[Unit 1] The Brain

The Brain

central processing and coordinating organ

parts: FMH

Forebrain

controls higher functions
parts: CL

Cerebral cortex

controls cognition

parts: FPOT

Frontal Lobe

Controls logic

• Broca’s Area: speech production

• Motor cortex: skeletal motor function

Parietal Lobe

Controls touch and kinesthesia (body awareness)

Occipital Lobe

Controls vision

Temporal lobe

Controls hearing

• Wernicke’s Area: speech recognition

Limbic System

controls emotions, senses, and memory

parts: PHHA

Pituitary gland

endocrine system (releasing hormones)

Hippocampus

short-term memory → long-term memory

Hypothalamus

maintains homeostasis

Amygdala

aggression and fear

Midbrain

Controls simple movements and senses

• Thalamus: relays sensory and motor info

Hindbrain

controls basic biological structures

parts: MPRC

Medulla

involuntary motor functions

Pons

movement and sleep

Reticular formation

arousal (waking up)

Cerebellum

voluntary motor functions

Hemispheres of the brain

Left = logic & language; right: emotion & space

• Corpus callosum: connects hemispheres

Plasticity

brain adaptation

Brain Tests

tests for

types: CEMPF

CT Scan

X-rays → cross-sections; “form”

EEG

measures electrical output

MRI

3D image of the brain; “form”

PET Scan

radioactive tracers; “function”

fMRI

bloodflow; “function”