The Temporal Cortex :: Brain Neurology Essays

The Temporal Cortex The temporal cortex, also known as the temporal lobes, is the part of the verbal cortex in the left and right hemispheres of the brain lying inside the temples. In general the temporal lobes handle a wide variety of task that are essential to every day functioning. Patient him/herself The temporal lobes are readily recognizable brain structures with a thumb like appearance when viewed from the side. Their name reflects their location beneath the temporal bone on the side of the head. In some ways, the temporal lobes are more a convenient fiction than anatomical entities. They share borders with the occipital and parietal lobes, but the precise boundaries are not clearly defined by landmarks. A better definition of the anatomical limits of the temporal lobe would come from thalamic and intracortical projections and a functional analysis of the various subunits within the lobe. Because excision of the anterior temporal lobe is often used to help control medically intractable seizure disorders, much of our knowledge of the effects of damage to this area comes from studies of persons with epilepsy (Encyclopedia of the Human Brain). The functions of the temporal lobe are: auditory, ventral visual stream, processing of auditory input, visual object recognition and categorization, long term storage of sensory input, Amygdala (adds affective or emotional tone to sensory input and memories), and Hippocampus (cells code places in space and allow us to navigate space and remember where we are) (www.brain place.com/bp/brain system/temporal.asp). The temporal lobe is separated into two sides: dominate and non-dominate. The dominate side of the temporal lobe is usually the left side and is involved in the perception of words, processing language related to sounds, sequential analysis, increased blood flow during speech perception, processing details, intermediate term memory, long term memory, auditory learning, retrieval of words, complex memories, and visual and auditory processing. A patient who is experiencing dominant temporal lobe problems may be suffering from one or more of the following symptoms: decreased verbal memory (words, lists, stories), difficulty placing words or pictures into discreet categories, trouble understanding the context of words, aggression; internally or externally driven, dark or violent thoughts, sensitivity to slights, mild paranoia, word finding problems, auditory processing problems, reading difficulties, as well as emotional instability (www.brain place.com/bp/brain system/temporal.asp). The non-dominate side of the temporal lobe is usually the

