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Mahvish Qureshi's picture

Brain and Behavior

The relationship between the brain and behaviour is a unique relationship that remains a mystery. A person's behaviour is a result of the activity of the brain, but I think that the brains activity is not just based on the network of neurons and the nervous system, it is based on a persons perceptions, and external environment as well. A person's point of views etc. are not necessarilly components of the brain but more so are components of a person's mind.

Descartes says that 'much of observable behaviour is a result of the nervous and a result of the mind.' As disconcerting as it is I think that the mind does construe alot of what we percieve which affects the way our brain cuases us to behave. I have a greater tendancy to agree with descartes point of view on the brain and mind then with Crick who just believes that our behaviour and personality is simply the result of the nervous system. There is no denying that the nervous system and neurons play a large part in commanding the way we act/behave, but the attitude to behave in such a manner is derived from our mind which is filled with our perceptions, and opinions all based on our upbrining and other external stimuli.

From Emily Dickinson's poem I find it interesting how it is said the sky can fit into the brain. The brain can contain the sky because it can comprehend the concept of the sky. The sky may be more vast/bigger than the brain but it is much more simplistic and can not be compared to something as comple as the brain.

 

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