The Brain and Behavior

Medulla

attached to the spinal cord and controls unconscious, but vital functions

Pons

bridge of fibers that connects brainstem with cerebellum

contains clusters of cell bodies involved with sleep cycle and regulation of breathing

Cerebellum

large, deeply folded structure adjacent to brainstem that is critical to coordination of movement and to sense equilibrium.

Midbrain

segment of brainstem lying between hindbrain and forebrain

area concerned with integrating sensory process such as vision and hearing

Reticular formation

runs through hindbrain and midbrain and contributes to muscle reflexes, breathing, pain perception, and regulation of sleep and arousal

Forebrain

largest and most complex region of the brain

Thalamus

all sensory info (except smell) must pass through on its way to cerebral cortex

Hypothalamus

involved in regulation of basic biological needs

Limbic system

loosely connect network of structures located along border between cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas (folds of the brain)

-involved in regulation of emotions

Hippocampus

involved in formation and organization of long term memories (usually “shipped” elsewhere in the brain), processing of spatial memories

Amygdala

located near the hippocampus and responsible for fear responses and memory of fear

Cerebrum

largest and most complex part that is responsible for learning, remembering, thinking, and consciousness

Cerebral cortex

outer layer of cerebrum

Corpus callosum

hemispheres are seperated and connected by this

occipital lobe

most visual signals sent and visual processing begins here

located at the back of the head

parietal lobe

registers sense of touch and integrates visual input and monitors body’s equilibrium

temporal lobe

devoted to auditory processing

frontal lobe

controls movement of muscles