Memory is a complex function that involves multiple steps, starting with the input of the stimulus to the brain and ending with independent memory retrieval.

Discovering a new lump or bump on your skin can be frightening. When located behind the ear, those bumps could be anything from an infection, such as mastoiditis, to an allergic reaction, such as dermatitis. Only your doctor can diagnose you properly and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

A certain amount of potassium is required by all cells, but too much can be harmful and even fatal. Potassium overdose usually causes no symptoms until the blood potassium rises above 6.5 or 7.0 meq/L. When present, symptoms typically involve the nerves, heart or digestive system.

The brain is a remarkable and complex structure responsible for thinking skills. Several parts of the brain work together in a sophisticated manner to integrate information and develop thoughts.

Speech and other language abilities are lateralized brain functions, meaning they are all located on one side of the brain. For most people, the left hemisphere controls language.

Itchiness behind the ears can be because of a number of causes ranging from allergies to infections. To properly treat itchiness, also called pruritis, you should consult a doctor for a definitive diagnosis.

When you exercise, many physiological changes take place to make sure your muscles have enough oxygen to do their job. You blood vessels are able to widen and narrow to redirect the flow of oxygenated blood to your exercising muscles.

The effect of caffeine on fertility has been debated through the decades. While the connection between heat and reduced sperm count seems clear, there is no similarly clear relationship for caffeine.

The human body is comprised of trillions of cells. Over 200 types of cells make up the organs, bones, muscles and nervous system. All the cells have similarities, such as a membrane on the outer surface and organelles--structures that perform cellular functions--within the cell.

Carbohydrates are your body’s most efficient fuel source, and it is the only source of fuel for certain vital tissues such as your brain and blood cells. Therefore, your body has ways of storing the carbs you eat for future use.

When you exercise, your respiratory rate increases. This is true regardless of whether you exercise by stationary methods such as weight lifting, or by a traveling method such as jogging or biking. Clearly, an active body needs more oxygen than a body at rest.

Ankle tendinitis refers to short-term inflammation of the tendons that surround the ankle joint. Tendons are fibrous tissue that connect muscle to bone and enable movement of the joint. Thirteen tendons cross the ankle joint. Ankle tendinitis can occur with increased use or an ankle injury, such as a sprained ankle.