Prayer in Public Schools Essay

In the essay named â€Å"Banning Prayer in Public Schools Has Led to America’s Demise† by Gary Bergel, the argument is made that by removing prayer and any form of religious contemplation has caused America to plummet from righteous living, prosperity and success within the last quarter century. He states that from around June 25, 1962, when 39 billion students were forbidden to pray in school, America’s moral decline began to accelerate more rapidly. Bergel supports his claim by stating the main reasons behind the U.S. Supreme Court ruling and by issuing some religious tidbits. Even though Bergel lists some facts and names some general ideas, he has an extremely weak argument for the simple reason of the claims and warrants not being supported with factual or personal evidence. The opposing article that I have chosen is titled â€Å"Argument against School Prayer† by Adam Frucci. Frucci first starts out by saying that the article is not intended to bash God, or Christianity. But its purpose is to argue all forms of religion in schools, high school in particular. He states that high school is a place where you begin to separate from your parents and begin to form your own ideas. Keeping this in mind, it’s the absolute worst place to start forcing values and beliefs on you. He further states that religion will never be non-discriminatory; it can never totally include everyone. There will always be someone who doesn’t fit in simply because of a personal belief, and high school is not the place to institute isolationism and criticism on any level outside of an academic level. Again, I like this article but it is somewhat biased because of the writers status of a student in a catholic high school. I get the feeling that he is really bitter about having the catholic beliefs forced on him†¦but frankly he, or his parents, chose for him to attend the school so he might as well adapt, learn, and become stronger from the situation. Both of the arguments are weak in their own ways and strong in others, and I will attempt to acknowledge most of their faults. Beginning with Bergel’s argument of the demoralization of the US as a result of the removal of prayer from public schools, I get the since that he is very adamant about getting his views across regardless of analyzing the other side of the story. The whole essay is just the ranting and ravings of a bitter Christian. No support is given to his main thoughts anywhere throughout the paper. In all of his main thoughts, he spouts some statistics and information about different factors that have influenced the topic, however there is no substantial evidence of factual data, but rather only his own opinion. In the first section of the essay, he mentions that there has been a decline in family and morality. How does one evaluate a decline in something so abstract and so subjective? It is clear that from here on out, he is making general assumptions based solely on his beliefs. Bergel goes on to argue that removing prayer from school creates the secular system beyond the power of God. This is a faulty argument for the simple Christian fact that if God is all powerful, how can anything be created beyond God’s power. If anything, removal of prayer will keep children from experiencing God in more than a church setting. He also argues that in doing so, religion in being stripped from the lips and minds of children. It’s not restraining a child from totally expressing or acting religiously, it’s simply preventing prayer to be forced on those who aren’t believers. It’s, in essence, protecting the first amendment rights of those affected and moreover, is a gross exaggeration of the case in hand in addition to the fact that religion can’t be totally taken from some one. At a point in the article, he mentions the Engle vs. Vitale Supreme Court case. The whole ruling has nothing to do with keeping kids from learning the religion, it’s concerned with children who aren’t believers of Christianity not being forced to participate in something that they don’t believe in. Bergel seems to forget that the basic principle of separation of church and state is that the US isn’t a professed catholic state therefore it can’t just allow the use of one religion over another in any public arena. The Engle vs. Vitale ruling doesn’t eliminate the learning of religion, it simply doesn’t allow institutions to force the practice of Christianity on kids of other faiths. In general, his rational appears to be based on passionate fervor rather than rational thought and analysis of the Engle vs. Vitale ruling and its surrounding issues. He never pinpoints the issues and examines them within his analysis. He never presents an argument against the opposition but rather rants and raves about what he believes to be right thus stacking the evidence and therefore making it seem as if anything that is in opposition to his beliefs are wrong. In addition, he never mentions anything about his main idea of prayer in school prayer, thus committing a red herring. In Frucci’s article concerning the argument for the removal of school prayer, it has both good and bad aspects to it, thusly providing me with the evidence that this is a stronger argument than that of Bergel. Frucci suggests to us that high school is the worst time to impose such a subject for the simple reason that it’s a time when one is learning about ones self and it’s not the time to impose new mindsets. Firstly, Religion can’t be imposed but rather be encouraged and taught†¦it’s up to the educated whether or not to accept the knowledge. Frucci’s statement is purely circumstantial because people learn at all times of life and new ideas are presented everyday. Therefore, the teaching of religion in schools can only offer more options rather than changing ones whole mindset. In saying that the setting is inappropriate, Frucci is clearly showing signs of his immaturity. In my own opinion, school is the one of the best places to teach religion. The child’s inability to concentrate and focus on the task at had does not warrant removal of school prayer. If that’s the case, school in general should be gotten rid of because of the child’s inherent nature to be easily distracted and loose concentration. One of Frucci’s strongest arguments within the paper is that prayer in schools does create a since of discrimination. However, he takes it to the extreme when saying that the since of community will be ruined because of their nonparticipation. Overall, Frucci’s essay is stronger than Brugel’s in the since of me, the reader, being able to relate to the author’s point of view, as well as the amount of support that was given to each point raised. Frucci’s essay presents more of an argument, as opposed to Brugel’s which is more of an outcry of ideas. However both essays are pretty weak in their persuasiveness, but since I have to choose on, I’d have to say that Frucci’s is the stronger of the two.

