Brain Regions and Structures

Exam Information

Brain Structure Overview

• Hindbrain: Survival functions (breathing, sleep, coordination)

• Midbrain: Connects hindbrain and forebrain; controls movement, transmits sensory information

• Forebrain: Cognitive activities (decision-making, planning)

The Brainstem

• Medulla: Controls heartbeat and breathing

• Pons: Coordinates movements, controls sleep

• Thalamus: Routes sensory information (excluding smell)

• Reticular Formation: Filters stimuli and controls arousal

Cerebellum

• Known as the "little brain"

• Processes sensory input; coordinates voluntary movements

• Involved in nonverbal learning and memory

• Contains more than half of the brain's neurons

The Limbic System

• Associated with emotions and drives

• Hypothalamus: Controls hunger, thirst, body temperature, sexual behavior; maintains homeostasis

• Amygdala: Linked to emotions such as aggression and fear

• Hippocampus: Processes conscious memories; size and function decrease with age

Cerebrum

• Involved in perceiving, thinking, and speaking

• Comprises 85% of the brain’s weight, divided into two hemispheres

Cerebral Cortex

• Thin layer of neurons covering cerebral hemispheres

• Body's control center and information processing

Lobes of the Brain

• Frontal Lobes: Involved in speaking, muscle movements, planning

• Parietal Lobes: Lies at the top of the head, towards the rear

• Temporal Lobes: Receives information from the ears

• Occipital Lobes: Processes visual information

Motor and Somatosensory Cortex

• Each hemisphere controls opposite sides of the body

• More cortex dedicated to sensitive areas (e.g., hands versus upper arm)

Brain-Machine Interfaces

• Development of cognitive neural prosthetics for paralyzed individuals

• Enables control of robotic arms through thought

Visual and Auditory Cortex

• Auditory Cortex: Located in temporal lobes; receives auditory information

• Visual Cortex: Located in occipital lobes; processes visual input

Association Areas

• Involved in higher mental functions (learning, memory, thinking, speaking)

• Present in all four lobes; allows integration of sensory information

Damage Responses and Neuroplasticity

• Damage to association areas results in specific losses

• Neurons usually do not regenerate; some functions reassign through neuroplasticity

• Neurogenesis: Production of new neurons from stem cells

Corpus Callosum

• Connects the two hemispheres; facilitates communication between them

Split Brain

• Severing the corpus callosum isolates hemispheres

• Each hemisphere can process visual information independently

Neural Measures

• EEG: Measures electrical activity; linked to depression and anxiety

• MEG: Records magnetic fields; used for PTSD

• PET: Tracks glucose use in brain regions during tasks

• MRI: Provides structural brain maps; linked to violence history

• fMRI: Measures blood flow; compares brain activity over time

Conclusion

• Important to understand brain regions for exam success.