Abstract
This paper argues that there are scientifically provable differences between the brains of men and women. Specifically, the paper explores how the brains of men and women evolve over time. It also considers how men and women have different intellectual competencies. Lastly, evidence provided by Doreen Kimura suggest that boys and girls differ in their levels of aggression because they really do have minds shaped by widely divergent hormones.

From the Paper
"The next several pages will argue that there really are scientifically provable differences between the brains of men and women. Specifically, the paper will explore how the brains of men and women evolve (atrophy) over time, and the paper will also look at how men and women have different intellectual competencies - differences which, broadly stated, suggest that men are better in the realm of mathematics and mathematical logic while women are better in the realm of language arts and visual memory. Lastly, evidence provided by Doreen Kimura suggest that boys and..."

Tags:men, women, differences

Abstract
This paper explores the impact of television with respect to child rearing, further considering how parents use the television as a baby-sitter and/or an educational tool. Various studies are cited that show how certain types of television programming can be an effective learning tool for older children, yet many questions remain about the positive and negative effects television has on learning and cognitive development in very young children.

From the Paper
"Since the 1950s, television has increasingly become a part of mainstream culture and the American way of life. With respect to child rearing, many parents today use the television as a baby-sitter and/or an educational tool. While studies have shown that certain types of television programming can be an effective learning tool for older children, many questions remain about the positive and negative effects television has on learning and cognitive development in very young children. Along these lines, the following study examines the positive and negative effects..."

Tags:cognitive development, effects television, childhood development

Abstract
In 1912, Charles Dawson, an amateur archaeologist, revealed to some of his scientific friends that he had found a curious skull in a gravel pit near Piltdown, England. The case of the Piltdown Man turned out to be one of the greatest hoaxes of the 20th century. The paper shows that, allegedly, the unearthing of these fragments was proof that man evolved from apes. The human brain case and the ape-like jaw fit the theory of the day, which held that the brain would evolve faster than the body. The ruse was to create the "missing link" and thus prove Darwin's theory. The paper traces the events of the forgery and its implications on the scientific world after it was discovered to be a hoax. The paper includes illustrations.

From the Paper
"In conclusion, The Piltdown Forgery was a deception with far reaching tentacles. Whether it was Dawson, Hinton, Theilhard or Woodward, the effects of this deception still cast doubts on legitimate archeological finds. This however is advantageous for both the anthropological and archeological communities. It requires science to base its discoveries on pure science rather than raw emotion. The moral of Piltdown is that science is fallible and human passions sometimes overshadow the facts. Occasionally, science does not always take the most direct route in fulfilling its aim of understanding nature."

Tags:fakes, fraud, skull, Woodward

Abstract
This paper summarizes an article from Scientific American - 'His Brain, Her Brain,' by Larry Cahill. It talks about the research into structural and functional differences in male and female brains and the implications for medicine.

From the Paper
"The article 'His Brain Her Brain' by Larry Cahill describes the research that has been carried out and is ongoing into differences between male and female brains. The is no longer considered a sexist claim because there are differences not only in the structure of male and female brains but in the way different areas of the brain react to various stressors. Back in ... Scientific American published an article which described how sex hormones directed divergent reproductive behavior in rats which was thought to be controlled by the..."

Tags:brain, amygdala, hippocampus, male, female, medicine

Abstract
The paper overviews the functions of the human brain and its many parts. The paper first describes what our brain looks like and compares it to the brains of animals and fish. The paper then explores whether the mathematical and scientific abilities of geniuses have something to do with their brain development. Furthermore, the paper discusses the main function of the human brain that is its ability to store, retain and subsequently retrieve information. The brain activity that causes dreams is also discussed.

From the Paper
"The human brain is a unique creation - it is wonderfully made to enable us to think, plan, move, see, speak, hear, taste, smell and imagine. It is the central organ of sensation, thought and the true seat of intelligence. The brain is responsible for the major functions of the body in order to survive. It is the one in charge of controlling the body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. The human brain accepts and processes information through our senses - seeing, smelling, hearing, touching, and tasting. Even our capacity to handle physical motion when we do our daily activities is controlled by our brain. It dictates the parameter the way we talk, walk, sit, run, and perform other locomotors. It also has coordinating and regulating functions that allow us to use our logic, provide reasoning, experience emotions, and even to dream."

Tags:memory, neurons, cells, dreams

Abstract
This paper discusses the brain, a wonderful and complex mechanism which is still largely undiscovered territory with infinite possibilities. The writer explains that this infinite capacity is the result of a complex interaction between the structures of our brains; these structures have more than one function. By describing the different areas of the brain and its structures and functions, and explaining with lucid examples from the writer's own experience how these structures are used in everyday life, the paper brings home to the reader with vivid immediacy how the brain controls our whole body.

