5.2.2 The Brain

What is the brain made up of?

The brain is made up of many connected neurons and controls complex behaviour. It is part of the central nervous system, along with the spinal cord.

What does the cerebral cortex control?

Consciousness, intelligence, memory, and language; it is the outer part of the brain.

What does the cerebellum control?

Fine movement of muscles; it is the rounded structure towards the bottom/back of the brain.

What does the medulla control?

Unconscious actions such as breathing and heart rate; found in the brain stem in front of the cerebellum.

Why is investigating brain function and treating brain damage difficult?

Because the brain is complex and delicate, easily damaged, drugs cannot always reach the brain due to surrounding membranes, and it is not fully understood which part does what.

How can neuroscientists study the brain?

1) Studying patients with brain damage to observe changes and link them to affected areas. 2) Electrically stimulating different parts of the brain. 3) Using electrodes to study changes in mental or physical behaviour. 4) Using MRI scanning to show active or damaged regions.

What is MRI used for in brain study?

MRI creates images of the brain to show which part is affected by tumours or which parts are active during specific tasks.