Brain Structures and Scans

Brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Pons

Part of brainstem that controls sleep and arousal

reticular formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

Cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

limbic system

neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

Thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking, body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion

cerebral cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

somasensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

occipital lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

temporal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

frontal lobe

The lobe at the front of the brain associated with movement, speech, and impulsive behavior.

parietal lobe

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

Wernicke's area

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

Broca's area

Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cortex

CT scan

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain

fMRI

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

EEG

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

MEG Scan

a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity

PET Scan

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

lesion

tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue