PSYCH202 - Brain parts and function

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain; responsible for higher-level thought, reasoning, language, and consciousness.

Corpus Callosum

Connects left and right hemispheres of the brain; allows communication between them.

Frontal Lobe

Involved in planning, judgment, motor control, emotions, and language.

Motor Cortex

Located in the frontal lobe; plans and coordinates voluntary movement.

Prefrontal Cortex

Part of the frontal lobe; responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and higher-level thinking.

Broca’s Area

Located in the left frontal lobe; essential for speech production; damage causes difficulty speaking.

Parietal Lobe

Processes physical sensations such as touch, temperature, and pain.

Somatosensory Cortex

Part of the parietal lobe; processes touch and body sensations (touch map of the body).

Temporal Lobe

Processes hearing, memory, language, and emotion.

Auditory Cortex

Located in the temporal lobe; processes sound information.

Wernicke’s Area

Located in the temporal lobe; comprehends language; damage causes nonsensical but fluent speech.

Occipital Lobe

Processes visual information; contains the primary visual cortex.

Thalamus

Relay station for sensory information (except smell).

Hypothalamus

Regulates hunger, thirst, temperature, blood pressure, hormones, and sexual motivation.

Limbic System

Emotional and memory processing system of the brain.

Amygdala

Processes emotions, especially fear and aggression.

Hippocampus

Forms new memories and supports learning.

Midbrain

Controls alertness, sleep/wake cycle, and motor activity.

Reticular Formation

Part of the midbrain; regulates arousal and alertness.

Substantia Nigra

Produces dopamine; involved in movement control.

Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)

Produces dopamine; associated with reward, mood, and addiction.

Hindbrain

Region controlling survival functions.

Medulla

Controls heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure.

Pons

Connects the brain to the spinal cord; regulates sleep.

Cerebellum

Coordinates balance, movement, motor skills, and procedural memory.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Neurotransmitter for muscle action and memory; increases arousal and cognition.

Beta-Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that reduce pain and increase pleasure; decrease anxiety and tension.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter for mood, sleep, learning, movement, and reward; linked to pleasure; low levels = Parkinson’s, high activity = schizophrenia.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

Main inhibitory neurotransmitter; reduces anxiety, tension, and aids sleep.

Glutamate

Main excitatory neurotransmitter; enhances memory and learning.

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter for alertness and stress response; increases arousal and suppresses appetite.

Serotonin

Regulates mood, sleep, and appetite; low levels linked to depression.