PARTS OF THE BRAIN

FUNCTION OF THE BRAIN

Organ in the body that allows: thought, emotions, movement, dreams, etc.

Control center for the body

Runs everything the body does

CEREBRUM

Makes up 85% of the brain’s mass/weight

Thinking part of the brain

Controls your voluntary muscles (those muscles you have control over)

FRONTAL LOBE True center for control

in the brain Responsible for

reasoning, problem solving, judgment, impulse control, motor control, memory and higher level emotions (empathy and altruism)

Last to develop when a young adult

Front part of cerebrum

PARIETAL LOBE

Responsible for processes such as pain and touch

Also responsible for movement, speech, recognition, orientation, and cognition (calculating the location and speed of objects)

Found directly behind frontal lobe in cerebrum

OCCIPITAL LOBE

Responsible for visual sense and processing

Found at back of cerebrum

TEMPORAL LOBE

Responsible for auditory (sound) sensation and language recognition

Also involved in emotion, memory, and speech

Found below other parts of cerebrum and towards center of brain

CORPUS CALLOSUM

Neural bridge connection both hemispheres

Located in the center of the brain

Hypothesized that right have of brain controls left half of body and vice versa

CEREBELLUM

Controls balance, movement, posture, and coordination

Also involved in learning movement

Found at the back and bottom of the brain

BRAIN STEM

Responsible for all functions your body needs to stay alive (such as breathing, digesting food, circulating blood, etc.)

Controls all involuntary (you have no control over) functions

PONS

Responsible for level of arousal and consciousness, and sleep

Also relays sensory information to/from the brain

Also involved in controlling autonomic body function (things you don’t think about)

Top half of brain stem

MEDULLA OBLONGATA

Helps body control autonomic functions (like respiration, digestions, and heart rate)

Also relay station for nerve signals going/to and from brain

Bottom half of brain stem

PITUITARY GLAND

Produces and releases hormones into your body that are linked to growth

HYPOTHALAMUS

Linked to pituitary gland to control body functions

Monitors and controls your circadian rhythms (daily sleep/wake cycle), homeostasis (inner balance in body, including temperature), appetite, thirst, other bodily urges and also plays a role in emotions, autonomic functions, and motor functions

THALAMUS

The relay station of the brain

Most sensory signals like sound and vision, go through this organ on their way to other parts of the brain for processing

Also plays a function in motor control

AMYGDALA

Latin for almond (which relates to its shape)

Helps in storing and classifying emotionally charged memories

Plays a large role in emotions, especially fear

Trigger responses to strong emotions like sweaty palms, freezing, increased heart rate/respiration, and stress hormone release

HIPPOCAMPUS

Primary role is in memory formation, classifying information, and long-term memory

Also involved in interpreting incoming nerve signals and spatial relationships

NEURONS AND LEARNING

Neurons are the microscopic cells in the nervous system

When new things are learned the messages travel from one neuron to another

Eventually the brain starts to create connections (pathways) between neurons, so things become easier to do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR4S1BqdFG4