BRAIN INJURY 101 TUTORIAL LOL

I decided to share some of my research today.. a little BRAIN INJURY 101 ..... lol!

Frontal Lobe

The frontal lobes of the brain include everything in front of the central fissure. They can be
divided into a narrow motor “strip” which curves over the top of the head like a hairband, and the
pre-frontal lobes, which are the much larger parts of the frontal lobes anterior to the motor strip. At
the very front sit the frontal poles— regions that are particularly vulnerable to injury since they sit
just inside the front of the skull near a rough bony area. The frontal lobes have extensive connections
with many brain regions, especially with the parietal lobe and the limbic system (emotions).
The motor strip sends signals down to the muscles of the body, telling them what to do. For the most
part, the right frontal lobe controls the muscles on the left side of the body and the left frontal lobe controls the muscles on the right. For this reason, injury to one side of the frontal lobe often causes weakness or even paralysis on the opposite side of the body. Yet there is much more to the human frontal lobes, since the prefrontal cortex contains many of the neurons we associate with the broad spectrum of human behavior.
Before a final “decision” is made about a motor action, the prefrontal cortex judges options,
predicts likely outcomes, and decides the best course of action for the body to take. When the
prefrontal cortex is injured or damaged, an individual's ability to synthesize signals from the
environment, assign priorities, make decisions, initiate actions, control emotions, behave and interact
socially, make plans, and other executive–like functions is severely compromised. While injury to
any designated part of the brain creates problems, injury to the prefrontal lobes is especially
debilitating since the frontal cortex is where ideas are initiated and these ideas have to "go"
someplace. It is as if the entire personality changes; a person does not seem to be "like" the person
they once were. The prefrontal lobes are also very important for motivation. Since so much of
everyday life involves movement and motivational states, individuals with injured prefrontal lobes
may exhibit a host of complex problems in their activities of daily life..
The prefrontal cortex also helps hold information in memory for several minutes—so-called
working memory. Damage to this region makes it more difficult for a person to keep their mind
focused on a task, or pay attention to more than one task. Neuroscientists are telling us that the
prefrontal cortex is responsible for the ability to learn from consequences. If the frontal lobes are

injured, the person may not be able to “learn from mistakes” and repeat unwanted behaviors over and over again.

For example, staff may sometimes find that warning a person with prefrontal lobe damage about
the consequences of a behavior works less well than helping them see the circumstances that usually
come before that behavior – that is, using an “antecedent” based behavior model (i.e., what is
happening before the water goes over the dam). Once the antecedents are known, the things that can
lead up to an unwanted behavior can sometimes be eliminated or modified, thus, preventing the
unwanted behavior from occurring in the first place. Trying to manage behaviors consequentially
after the “water is over the dam” or “the horse is out of the barn” may be less effective for some
individuals with prefrontal lobe injuries.
Prefrontal lobe injuries in young children sometimes go unnoticed, since they are at an age
when parents and teachers function as their frontal lobes in a sense. Teachers and parents
organize, plan, and direct their children’s lives. As the child gets older and enters early
adolescence, they are expected to be more independent and learn to manage themselves
over time. In the child with a brain injury, the capability for more independent frontal lobe
functioning has been diminished by the earlier injury.
Located at the very front part of the frontal lobes (right over one’s eyebrows) is the prefrontal
cortex. The prefrontal cortex, in particular, is responsible for various emotional responses to
circumstances. Rather than just responding to situations intellectually, individuals respond with
delight, anxiety, hope, pessimism or a range of other higher level emotions. Neuroscientists are
telling us that the prefrontal cortex is responsible for the ability to learn from consequences. If the

frontal lobes are injured, the person may not be able to “learn from mistakes” and repeat unwanted

behaviors over and over again.

Children may begin to experience a lack of control over a wide range of behaviors not because
they are misbehaving, but because their frontal lobes are not responding at a level that is
developmentally appropriate. Attempts to merely discipline or punish children with frontal lobe
injuries do not help them understand or compensate for their loss. Ways to deal with complex
behaviors using antecedent management strategies need to be taught to children just like new
learning or memory strategies would be introduced and taught.

Makes me understand a little better... I guess lol!

PRAYER WARRIORS we got another request to pray for a friend: prayforluke.com
This was my post on her blog:
I don't even know where to begin but reading your blog puts me right back where I was a little over a year ago and all the emotions have come rushing back in. I am on the upside well downside of my roller coaster ride...THANK GOD and Alex continues to progress daily in the right direction. I am praying and praying and praying for you, your family and your precious little boy, Luke. STAY STRONG IN YOUR FAITH.... HE IS IN TOTAL CONTROL, this I do know. I cry with you when you speak about wanting to live another life, not wanting to take the bumpy path.... I felt like it was so surreal when i was going thru it myself. I WANTED OUT! I wanted everything to go back to the way it was prior to January 6th, 2010. I wanted MY OLD ALEX BACK... and still to this day... mourn the loss of the Alex i once had. I don't know why this is happening.... only HE knows. I have asked Him to bring you and your family peace and comfort and to wrap his arms around you with His love. If you need anything at all.... Please do not hesitate to contact me as I would love to be a shoulder to cry on or lend you an ear to vent. God Bless you and give you the strength and energy to get you thru .... minute to minute...hour to hour and day to day. Sending you big hugs... Lisa Dillard/ mom of Alex Ross, the teen who was shot in the head Jan of 2010. :0)


WOW... sooo many feelings rushing back in by reading her blog.  I am so very lucky and as she and I both know.... "A MOMENT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE....FOREVER".  Thank you Lord for continuing to work in and thru Alex.  Thank you for your daily blessings that you bring to me and my family.  I know that things could always be worse and am truly thankful that we are finally on the UPSIDE or rather DOWNSIDE of this roller coaster ride.  I give you all the Glory, Honor and Praise... AMEN!

Matthew 15:28Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

 I gave it all to you God and you answered my prayer.  THANK YOU!

Feeling lucky today and very thankful for my many blessings.  Have you thanked HIM today?

PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!

Lisa