The Brain

Definition

• The brain = part of the central nervous system (CNS), controls complex behavior.

• Different parts of the brain carry out different functions

Main Parts of the Brain & Functions

• Cerebral cortex

  • Controls consciousness, memory, language.

    

• Cerebellum

  • Coordinates, balance, co-ordinates movement.

    

• Medulla

  • Controls unconscious activities (e.g. breathing, heartbeat, digestion).

    

• Hypothalamus (Triple content)

  • Regulates temperature, links to the pituitary gland.

• Pituitary gland

  • Master gland, releases hormones that act on other glands.

Difficulties of Studying the Brain

• Brain is very complex → difficult to work out which area carries out what function

• Protected by skull → tricky to access

• Brain is very delicate → easy to damage

• Methods used to investigate the brain:

  • Previous cases of brain damage: By seeing where the damage has taken place they can try to link that part of brain with function

  • Electrical stimulation: electrodes stimulate parts of brain to see effects on behavior.

  • MRI scans: detailed brain images, show areas active during tasks (e.g. listening, movement).

✅ Key takeaways:

• Brain is part of CNS.

• Know structure and functions (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, medulla, hypothalamus, pituitary).

• Methods of study: brain damage, electrical stimulation, MRI.

• Brain treatments are difficult because of complexity and risk.