Controversial Analysis Drinking Age - 1278 Words

Carolina Quiroga April 02, 2012 Leslie Jones English 102 The Drinking Age and Young Adults. Because underage drinking is a major problem for young adults, the drinking age has become a very controversial issue. In the 1990s, the drinking age was 18, but it was changed to 21 in 1984. The Federal Government informed states to choose between raising the drinking age to 21 or foregoing highway funding. This decision obviously affected 18 to 20 year olds who could no longer buy alcoholic beverages. As in every controversy, there are supporters on both sides. Some argue that at the age of 18, when young adults are able to fight in war and get married, they should be able to make the decision to have a drink. Others say that at the age†¦show more content†¦The controversy of the benefit is that during young adult years the body is still in development, therefore, if you drink at a low age you are more likely to be an alcoholic when you grow up. Drinking is a larger choice than smoking because alcohol reduces your ability to make choices rationally by intoxicating you. Being that if you get drunk you might regret a decision made under the influences of alcohol. Although this article contradicts itself, its effective because it gives you the good and the bad side of underage drinking. It leaves you thinking whether it is right or wrong to drink under the age of 21. The professor from Indiana University, Ruth C, author of Why the drinking age should be lowered: An opinion based upon research, gives us his opinion of how the drinking age should be lowered based upon research. He says that young adults should be able to drink in controlled environments such as restaurants, bars, taverns, official school and university functions. In those situations responsible drinking could be taught through role modeling, Young adults usually do it in a hidden place, for example in house parties, or apartments. Although the purchase age is 21, the majority of college students consume alcohol under the age of 21. This is because they s ee alcohol as a forbidden fruit, a badge of rebellion against authority and a symbol of adulthood. When research was done while the drinking age was 18, the percent statisticsShow MoreRelatedChallenging The Legal Drinking Age1689 Words   |  7 PagesMackenzie Schultz Mrs. Hamilton AP English Language 25 July 2014 Challenging the Legal Drinking Age The Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) has been challenged since the passing of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 that raised the drinking age to twenty-one in all fifty states (Ogilvie). Advocates for lowering the MLDA to eighteen years of age argue that this change will eliminate the thrill of breaking the law for young adults entering college and boost the national economy. SupportersRead MoreShould the Drinking Age Be Lowered to 18? Essay1236 Words   |  5 PagesA very controversial argument amongst Americans is determining that the current legal drinking age which is 21 should be lowered to eighteen or not. Researching the following propaganda made me understand the dangers to the youth and people in America if the drinking age were to lower. Therefore i will argue with whoever disagrees with me that the drinking age should be lowered. Id like to explain six reasons to why the drinking age should not be lowered beginning with the strongest reasons.Read MoreA Short Note On Social Problems With Youth1551 Words   |  7 PagesHim YEUNG Christopher Cook SOC 201 5 Jun 2015 Social Problems Research Paper Why there are so much alcoholic problems with youth in the United States? United States has the highest legal drinking age in countries that drinking are legal though at the same time, we have one of the worst drinking problem in the world. Why? Alcohol abuse are usually defined as having 5 drinks or more in a short amount of time. Some even drink so much that they can be diagnosed under the guidelines that they have mentalRead MoreEssay on Kill the Buzz1250 Words   |  5 Pagesis no shortage of inebriated fans in attendance. How many of these fans actually have a designated driver? Odds are no one makes plans to have a designated driver making them irresponsible consumers. Adults may argue that as long as they are of age then there should be no limitations as to what they can do at these games, but if they are â€Å"responsible† enough to drink then they can be responsible enough to have a sober driver as well. Published last week in the journal of Alcoholism: ClinicalRead More Controversial Television Advertising Essay1498 Words   |  6 PagesControversial Television Advertising We all know from our personal experience that one person’s idea of something offensive often differs from another’s. This essay is to determine the consequences towards negative advertising towards certain controversial products/services and why they are so offensive. All major media organizations need advertising to exist, thats how they pay their bills. At the same time, though, each organization sets its own advertising standards. Some ads a media companyRead MoreShould Coffee Be Benefit Or Harm? Health?1447 Words   |  6 Pages Coffee is one of the most popular beverages all over the world. Many people love the smell and taste of coffee, and rely on it to help them invigorate their brains and keep refreshed. However, whether coffee is benefit or harm to health is a controversial topic that draws people’s attention all the time. As a result of coffee’s popularity, even small health effects may cause significant public health consequences. More and more studies focus on coffee consumption in connection with all-cause andRead Moredrug addiction1059 Words   |  5 Pagesexperience. Becoming 18 years old has been one of the biggest milestones in my life since attending school and playing sports ar Premium2599 Words11 Pages Critical Analysis of Contempory Issues in Drug Addiction Critical Analysis of Contempory issues in drug addiction Armin Smith Introduction For my final project I will discuss 3 Critical Analysis of Contemporary Issues in Substance abuse Armin Smith Topics of Discussion This learner has chosen the following contemporary issues Biological ,Social and Read MoreRhetorical Analysis of an Advertisement Essay712 Words   |  3 PagesRhetorical Analysis of an Advertisement Advertisements are all over the place. Whether they are on TV, radio, or in a magazine, there is no way that you can escape them. They all have their target audience who they have specifically designed the ad for. And of course they are selling their product. This is a multi billion dollar industry and the advertiser’s study all the ways that they can attract the person’s attention. One way that is used the most and is in some ways very controversial is useRead MoreThe Impact Of Stereotypes And Stereotypes1178 Words   |  5 Pagesthe expense of minorities and is generalized to all members of a target group.† Many people around the world use stereotypes as a way to discriminate and generalize individuals and characterize them as part of of biased opinion, thus, causing controversial and social conflicts such as low-self esteem, low expectations, bigotry and prejudice disciplines. Often when people think of stereotypes, they think of the most common stereotypes such as how black people. A racial term that was used to describeRead MoreThe, Concealed Gun And Concealed Guns On Campus1258 Words   |  6 Pagesbecame increasingly evident after the American Revolution. In fact, several colonies in this post- era required students to be armed. Militia laws in both, Rhode Island and Georgia, obliged all men, â€Å"from the age of sixteen† (Cramer, 2014) to be supplied with a musket or other firearms of the age. However, when the need for military preparedness decreased in the mid to late 19th century, policies of colleges throughout the United States were reversed. There was no longer an imperative for male persons