A
Awareness & attention
Meet the brain areas that help us notice, plan, and respond to what is happening around us.
A child-friendly learning library
Big ideas about growing brains, made simple.
Explore how children learn, remember, move, feel, and make sense of the world. Each guide uses clear language to help young learners and the adults supporting them build confident foundations.
Learn at your pace
Small lessons for curious minds
The brain is complicated, but its key jobs can be introduced one piece at a time. Use this site to begin a school topic, refresh a concept, or follow a question together.
About this site
Brain Made Simple is an educational reference for families, pupils, and beginning learners. It explains anatomy and development in accessible terms and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.
Start with the four main lobes of the cerebral cortex: the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. Then connect each area to everyday experiences such as planning, touch, sound, language, and sight.
Pick a starting point
Build a brain map, one letter at a time
These pathways bring together useful first steps for learning about development, senses, memory, movement, and the body’s communication network.
B
Body & balance
Discover how messages travel between the brain, spinal cord, muscles, and balance system.
C
Choices & connections
Learn how the cortex and its linked regions help organise information and actions.
M
Memory & meaning
See how short-term and long-term memory support practice, recall, and learning.
S
Senses & signals
Follow sensory information from receptors to the nervous system and brain.
Z
Zoom out: the whole system
Get a broad introduction to the central and peripheral nervous systems.
How we work
A calm route through a complex subject
01
Choose a question
Begin with a familiar question about thinking, senses, movement, sleep, or memory.
02
Meet the key words
Read a focused introduction and use linked pages to unpack new terms.
03
Connect it to life
Relate each idea to everyday learning, play, communication, and routines.
04
Keep exploring
Use the alphabet library to follow a topic from its basics to the wider system.
Learning in action
Growing brains learn through everyday moments
Conversation, creative play, movement, rest, and patient practice all give children meaningful chances to develop skills.
Learning often starts by noticing, trying, and talking through an idea.
Hands-on play builds new connections
Attention turns observation into discoveryPractice makes patterns familiar
Quiet time supports reflectionReference library
A–Z brain and nervous system guides
Browse the available topics below. Each entry opens a focused guide with definitions, context, and related ideas.
A
- Abducent Nerve
- Accessory Nerve
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Amygdala
- Anatomy of the Nervous System
- Ascending Spinal Tracts
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Autonomic Tracts
B
- Basal Ganglia
- Basal Ganglia: Structure
- Brachial Plexus
- Brain Disorders and Diseases: Overview
- Brain Tumour Overview
- Brainstem
C
- Cerebral Cortex
- Cerebral Ventricles
- Cervical Plexus
- Coccygeal Plexus
- Conscious Sensation
- Corpus Callosum
- Corticospinal Tract
- Cranial Nerves
D
Back to topE
Back to topF
Back to topG
Back to topH
- Hippocampus
- How To Improve Your Memory
- Human Memory
- Human Memory Facts
- Human Morphological Development
- Hypoglossal Nerve
- Hypothalamus
L
Back to topM
Back to topN
- Nerve Supply
- Neurologist Career
- Neuronal Development
- Neuroscience Jobs
- Neurosurgeon Job Description Guide
- Neurotransmitters and Receptors
O
Back to topP
- Parasympathetic Nervous System
- Parietal Lobe
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Peripheral Nervous System
- Postnatal Nervous System Development
R
Back to topS
- Sacral Plexus
- Semicircular Canals
- Sensory Receptors
- Short Term Memory
- Sleep
- Spinal Nerves
- Spinocerebellar Tracts
- Spinothalamic Tracts
- Subthalamus
- Sympathetic Ganglia
- Sympathetic Nervous System
T
- Temporal Lobe
- Thalamus
- The Cellular Laminae
- The Central Nervous System
- The CEO of the Human Brain
- The Cerebellum
- The Cerebrum
- The Dorsal Column
- The Enteric Nervous System
- The Pons
- The Spinal Cord
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Trigeminal Nerve
- Trochlear Nerve
- Types of Brain Injuries
U
Back to topV
Back to topContinue learning
Featured reading paths
Choose a concise guide to begin exploring a particular part of the brain or nervous system.
Core concepts
Brain basics
Messages and movement
Nervous system basics
Helpful questions
A few things families often ask
These short answers can help set expectations when using an educational anatomy resource with children.
Who is this guide for?
It is designed for young learners, families, and anyone beginning to explore brain and nervous system topics. Adults can read alongside children and choose topics that fit their level.
How should we start?
Start with a familiar idea, such as memory, sleep, touch, or balance. Read one short guide, then follow links to related terms when a new question appears.
Are the pages medical advice?
No. The pages are educational references. For questions about a child’s health, development, or care, speak with an appropriately qualified professional.
Why are some topics challenging?
The nervous system has specialised vocabulary. Each page is a chance to meet a few terms in context rather than trying to memorise everything at once.
Can this support school learning?
Yes. The site can help introduce key terms, organise a topic for revision, and prompt further reading. Check school materials for the exact requirements of an assignment.
How can I find a topic quickly?
Use the alphabet library above. It groups subjects by their first letter and links directly to each available guide.
Questions about the site
Keep the learning conversation going.
For general website enquiries, contact the Brain Made Simple team.