The Areas of the Brain

Frontal lobes

These lobes control personality, executive functions, volitional body movement, and expressive language.

Parietal lobes

These lobes are where touch, temperature and pain information reaches consciousness, and where our spatial awareness (mental representation of the environment)comes from

Occipital lobes

These lobes are where the sense of vision reaches consciousness.

Temporal lobes

These lobes are where the sense of hearing reaches consciousness

Insular lobes

Cravings and other emotional responses are triggered in these lobes; referred to by some as the "lust and disgust" lobes

The motor strips

found in the frontal lobes; responsible for voluntary movement of the skeletal muscles

The somatosensory strips

found in the parietal lobes; responsible for sensing touch, temperature and pain sensations of the body

Broca's Area

Located in the left frontal lobe; it is our center for expressive language

Wernicke's Area

Located in the left temporal lobe; it is our center for language comprehension (making sense of the language we hear)

Cerebellum

helps us to balance and coordinate our body movements; works closely with the inner ear (vestibular system), occipital lobes and motor pathways in the brain

Brainstem

controls respiratory functions, swallowing, heart rhythm and rate, blood pressure, and consciousness; bridge of nerves between the cerebrum/cerebellum and body

Hippocampus

Part of the Limbic system; major memory center

Amygdala

Part of the Limbic system; major center for emotional control

Basal Ganglia

Part of the Limbic system; works with the motor strips and cerebellum to create balance in muscle tone and enhance the quality of voluntary muscle movement; area affected by Parkinson's Disease

Thalamus

Part of the Limbic system; the brain's sensory relay center

Hypothalamus

Part of the Limbic system; regulates the endocrine system