Brain Structure and Function

Hindbrain

Controls basic biological functions; “life support system”

Medulla Oblongata

Controls blood pressure, heart rate, breathing

Pons

Connects hindbrain with midbrain/forebrain; controls facial expressions

Cerebellum

“Little brain”; coordinates habitual muscle movements

Midbrain

Coordinates simple movements with sensory information

Reticular Formation

Controls arousal and attention; malfunction → coma

Forebrain

Controls thought, reason; “what makes humans human”

Thalamus

Receives sensory signals and sends them to correct forebrain areas

Hypothalamus

Controls metabolic functions: temperature, hunger, thirst, endocrine system

Amygdala

Vital to emotion

Hippocampus

Vital to memory processing; damage prevents new memories

Cerebral Cortex

Gray wrinkled surface; densely packed neurons

Fissures

Wrinkles that increase surface area

Contralateral Control

Right hemisphere controls left body, and vice versa

Corpus Callosum

Connects the two hemispheres

Association Area

Not sensory or motor; involved in complex thought and behavior

Frontal Lobe

Large areas at top front behind the eyes

Prefrontal Cortex

Directs thought processes; abstract thought, emotional control

Broca’s Area

Controls muscles for speech production

Wernicke’s Area / Temporal Lobe

Processes sound; Wernicke’s area handles language comprehension

Parietal Lobes

Located behind frontal lobe; contains sensory cortex

Sensory Cortex

Vertical strip receiving incoming touch sensations

Occipital Lobes

Back of brain; processes vision