psych brain parts & functions

Lower brain

Lower brain

Consists of pons, medulla, spinal cord, brain stem, hypothalamus, and thalamus.

Thalamus

Relays incoming sensory pathways to appropriate areas of cortex. Determines which sensory information reaches conciousness.

Hypothalamus

Contains nuclei that controls hormonal secretions from pituitary gland. Governs all sexual reproduction, eaying, drinking growth and maternal behavior. Links the nervous system to the endocrine system.

Pons

Contains nuclei that relay movement and balance to the cerebellum cortex. Also maintains breathing, taste, and sleep.

Limbic system

Complex system of nerves in the brain, involving several areas near edge of cortex concerned with instinct and mood.

Amygdala

Linked to fear responces and pleasure. Plays role in decision making and emotional reactions. Part of the limbic system.

Cerebellum

Recieves sensory info from sensory systems and other parts of brain. Coordinates voluntary movement like posture, balance, coordination, and speech. Big part in motor control.

Reticular formation

Contains neurons that maintain arousal, sleep, and conciousness. Plays role in alertness.

Medulla

Regulates blood pressure and breathing most ancient part of the brain, relays information from sense organs.

Hippocampus

Thought to be the center of emotion, memory and the autonomic nervous system.

Pituitary gland

Major endicrine gland. Importent in controlling growth and developement and the other functions of endocrine glands.

Corpus callosum

A broad bans of nerve fibers joining two hemispheres of the brain.

Cerebral cortex

Outer layer of the cerebrum composed of folded gray matter and playing an important role in conciousness. Also helps attencion, perception, thought, and speech.

Frontal lobe

Plays large role in voluntRy movement. Houses motor cortex which regulates activities like walking. Also regulates short term memory, problem solving, social and sexual behavior, judgement, and language.

Temporal lobe

High level of auditory processing. Primary auditory perception, such as hearing and holds primary auditory cortex.

Occipital lobe

Visual processing center of the brain containing visual cortex.

Parietal lobe

Processes sensory information like taste, tempreture, and touch

Motor complex

Part of cerebral cortex in the brain where the nerve impulses originate the initiate voluntary muscular activity.

Somatosensory cortex

Main sensory receptive area for sense of touch, there is a map of sensory space in this location called homunculus.