Anatomy of the Brain

Cerebellum

Muscle coordination and balance, Posture, Procedural memory

Midbrain

Startle response, Visual reflexes, Produces dopamine

Pons

Relay station between medulla, cerebrum, and cerebellum, Controls breathing rate and depth, Sensory and motor control of the face

Medulla Oblongata

Relay station between brain and spinal cord, Regulates breathing rate and depth, Controls blood pressure and heart rate, Reflexes: hiccupping, coughing, sneezing, swallowing, vomiting

Hippocampus

Long-term memory

Hypothalamus

Main visceral control center, Maintains homeostasis, Regulates: Thirst, Hunger, Sleep-wake cycle, Body temperature, Blood pressure, Heart rate, Sexual activity/arousal, Water balance, Digestive tract motility, Respiration rate and depth, Controls hormone release from the pituitary gland, Pupil dilation

Thalamus

Sensory relay center (except smell) to the cerebral cortex

Corpus Callosum

Connects the two cerebral hemispheres

Amygdala

Long-term emotional memory, Triggers fear and anxiety, Helps navigate danger, Initiates fight or flight response

Olfactory Bulb

Smell- Connects nose to brain’s smell centers, smells evoke strong memories and emotions

Pineal Gland

Regulates sleep-wake cycle, Secretes melatonin (peaks at night)

Temporal Lobe

Face, place, and object recognition, Memory

Frontal Lobe

Reasoning, judgment, Decision making, problem solving, Intelligence and cognition, Long

Parietal Lobe

Object identification by touch, Mathematical reasoning, Spatial awareness

Occipital Lobe

Vision

Auditory Cortex

Hearing

Wernicke’s Area

Language understanding, Damage causes difficulty with comprehension and constructing meaningful sentences

Motor Cortex

Voluntary movement of skeletal muscles

Broca’s Area

Speech production, Damage results in inability to articulate speech

Sensory Cortex

Processes touch, temperature, pressure, and pain