Welcome to Disney's Magic of Storytelling podcast, brought to you by Wake Med Children's, because inside every child is a story waiting to be told.
Our storyteller is ABC 11 news anchor Barbara Gibbs.
I'll be reading National Geographic Kids Why?
Over 1111 Answers to Everything by Crispin Boyer.
Why do I ask why?
Thank that amazing brain of yours for your uncontrolled curiosity.
Not only does this wrinkly mess of gray matter control all your body's automatic functions breathing blinking food processing, the beating of your heart but it also empowers you to laugh cry, create dream, score a three-pointer in basketball, learn paint, beat your sister in Mario Kart and ask questions.
The brain is the master of your nervous system and the source of your personality.
No other organ in nature is as mysterious.
What exactly is between my ears anyway?
One of your body's largest organs, your brain, is 3 pounds of fat and proteins condensed in a mass with a tofu-like texture.
Its contents come in two colors.
Gray matter, your brain contains about 100 billion nerve cells called neurons.
They make up your brain's gray matter.
White matter.
Your neurons communicate with one another by sending electrical signals and forming chemical connections in a network of nerve fibers called dendrites and axons, which form your brain's white matter.
This communication between neurons is what's responsible for your every thought memory, movement and automatic bodily function.
Silly question. serious answer.
Are gray and white matter really gray and white?
Close enough.
Gray matter has some pink and yellowish tints mixed in.
White matter is really more pinkish.
It turns white when it dies and has been preserved as a lab specimen.
How can I protect my brain?
You have two lungs and two kidneys, but you only have one brain.
Make the most of it and complement its own built-in safety features by following these tips.
Wear a helmet while riding your bike skateboarding, snowboarding or engaging in any other potentially dangerous activity.
Don't smoke.
Not only is it bad for your lungs, but it can cause neurological damage to your brain as well.
Eat well.
A poor diet can lead to illnesses later in life, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure that can cause shrinkage of the brain.
Exercise your body.
Running, playing soccer and other physical activity releases chemicals that refresh your brain and prime it for learning.
Exercise your mind.
Games that test your memory and concentration actually improve your brain's flexibility in processing information and can possibly help you dodge dementia, a disease that affects your mental abilities later in life.
How much of my body's energy does my brain use?
The electrical messages bouncing around your brain at any given time outnumber the messages zipping through the world's telecommunications networks.
All that activity requires enough electricity to power a dim light bulb.
That may not sound like much until you consider the brain uses 20 of the body's energy but is only about 2 of its weight.
What protects my brain from injury?
Your brain is a delicate organ that needs all the protection it can get.
That thick skull of yours is the first line of defense.
Being boneheaded is a good thing.
Followed by three sturdy membranes called meninges.
Fluid fills the gaps between these membranes, cushioning the brain from impacts.
A special blood brain barrier made of special cells acts like a security perimeter in the brain's circulatory system and keeps out anything that might contaminate your sensitive network of neurons.
Whenever you get in trouble for doing something totally lame-brained, blame your lame brain.
It hasn't finished developing yet.
Scientists discovered that the white matter connecting your frontal lobes, which control your decision-making process, to the rest of the brain isn't fully formed until you reach your mid-20s.
In other words, your center of good judgment isn't fully wired into your brain yet.
Why do we use only 10% of our brains?
It's a reassuring idea for anyone who thinks they have superpowers or hidden artistic talents.
We could accomplish amazing feats if we could just tap into our unused reserves of gray matter.
It's also a total myth.
We use nearly every part of our brain all the time.
Even a simple activity like brushing your teeth, walking toward the toothbrush, squeezing out just enough toothpaste, keeping track of which teeth you've cleaned as you brush away, activates a small electrical storm across your brain, as the various lobes, cortices and cerebellum work together to brush rinse, spit and remember to floss.
The activity in your brain never stops, even when you sleep.
Wake Med Children's is proud to support the ongoing enrichment of children in our community and beyond through our sponsorship of the Disney Magic of Storytelling podcast.
To learn more about Wake Med Children's, please visit kids.wakemed.org.
