parts of the brain + functions

amygdala

regulates fear and fight or flight reactions

aphasia

a condition affecting broca’s and wernicke’s area

auditory cortex

processes most auditory/sound information

broca’s area

controls the formation of speech; responsible for the mouth muscles involved in speaking

cerebellum

“little brain”; controls balance, posture, and fine motor movement

cerebrum

the largest part of the brain; contains all cortexes and lobes; the “outer” part of the brain; develops last and latest in life; controls all conscious thought

corpus callosum

the “bridge” between the two hemispheres; damage causes split brain syndrome; allows communication between hemispheres

frontal lobe

manages complex thought; personality, complex emotions, decision making, planning, self-control, voluntary movement/muscle control

hippocampus

controls memory; converts short-term memory in long-term; associates sensory information with memory

hypothalamus

regulates hormones; controls temperature, mood, hunger, thirst, sex drive, and sleep/tiredness

medulla

regulates essential, constant, involuntary bodily functions; heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, digestion

motor cortex

processes and controls movement and general motor function

occipital lobe

processes visual information; facial recognition, depth perception, spatial orientation

parietal lobe

processing touch, taste, and temperature; integrating sensory information; spatial information;

pituitary gland

controls all hormone signaling throughout the body

plasticity

the ability for the brain to change and adapt throughout life; adapt to potential damage or alteration

pons

influences sleep cycle; manages pain signals; relays information to other parts of the brain

reticular formation

managing consciousness and arousal; relays pain signals and other information throughout the brain

sensory cortex

processes all sensory information

temporal lobe

processing sound, forming memories, and understanding language

thalamus

relay center for all incoming and outgoing motor and sensory information

visual cortex

processes all visual information

wernicke’s area

area of the brain responsible for language comprehension