Outline:
Brain Diagram
The Reticular Formation
The Medulla
The Cerebellum
The Basal Ganglia
The Basal Forebrain
The Basal Forebrain
Hypothalamus
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Frontal Lobe
Primary Motor Cortex
Brocas's Area
Parietal Lobe
Primary Somatosensory Cortex
Occipital Lobe
Temporal Lobe
Wernicke's Area
Corpus Callosum

From the Paper
"The basal ganglia appear to coordinate movement, cognition and voluntary movement. The basal ganglia are located deep inside of the cerebral hemispheres, in the telecephalon area of the brain. The telencephalon area is the anterior portion of the brain. The exact function of the basal ganglia in behavior is not totally established, but it appears to be the "traffic cop" so to speak, that decides which of the actions the cortex may be planning, to act on, to carry out. It is responsible for making sure that movement results in a pleasurable reward; this structure increases activity when the reward is pleasurable, and does not increase activity when the results do not include a reward. This structure has been implicated in Parkinson's Disorder."

Tags:stimulus spatial sulcus impulse pituitary hormone midbrain, spinal cord, pons

Abstract
The paper focuses on Searle's Chinese room experiment and how he believes that a machine could never have a "mind" or any sort of mental capacity for understanding, no matter how technologically-advanced it is. But, the paper explains that while the brain is not a computer, Searle insists that the brain is still a machine, which by means of energy transfers causes and sustains consciousness. The paper highlights how Searle believes that both computers and human brains are machines, but in his view the computer is less of a machine in that it does not have the capacity for consciousness.

From the Paper
"The computer has been compared to the human brain ever since the first invention of the computer: neurons are like a microchip, specialized parts of the brain are like graphic cards and system components, etc. There has been long controversy about this topic, however, since it raises a very important philosophical debate. Are our brains like computers? If so, then what does it mean to be human? John Searle, a modern day philosopher who did extensive work in philosophy involving language and meaning and the philosophy of the mind, suggests that the answer to that question what does it mean to be human has to begin with a discussion of the mind for it is "a mental bridge by which we connect with the rest of the world" (Mind: A Brief Introduction)."

Tags:systems, reply, machines, technology, consciousness

Abstract
This paper discusses how reverse engineering is the process of replicating an existing system without the help of designs, drawings or computer models. In particular, it examines how scientists have been toying with the idea of creating artificial brains or computers capable of mimicking the cognitive functions of the human brain for a long time. In particular, it looks at how considerable research is being carried out on using non-invasive techniques to develop and implant neural prosthetic devices.

From the Paper
"Invasive neural prosthetic devices interact directly with the brain. These "brain computer interfaces" usually consist of electrodes that are either placed on the surface of the brain or penetrate the brain. Non invasive neural prosthetic systems have an indirect interaction with the brain with the help of transmissions occurring through the skull. These transmissions can be done with the help of magnetic sensor systems, electroencephalography -- EEG, or functional magnetic resonance imaging -- fMRI. Invasive methods involving cortical stimulation through surgery of the cranium have several disadvantages as well as advantages. One of the primary disadvantages is that surgery involving the cranium can lead to serious surgical complications. "

Tags:cognitive, functions, electroencephalography, invasive, neural

Abstract
The effects of alcohol abuse on the unborn child, on society and on relationships are quite well-known, but the fact that alcohol can affect the brain is a fact that is less known. The paper shows that in fact alcohol stops the cortex from serving its role in integrating cognitive processes, resulting in disorganized thinking and motor control difficulties. The paper examines research that shows that individuals with a history of chronic alcohol abuse had significantly smaller brains than non alcoholic individuals. Finally, the paper concludes that continuous research on the subject may help combat alcoholism in the future.

From the Paper
"The actions of several neurotransmitters are significantly affected by the actions of alcohol. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is one of the most prevalent neurotransmitters in the human brain, and alcohol is clearly linked to affects on the GABAergic system in the human brain. For example, the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are reduced by blocking the activity of the neurotransmitter by the use of drugs that are well known to block GABA receptors. This evidence suggests that alcohol may play an important role in the biological underpinnings of human alcoholism. Researchers have also noted that tolerance and dependence on alcohol can be explained by the neuropharmacological effect of chronic alcohol use (Brain & Mind Magazine)."

Tags:ethanol, occipital, cortex, Gamma-aminobutyric, acid, GABA

Abstract
This paper looks at the predominantly vegetarian diets of both the early australopithecines and the present-day peoples of the Australian "out-back" and the African Kalahari. The paper also points out some of the unsettling racial dynamics, which have complicated scholarly investigations into what the comparative diets of these groups say about them and about their position relative to other branches of the human family. The paper then explores the group/social organization, the division of labor within Australopithecine camps and how and to what extent the ancient Australopithecines were food foragers and meat scavengers. The author of the paper relates that, in all of these instances, brief comparisons are drawn between the behavior and characteristics of the ancient Australopethecus and those of modern-day hunter-gatherers. The paper concludes that the similarities between the early hominids and today's aboriginal tribes suggest that we can learn much about the behavior and evolution of the former by studying the latter.

From the Paper
"For their part, it does seem as though the contemporary aboriginal peoples of Australia and the Kalahari of Namibia and Botswana - the two groups that offer the most by way of comparison to the ancient Australopithecus - are not especially enamored with scavenging, either, mostly because meat is not a vital staple of their everyday diet. To wit, The San speakers of the Kalahari have always had a preference for nuts, vegetables and for plant roots - although meat was (and ostensibly still remains) desirable as something of a luxury item."

Tags:paleontologist, tooth wear, brains jaws, food foraging