Parts of the Brain (AP Psych)

Pons

Helps coordinate the right and left sides of the body.

Cerebellum

Coordinates voluntary movements and balance. Ex: playing piano or kicking a ball.

Medulla

Controls vital reflexes. Heart rate, breathing, digestion are the big ones. Others include: vomiting, coughing, sneezing, and swallowing.

Reticular Formation

For sleep and arousal. The "on and off" switch for the body when it sleeps.

Frontal Lobe

Lies just behind the forehead, involved in speaking, muscle movements, and making plans and judgments.

Occipital Lobe

Used for seeing/vision.

Parietal Lobe

Lies at the top of the head toward the back, part of the cerebral cortex. Receives sensory input for touch and body position.

Temporal Lobe

Used for hearing.

Hypothalamus

Controls the four F's: fight, flight, feeding, and procreation (you get it).

Hippocampus

Used as a storage bin for short term memories before they turn into long term memories.

Amygdala

Used for emotion. People with a damaged _________ might not be able to recognize emotions on people's faces.

Pituitary Gland

Responsible for hormone releases.

Thalamus

Processes information from all the senses except for smell.

Sensory Cortex

Processes touch and movement sensations. Receives information from the left side of the body, but is on the right side of the brain.

Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movement. It's on the left hemisphere, but controls the right side of the body.