The Biological Basic of Behavior - Anatomy of the Brain

The Hindbrain


Location: is positioned at the back and lower part of the brainstem.

• It contains structures that control basic functions, such as breathing and heart rate

• Medulla Oblongata

• Pons

• Brain Stem

• Cerebellum

What are the main structures of the Hindbrain?

Medulla Oblongata


• Controls autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure

• the lowest part of the brainstem, connecting the brain to the spinal cord

Pons

• Relays signals between the cerebellum and the rest of the brain.

• Involved in regulating sleep and arousal.

Brain stem


"stalk” the lower part of the brain the connects the spinal cord to higher region of the brain

Cerebellum

• Coordinates voluntary movements

• Maintains balance and posture.

The Midbrain


Location: Central part of the brainstem, above the hindbrain.

• Involved in auditory, visual processing, and eye movement

• Tectum

• Tegmentum

• Cerebral Penducles

What are the main structures of the Midbrain?

Tectum

• Processes visual and auditory information.

Includes the superior colliculus (visual processing) and the inferior colliculus (auditory processing).

Tegmentum

Contains the red nucleus and substantia nigra, which are involved in motor control.

• Integrates sensory information and regulates motor responses.

Cerebral Peduncles


• Large bundles of fibers at the front of the midbrain.

Pathways for motor signals from the cortex to the pons and spinal cord

Forebrain

• The largest and most anterior part of the brain.

Function: Involves voluntary movement, reasoning, impulse control, language, and speech.

• Diecephalon

• Telecephalon

What are the main functions of the Forebrain?

Cerebral Cortex


The outer layer that consists of cerebral hemispheres, which account for two-thirds of the brain’s total mass

Corpus Callosum


a network of nerve fibers that are connects the to right and left hemispheres of the brain

Cerebrum

Involved in higher cognitive functions: thought, reasoning, sensory processing, and voluntary motor activities

• Frontal

• Pariental

• Temporal

• Occipital


What are the lobes in the Cerebrum?

Frontal Lobe


Planning of movements, working memory--events that happened very recently

• Executive Functions: Planning, decision-making, and problem- solving.

• Personality and Behavior: Regulation of emotions and social behavior.

Pariental Lobe


• Sensory

Integration of sensory information from the body through the primary somatosensory cortex.

Temporal Lobe


• Auditory

Primary auditory cortex, responsible for processing sound.

Thalamus

Acts as a relay station for sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex.

• Processes and transmits information to different parts of the brain.

Hypothalamus

Regulates homeostasis: helps manage your body temperature, hunger and thirst, mood, sex drive, blood pressure and sleep.

• Hippocampus

• Amygdala

• Cingulate Gyrus

• Pineal Gland

What are the components under the Hypothalamus?

Hippocampus

Function: Memory formation

Amygdala

Function: Emotion, particularly fear and pleasure

Cingulate Gyrus


an arch-shaped brain structure that is part of the limbic system

• Function: Emotion, behavior, and cognitive processing

Pineal Gland


a pea-shaped gland that regulates sleep

Left Hemisphere


Typically associated with logical reasoning, language processing, and analytical tasks.

Right Hemisphere


Generally linked with creativity, spatial awareness, and holistic thinking

Electroencephalography (EEG)

measures electrical activity in the brain by placing electrodes on the scalp.

• records the brain’s electrical signals in real-time, providing a continuous stream of data.

Electroencephalography (EEG)

What method of studying the brain is this?

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

What method of studying the brain is this?

What method of studying the brain is this? 

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)


What method of studying the brain is this? 

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)


What method of studying the brain is this? 

Computed Tomography (CT)


What method of studying the brain is this? 

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)


What method of studying the brain is this? 

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)


What method of studying the brain is this?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)


What method of studying the brain is this? 

Invasive Techniques


What method of studying the brain is this? 

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

measures the magnetic fields generated by neuronal activity using highly sensitive magnetometers.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)


detects changes in blood flow and oxygenation levels in the brain, which are associated with neuronal activity.

• It provides detailed images of brain activity over time.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)


involves injecting a radioactive tracer into the bloodstream, which emits positrons.

• detected to create images of brain activity based on glucose metabolism or other markers.

Computed Tomography (CT)


uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the brain.

• often used to identify structural abnormalities such as tumors or bleeding

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)


uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of brain structures.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)


A type of MRI that maps the diffusion of water molecules in the brain, allowing visualization of white matter tracts and connectivity.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)


involves using magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.

• can temporarily disrupt normal brain activity and is used to study brain function and causality.

Invasive Techniques


involve placing electrodes directly on the brain or within it to record neuronal activity.

• They are used in research and clinical settings, particularly in epilepsy treatment.

• Thalamus

• Hypothalamus

What are the main components of the Limbic System?