Brain as Control Center

The brain is an organ inside your head that controls everything your body does. A control center is the main place where all decisions are made and all actions are directed. Your brain is like the control center of a spaceship, sending commands to every part of your body.

The brain controls your movements when you run, jump, or write. It also controls things you do not think about, like breathing and your heartbeat. When you touch something hot, your brain receives a message—information sent from one part of the body to another—from your skin and tells your hand to move away quickly. Your brain stores your memories, which are things you remember from the past, and helps you learn new things every day.

Your brain also receives information from your five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. These senses send messages to your brain about what is happening around you. Your brain decides what to do with this information. For example, when you see a ball coming toward you, your brain tells your arms to catch it.

Different parts of the brain handle different jobs, but they all work together. The skull, the hard bone that covers your brain, protects this important organ because the brain is soft and can be easily damaged.

Interesting Fact: Your brain contains about 86 billion nerve cells called neurons, and it uses about 20% of your body's energy even though it only makes up about 2% of your body weight!