, [[engram|memory]], [[emotion]], the ability to [[dream]] and the powers of [[extrasensory perception]] by way of [[psionic energy]].