The predominance of humans as a species is driven by our extraordinary capacity to learn. Through advances in science and technology, our understanding of the biological elements that facilitate human education has rapidly expanded. From birth to death, our brain is constantly changing itself, responding to new experiences and stimuli from the outside world. The human brain allows us to learn from, adapt to, and interact with the very environment that supports our existence.
Scientific research that supports our understanding of the brain stems from three primary sources. The first source of research comes from studying the anomalous brains of patients who have sustained a brain injury, stroke, or a debilitating condition that has affected specific regions of the brain. Documented changes in behavior, correlated to damage to certain regions of the brain, can facilitate novel insights into its functioning. Secondly, the advent of technologies such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows us to noninvasively scan and study the brains of healthy individuals. Thirdly, many functions and mechanisms of the brain are best understood under the vantage point of evolution.
