*Central Nervous System

Central Nervous System (CNS)

  • Function: The CNS is responsible for processing all information received from our sense organs and reacting accordingly.

Brain

  • Role: The brain interprets, initiates, and regulates behavior, coordinates movement, and supports mental processing.

Spinal Cord

  • Function: Carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body, encompassing:

    • Motor commands

    • Sensory information

Brainstem

  • Description: Considered a more ancient part of the brain, present in most animals.

  • Function: Controls essential automatic functions including:

    • Breathing

    • Sleeping

    • Moving

Hindbrain

  • Function: Regulates automatic activities, specifically:

    • Breathing

    • Heart pumping

    • Digestion

Midbrain

  • Role: Coordinates movement with sensory input.

Forebrain

  • Components: Contains critical structures for emotion regulation and behavior.

    • Thalamus/Hypothalamus: Acts as a bridge between the forebrain and brainstem; regulates emotions and behavior.

    • Limbic System: Involved in regulating emotional experiences and expressions, impulse control, and basic drives. Key components include:

    • Hippocampus

    • Cingulate Gyrus

    • Septum

    • Amygdala

    • Basal Ganglia: Controls motor activity.

Cerebral Cortex

  • Overview: Comprises 80% of neurons in the CNS and consists of two hemispheres:

    • Left Hemisphere: Primarily responsible for verbal and cognitive functions.

    • Right Hemisphere: Primarily involved in perception.

  • Lobes:

    • Frontal Lobe: Responsible for thinking, reasoning, memory, and image creation.

    • Parietal Lobe: Recognizes sensations and touch.

    • Temporal Lobe: Recognizes various sights and sounds and is critical for long-term memory.

    • Occipital Lobe: Integrates and makes sense of visual stimuli.