Brain Parts and Functions

Brainstem

Brainstem

The oldest part of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull (the core of the brain). It is responsible for automatic survival functions.

Examples: Breathing, reflexes, hunger/ thirst, excretion, sleep, and heart.

The core of the brain

Medulla

Is the base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing.

Lower part of your brainstem

Pons

Helps coordinate movement and control sleep

Above your medulla

Reticular Formation

A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal/ alertness.

In your brainstem but the nevers

Thalamus

The brain’s sensory switchboard or sensory filter. It directs messages to the sensory areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

The top of the brainstem

Cerebellum

It helps coordinate voluntary movements and balance. It also enables nonverbal learning/memory and sensory input.

Attached to the rear of the brainstem

The Limbic System

Associated with emotions and drives such as fear, aggression and drives for food and sex.

The border of the brainstem and cerebrum.

Amygdala

linked to the emotions of fear and anger.

 A doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebrum.

Hypothalamus

It directs several homeostasis maintenance activities like eating, drinking, body temperature, sexual behavior, sleep and control of emotions. It helps control the endocrine system via the pituitary gland. 

Lies below (hypo) the thalamus.

Pituitary Gland

Manages the rest of the endocrine system. Specifically, it regulates growth.

A small dot directly below your hypothalamus.

Hippocampus

A critical role in the formation, organization, and storage of memories as well as connecting certain sensations and emotions to these memories.

Located in the limbic system

Cerebral Cortex

It is the body’s ultimate control and information processing center. It allows us to think, perceive, learn and have language.

The bark or outside layer of the brain

Structure of the Cerebral Cortex

Each brain hemisphere is divided into four lobes that are separated by prominent fissures. These lobes are the frontal lobe (front/forehead), parietal lobe (top to rear head), occipital lobe (back of head) and temporal lobe (sides of head/by temples/ears).

Frontal Lobe

judgments, planning, decision making, process new memories (short term), speaking (Broca’s area), muscle movements (motor cortex).

Executive functioning is a set of cognitive skills that help people control their behavior and get things done.

Examples: Planning and organization, Attention, Impulse control, Multitasking, and Inhibition

Broca’s Area

Speaking area

Front/ forehead

Parietal Lobe

Enable mathematical and spatial reasoning - location awareness, planning movements, sensory input for touch and body positions (sensory cortex)

Upper back portion of the skull

Temporal Lobe

Recognizing faces (face blind video), language comprehension (Wernicke’s Area), auditory (auditory cortex)

Behind the ears

Wernicke’s Area

language comprehension

Behind the ears

Occipital Lobe

Vision (visual cortex)

Very back of your skull

Motor Cortex

Control voluntary movements.

The area at the rear of the frontal lobe

(Somato)sensory Cortex

Receives information from skin surface and sense organs

In the front of parietal lobe

Visual Cortex

Helps you make visual perceptions.

Located in your occipital lobe.

Auditory Cortex

Helps you make auditory perceptions.

Located in the temporal lobe.

Association Areas

Mental functions like learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

Areas of the cerebral cortex

Left Hemisphere

Analytical, Deliberates over decisions, Language, (reading, writing, speaking), Logical, Quick, literal interpretations of language, Math and Science, Recognizes a word faster than a picture. Left side of the brain

Right Hemisphere

Intuitive, Understands simple requests, Visual – Spatial, Easily perceives objects, Musical ability, Creative, Emotional.

Language Broca’s Area

Controls language expression directs the muscle movements involved in talking/speech. Left frontal lobe

Wernicke’s Area

Controls language reception comprehension or understanding of language. Left Temporal Lobe.