Brain Structures and Functions

Brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; this part is responsible for automatic survival functions

Medulla

controls heartbeat, blood circulation, breathing, muscle maintenance, regulation of reflexes like sneezing/coughing.

Reticular activating system

regulate behavioral arousal, consciousness and motivation (generally control some voluntary movement, eye movement, and some types of learning, cognition, and emotion)

Cerebellum

the 'little brain' at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

Thalamus

the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Limbic System

neural system (includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

Hippocampus

vital to our memory system

Amygdala

The amygdala is the center of emotion and is responsible for fear and aggressive responses

Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus regulates the autonomic nervous system (flight or fight), temperature, hunger, and sex.

Pituitary Gland

the 'master control gland;' controls other glands and makes the hormones that trigger growth

Hemisphere

the brain has two hemispheres, the left and the right. The left controls the right side of the body and the right controls the left side of the body.

Left Hemisphere

specializes in language, speech, handwriting, calculation, sense of time and rhythm

Right Hemisphere

specializes in processing involving perception, visualization, recognition of faces & emotions

Corpus Callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Cerebral Cortex

the outer layer of tissue of the hemispheres, and smaller subcortical structure

Frontal Lobe

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements

Prefrontal Cortex

located at the very front of the frontal lobe, and it controls executive functions or a set of abilities that are needed to control cognitive behaviors. These behaviors include attention, inhibition, working memory, problem-solving and planning.

Broca's Area

is located in the left hemisphere in the frontal lobe.

Broca's aphasia

A condition resulting from damage to the area responsible for speech production and language comprehension.

Parietal Lobe

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.

Occipital Lobe

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields, contains the visual cortex.

Temporal Lobe

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas and helps with hearing and meaningful speech, contains the primary auditory cortex.

Wernicke's area

Located in the back of the temporal lobe near the occipital lobe of the left cerebral hemisphere and is involved in understanding written and spoken language.

Wernicke's Aphasia

A condition resulting from damage to Wernicke's area, affecting language comprehension.

Motor Cortex

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

Sensory Cortex

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

Association Areas

Areas in the cerebral cortex involved in higher mental function.

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization

The arrangement whereby the motor cortex of each cerebral hemisphere is mainly responsible for control of movements of the contralateral (opposite) side of the body.

Split Brain

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them.

Neuroplasticity

Reorganization of neural pathways as a result of experience.

Brain Lesion

Tissue that is destroyed due to disease, traumatic brain injuries, drug abuse, etc.; can be analyzed to determine changes in behavior.