Psychology Brain

Brainstem

The base is the medulla. Controls heartbeat and breathing. Above the medulla is the pons which helps coordinate movement and control sleep.

Thalamus

Top of the brain. Brain’s sensory control center receiving information from all senses except smell. Also receives some higher brain replies which directs to the medulla and the cerebellum

Reticular Formation

Neuron network extending from the spinal cord through the thalamus. Filters incoming stimuli and relays important info to other brain areas allowing to multitask. Also controls arousal, if severed would result in a coma.

Cerebellum

Enables nonverbal learning and skill memory. Helps us judge time, modulate emotions, and discriminate sounds and textures. W/ the help with pons it also coordinates voluntary movements. Alcohol could affect coordination.

Limbic System

Lies between old and new regions of the brain. The system is made up of the amygdala, hypothalamus, and the hippocampus.

Amygdala

Linked to aggression and fear. when damaged in aggressive animals they turn into the most mellow creatures. Criminals are linked with amygdala dysfunction.

Hypothalamus

Below (hypo) the thalamus is the HYPOthalamus. Influences are hunger, thirst, body temp, and sexual behavior helps maintain steady (homeostatic) internal state. Reward center is found for eating, drinking, and sex. Link between substance and reward deficiency syndrome.

Hippocampus

Processes the conscious, explicit memories, and decreases in size and function as we grow older. Humans who lose their hippocampus during surgery, they also lose their ability to form new memories of facts and events.