travel_exploreDiscovery · Brain and nerves

🧠 Brain and nerves

How does my brain send messages to my body? Simple, true brain and nerves facts for young children, each with a fun fact, a tiny activity and a question to talk about together.

Tap a question to reveal the answer, share the fun fact, try the tiny activity, then talk about it together.

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How does my brain send messages to my body? Revealexpand_more

Your brain is like the busy control room of your body, and it talks to every part of you through a network of tiny wires called nerves. When you decide to wiggle a toe, your brain fires off a message that races down the nerves so fast that your toe moves almost the instant you think it.

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Talk about itWhat is something your body does without you having to think about it at all?

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Did you know?Messages zoom along your nerves faster than a car speeds down a motorway.

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Try itAsk someone to say "go", and wiggle your fingers the moment you hear it. That tiny delay is your brain sending the message.

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🧠🤕Why do we feel pain?⚡Why does my leg kick when the doctor taps my knee?💫Why do I get dizzy when I spin around?

🤖Still curious?How does my brain remember things I learned a long time ago?arrow_forward

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Why do we feel pain? Revealexpand_more

Pain is your body's alarm system, and it is actually trying to help you. When you touch something too hot or bump your knee, tiny sensors send an urgent message to your brain saying stop, and that hurt makes you pull away before you get harmed more.

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Talk about itWhy do you think it is useful that a hot stove feels painful to touch?

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Did you know?A few rare people are born unable to feel pain, and they have to be extra careful because they miss that helpful warning.

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Try itThink back to the last time something hurt. What did the pain make you do straight away?

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🧠🧠How does my brain send messages to my body?⚡Why does my leg kick when the doctor taps my knee?🩹How does a cut heal itself?

🤖Still curious?Why does a small papercut sometimes hurt more than a big bruise?arrow_forward

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Why does my leg kick when the doctor taps my knee? Revealexpand_more

That quick kick is called a reflex, a move your body makes all by itself without waiting for your brain to decide. Some messages take a shortcut straight through your spine so your body can react in a flash, which keeps you safe when there is no time to think.

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Talk about itCan you think of a time your body moved before you even decided to?

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Did you know?Blinking when something comes near your eye is a reflex too, and you do it faster than you could ever do on purpose.

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Try itHave a grown-up gently tap just below your kneecap while your leg hangs loose, and watch your foot pop up on its own.

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🧠🧠How does my brain send messages to my body?🤕Why do we feel pain?💫Why do I get dizzy when I spin around?

🤖Still curious?Why can we control some movements but not our reflexes?arrow_forward

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Why do I get dizzy when I spin around? Revealexpand_more

Deep inside your ears is a tiny bit of liquid that sloshes about as you move and helps your brain know which way is up. When you spin fast and stop, the liquid keeps swirling for a moment, so your brain thinks you are still turning and the room seems to spin.

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Talk about itDo you like the dizzy feeling from spinning, or does it bother you?

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Did you know?The same tricky liquid is why some people feel wobbly on a rocking boat.

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Try itSpin around a few times, then stand still and notice the dizzy feeling fade as the liquid in your ears settles.

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🧠🧠How does my brain send messages to my body?⚡Why does my leg kick when the doctor taps my knee?👂Why do we have two ears?

🤖Still curious?How do dancers spin so much without falling over?arrow_forward

🧠 Brain and nerves

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