psycology - brain structure and function

cerebrum

• largest part of the brain

  • divided into two hemispheres (cerebral hemispheres")

• areas in cerebrum control muscle functions, speech, thought, emotions, reading, writing

cerebral cortex

wrinkled outer layer of brain

• responsible for complex functions like thought, language, memory, perception

• brains “gray matter”

• contrains frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobe

cerebellum

• coordinates motor function and positional info from inner ear + muscles

  • helps maintain BALANCE

thalamus

relay station for sensory pathways carrying visual, auditory, taste, and somatosensory info to and from appropriate areas of cerebral cortex

• exception of smell

• doesn’t process the info but moves it to the correct parts

hypothalamus

controls autonomic functions and maintains homeostasis

• monitors important states: hunger, thirst, temp, blood pH

• also important in endocrine system by secretion of hormones that interact with hormones from pituitary gland

  • AKA controls pituitary gland

pituitary gland

important gland of endocrine system

• releases hormones —> growth and reproductive

• controlled by hypothalamus

corpus callosum

thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain

• plays crucial role in interhemispheric communication

• allows information and signals to travel between left/right sides of brain

hippocampus

converts short term memories into long term memories

• wraps around thalamus

• declarative memory (not performative)

• saves but doesn’t store memory —> stored all around brain

midbrain

plays crucial role in fundamental functions like vision, hearing, motor control, regulating alertness, sleep and waking, maintains muscle tone and posture through involuntary muscles

• uppermost part of brainstem —> located between fore/hind brain

pons (bridge)

transmits messages between the cerebrum and the cerebellum

• vital part of brainstem 

• plays crucial role in motor control, sensory processing, sleep, arousal, etc.

medulla (medulla oblongata)

regulates heart rhythm, blood flow, breathing rate, digestion, vomiting

• located in brainstem at the bottom

ventricles

series of interconnected cavities that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

• protect, nourish, and remove wast products from the brain

limbic system (AHH)

neural system that consists of the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and pituitary gland

• associated with emotions and drives (hunger, thirst)

amygdala

emotional center of the brain

• influences aggression and fear

• coordinates fight or flight response (sympathetic)

• teenagers use this a lot

Broca’s area

important for speech production

• located in left frontal lobe

Wernicke’s Area

important in language comprehension

• located in left temporal lobe

somatosensory cortex

processes sensory information from the skin, muscles, joins

• plays crucial role in perceiving and interpreting sensation such as a touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception

• located in parietal lob —> band

Motor cortex

plans, controls, and executes voluntary movements by sending signals to the body’s muscles

• primary output area for movement commands and is essential for coordinated actions 

• different areas map to different body parts to enable precise muscle control

• located in frontal lobe —> band

reticular formation

network of neurons in the brainstem responsible for arousal, alertness, attention, and regulating sleep-wake cycles

• allows you to wake up, stay focused, filter sensory information, and respond to important stimuli (like name called)

• inside pons, medulla

prefrontal cortex

plays crucial role in planning, decision making, impulse control, controlling emotions, attention critical thinking

• located in front part of brain at skull

parietal lob

process somatosensory information (touch, pain), integrates sensory input, spatial awareness, navigation, attention

• taste, temperature, touch

• located at top and back of head

temporal lobe

important for hearing, selective listening, receives sensory info (sounds/speech), understanding speech

• located on the lower part of head below ears

occipital lobe

plays a crucial role in visual processing

• helps you understand what your eyes are seeing 

• lobes are fast to process rapid information

• located at back and bottom of brian