NROSCI Anatomy

Medulla

Function: Normal, Rhythmic Breathing

Location: Bottom Of Brainstem

Pons

Function: Allows the cerebellum to communicate with the brainstem and cerebral cortex

Location: Middle of the brainstem

Midbrain

Function:

Superior colliculi - visual stimuli localization

Inferior colliculi - Auditory stimuli localization

Location: Top of Brainstem

Cerebellum

Motor Planning + Motor Learning, error correction, synapses change with experience

Thalamus

Function: “Relay” for information going to/from neocortex

Location: Rostral to Midbrain [diencephalon]

Hypothalamus

Function: autonomic nervous system regulation; regulates hormone release

Location: Below Thalamus [diencephalon]

Sulci

Gross structure: grooves

Fissure

Deep Sulci

Gyri

rounded regions between sulci

Cerebral Cortex

Function: processing sensory input, initiation/planning of movements, memory, cognition, language “higher-order” functions

Occipital Lobe

Function: Early-stage vision

Parietal Lobe

Function: Somatosensory, late-stage vision

Temporal Lobe

Function: Memory, hearing, language comprehension

Frontal Lobe

Functions: Planning/signaling movements, working memory, inhibition of appropriate behaviors, planning

Central Sulcus

seperates parietal and frontal lobe

Lateral Fissure

separates temporal lobe from surrounding lobes

Longitudinal Fissure

Separates the two hemispheres of the brain

Postcentral Gyrus

part of parietal lobe; primary somatosensory cortex

Precentral Gyrus

part of frontal lobe; primary motor cortex

Limbic System

Function: regulates emotional behavior and emotional interpretation of the world, sexual behavior, and primary reward/punishment center

Hippocampus

Function: Memory consolidation, provide organisms context

Amygdala

Function: coordinate emotional response with autonomic responses

Basal Ganglia

Function: control voluntary, smooth movement

Corpus Callosum

long range neurons that connect two halves of the brain