MBB1 - behavioural neuroscience | ANATOMICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THE BRAIN

heelo

rostral (anterior)

towards the beak

caudal (posterior)

towards the tail

dorsal (superior)

towards the back

ventral (interior)

towards the belly

neural axis

imaginary line drawn through spinal cord towards the front of the brain

• the human axis bends as the head is perpendicular to the spine, creating a curvature.

lateral

towards the side

medial

towards the midline

ipsilateral

on the same side of the midline

contralateral

on the opposite side of the midline

corpus callosum

consists of a large bundle of axons that connect the two hemispheres

homotopic (in relation to the corpus callosum)

connects complimentary regions of other hemisphere

heterotopic: (in relation to the corpus callosum)

communicates to different regions

ipsilateral: (in relation to the corpus callosum)

communicates to the same side

callostomy

procedure that cuts the corpus callosum into two, severing the connection between two hemispheres. used to prevent epileptic seizures

forebrain

consists of the telencephalon and the diencephalon

telencephalon

cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system*

diencephalon

thalamus, hypothalamus

TELENCEPHALON - CEREBRAL CORTEX

largest structure of the human brain, two hemispheres

• inner “white matter”: high prop. of axon fibres with a fatty myelin layer

• outer “grey matter”: where neurons and synapses connect

TELENCEPHALON - BASAL GANGLIA

nuclei (including caudate + putamen) responsible for involuntary movement

• if dysfunctional, leads to Parkinson’s (motor issues, delayed movement, etc.)

TELENCEPHALON - LIMBIC SYSTEM

amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, some nuclei in the basal ganglia, cingulate gyrus, fornix, and orbitofrontal cortex. thought to be ‘emotional circut’’

DICENPHALON - THALAMUS

relay station for sensory inputs to cerebral cortex. contains several nuclei

DICENPHALON - HYPOTHALAMUS

ANS + endocrine system. responsible for survival behaviours (mating, fighting etc.)

MIDBRAIN

topmost region of the brainstem. sits directly on top of the hindbrain. The midbrain and hindbrain are located in the brainstem.

MIDBRAIN - MESCENPHALON

connects pons and cerebellum with forebrain

motor movement, movement of the eyes and auditory and visual processing

HINDBRAIN – METENCEPHALON

cerebellum, pons

METENCEPHALON - CEREBELLEUM

receives info from visual, auditory, somatosensory and vestibular (balance) systems.

—> damage to this area causes poorly coordinated movement and issues with balance.

METENCEPHALON - PONS

also known as medulla oblongata

links the hindbrain to the spinal cord and contains neurons important for autonomic processes. neurones