NERVOUS SYSTEM (LOBES OF THE BRAIN AND LIMBIC SYSTEM AND EMOTIONS), LECTURE EXAM)

• Brainstem

• Cerebellum

• Diencephalon

• Cerebrum

The brain has four main regions

Medulla oblongata:

Controls heart rate, breathing, swallowing, vomiting, and reflexes like coughing or sneezing

Pons

Acts as a bridge between cerebrum and cerebellum; assists in breathing and swallowing

Midbrain

Coordinates eye movement, pupil reflex, and head movement toward sound.

Reticular formation

Maintains alertness, regulates sleep–wake cycles

Cerebellum ("Little Brain"):

• Attached to brainstem.

• Functions:

  • Balance and posture.

  • Coordination of voluntary movements.

  • Smooth, precise muscle activity.

Thalamus

• Relays sensory information to the cerebrum.

• Regulates mood and detects pain

Hypothalamus

• Maintains homeostasis.

• Controls body temperature, thirst, hunger, emotions (fear, rage, sex drive).

• Connects to pituitary gland (endocrine control

Epithalamus

Contains the pineal gland, regulating sleep cycles and emotional responses to smell

Cerebrum (Largest part)

• Divided into right and left hemispheres by the longitudinal fissure.

• Corpus callosum connects hemispheres for communication.

• Gyri: Folds; sulci: shallow grooves.

Frontal Lobe

Voluntary movement, reasoning, mood, aggression, and smell

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory information (touch, pain, pressure, temperature, taste)

Occipital Lobe

Vision and visual processing

Temporal Lobe

Hearing, smell, and memory

Insula

Deep within the brain; associated with taste and internal sensations

Left hemisphere

Logic, language, math, analytical thought

Right hemisphere

Art, music, emotion, spatial ability.

Limbic System

• A group of structures in the cerebrum and diencephalon that control emotions, memory, and motivation.

• Includes:

  • Olfactory cortex

  • Parts of the cerebrum

  • Hypothalamus

  • Thalamus
    
    

Functions:

• Influences emotions and behavior (fear, anger, pleasure).

• Links emotions with memories (emotional learning).

• Involved in motivation and mood.

• Regulates visceral responses to emotions (e.g., heart rate increase when scared).

• Major input from olfactory nerves (explains emotional link to smells).