Functions of Major Brain Structures

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for higher cognitive functions like reasoning, planning, and problem-solving. controlling voluntary movements.

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory information like touch, temperature, and pain. It also plays a role in spatial awareness and coordination.

Temporal Lobe

Involved in auditory processing, memory, and language comprehension. The hippocampus and amygdala are located here, influencing memory formation and emotional responses.

Occipital Lobe

Primarily responsible for visual processing. It interprets information from the eyes, such as color, shape, and motion.

Cerebellum

Coordinates voluntary movements, balance, posture, and fine motor skills. It also plays a role in some cognitive functions like attention and language.

Broca's Area

Located in the frontal lobe, it is crucial for speech production and articulation. Damage to this area can result in difficulty speaking.

Amygdala

Involved in processing emotions, especially fear, anger, and pleasure. It plays a role related to emotional experiences.

Thalamus

Sensory information relay center. Also for motor signals. Processes and transmits information related to sensations like touch, pain, and vision.

Hypothalamus

regulates creation and release of different hormones. maintain homeostasis

Pituitary Gland

Known as the 'master gland,' it produces hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction, and other endocrine functions. It is controlled by the hypothalamus.

Wernicke's Area

Located in the temporal lobe, it is involved in the comprehension of speech and language. Damage to this area can result in difficulty understanding language.

Pons

involved in regulating breathing, sleep, and arousal. plays a role in relaying signals between different parts of the brain.

Medulla Oblongata

Controls autonomic functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. coordinates reflexes

Hippocampus

Critical for memory formation, especially long-term memory, and spatial navigation. It helps convert short-term memories into long-term memories.

Corpus Callosum

A thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing them to communicate with each other.

Pineal Gland

Produces the hormone melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles and circadian rhythms.

Spinal Cord

Transmits neural signals between the brain and the rest of the body. It also controls reflexes and basic motor movements.

Midbrain

Involved in vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake cycles, and arousal. It is also crucial for the coordination of movement and the processing of visual and auditory information.