NEUR 1202: Brain Structure and Functions

Cerebrum

Conscious thought

Sensory Processing

Language

Movement

Higher cognitive Functions

Cerebellum

Coordinates movement

Balance

Motor learning

Thalamus

Directs sensory information to appropriate area of the brain

Sensory perception

Hypothalamus 

Regulates hormones and hormone release 

Controls autonomic nervous system 

Medulla

Heart Rate

Breathing 

Circulation 

Involuntary actions (Vomiting, sneezing, etc)

Pons 

Connects brain to spinal cord 

Manages breathing

Frontal Lobe

Reasoning and Logic

Emotional Control 

Motor Function

Cerebral Cortex

Memory

Reasoning

Problem Solving

Sensory perception

Occipital Lobe 

Visual Processing 

Visual Recognition 

Spatial Awareness 

Adrenal Gland

Produces Adrenaline and cortisol

Regulates myelin production

Limbic System

Regulates emotions

Behavior

Motivation

Memory 

Parts of the Basal Ganglia

Caudate Nucleus, Putamen, Globus Pallidus 

Caudate nucleus

Motor control

Emotional Processing

Cognitive Functions 

Putamen 

Motor control

Learning 

Habit formation

Globus Pallidus

Regulates voluntary movement

Modulates non conscious movement

Striatum

Motor control

Decision making

Reward Processing

Midbrain

Motor control 

Auditory processing

Visual Processing

Sleep Cycle

Alertness

Hindbrain 

Breathing

Heartrate 

Blood Pressure 

Sleep 

Motor Activity 

Forebrain

Cognitive Functions

Sensory processing 

Motor Control 

Emotional Regulation

Homeostasis

Brain Stem

Controls heart rate and breathing

Maintains balance and coordination

Regulates sleep cycles

Cingulate Cortex

Emotional regulation

Amygdala 

Processes emotions (fear)

Emotional learning 

Memory 

Behavior 

Hippocampus

Long term memory

Spatial Navigation

Prefrontal Cortex

Executive function

Memory

Attention