AP Psych Brain Structures

corpus callosum

band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard; the message goes to your ears and that is how you know what to do

hypothalamus

controls your drives (hunger, sex drive, thirst, sleep cycle), bodily maintenance

pituitary gland

pea-sized organ at the base of the brain that makes and releases essential hormones

spinal cord

a bundle of nerve tissue that runs from the base of the brain down the center of the back, acting as the main communication highway between the brain and the rest of the body

cerebral cotex

the outer layer of the brain's cerebral hemispheres made of interconnected neural cells (sensations)

cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

pons (brainstem)

an area of the brain that controls your ability to go through the sleep cycle and breathing

medulla (brain stem)

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

reticular activating system (RAS) (brainstem)

helps with your ability to wake you up; alertness