Brain Functions

Frontal Lobe

personality/behavior

intellect/higher thinking

verbal communication

Primary motor cortex

initiation of voluntary control of skeletal muscle

Somatosensory cortex

interpret general sensory input (from skin and joint)

Parietal Lobe

understand speech
formulate words

Occipital Lobe

vision, move eyes

Temporal lobe

interprets auditory input

Insula

Integrate sensation (pain) with visceral response

Wernicke’s area

understands words, integrates what we read/hear to formulate a response

Broca’s area

speaks words, motor speech area that controls muscles of lips, tongue, and larynx to speak words

Damage to Broca’s area

can understand spoken word or written word but slow or difficult articulation

Damage Wernicke’s area

CANNOT understand spoken words but can articulate with nonsensical speech

aphasia

speechless

Basal Nuclei

modify output of descending motor pathways, especially inhibition of muscles

What 2 nuclei are found in the midbrain?

Substantia nigra and the red nucleus

Substantia Nigra

produces dopamine

Red nucleus

in charge of motor coordination
connects cerebrum and cerebellum

Cerebellum

smoothes and coordinates skeletal muscle activity and maintains posture and balance.

Where is new movement activities programmed?

Cerebellum