8.8 Regions of the brain

What is the cortex?

Outer layer of the brain

What are some properties of the cortex?

• highly folded

• Divided into two hemispheres

What does the cortex contain?

• contains grey matter

  • cell bodies, synapses, dendrites

What are hemispheres split into?

4 lobes

What are the four lobes called?

Frontal

Parietal

Occipital

Temporal

What is the corpus callosum?

White matter connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

What does the corpus callosum do?

Allows communication between hemispheres

What does the thalamus do?

Routes all incoming sensory information to the correct part of the brain via the axons

What does the hypothalamus do?

Contains the thermoregulatory centre, sleep centre, thirst and hunger centre

Acts as an endocrine gland

Secretes ADH

• Controls water reabsorption and therefore blood concentration

Where is the hypothalamus connected to as well?

Pituitary gland

What does the hippocampus do?

• involved with long term memory

What is the oldest part of the brain?

Brain stem

What does the basal ganglia do?

Selects and initiates stored programmes for movement

What is grey matter?

Mainly nerve cell bodies, synapses, dendrites

What is white matter?

Made up of nerve axons that connect neurones in different parts of the brain.

What does the cerebellum do?

Responsible for balance and coordination of movement

• receives info from primary motor cortex, muscles and joints

What does the midbrain do?

Relays info to the cerebral hemispheres including:

• auditory information to the temporal lobe

• visual information to the occipital lobe

What does the brain stem do?

Extends from midbrain to medulla oblongata

What does the medulla oblongata do?

Regulates bodily processes that we do not consciously control.

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

Decision making, reasoning, planning, conscious emotions, forming associations

What does the primary motor cortex do?

Initiates movements

• Has neurones that directly connect to spinal cord, brain stem and muscles and stores info about how to carry movement.

What does the parietal lobe do?

Orientation, sensation, calculation

What does the occipital lobe do?

Processing information from eyes: vision, shape, recognition, perspective

Where is the contains primary visual cortex?

Occipital lobe

What does the temporal lobe do?

Processing auditory information: hearing, sound, recognition, speech (left lobe)