Brain Structures & Functions

Cerebral Cortex: The outer layer of the brain involved in complex mental functions like perception, thinking, and decision-making.

Frontal Lobe: Controls executive functions, decision-making, motor control, and expressive language.

Parietal Lobe: Processes sensory input such as touch, temperature, and pain.

Temporal Lobe: Involved in auditory processing, language comprehension, and memory.

Occipital Lobe: Primarily responsible for visual processing.

Corpus Callosum: A thick band of nerve fibers that connects the brain's two hemispheres, allowing communication between them.

Limbic System: A group of interconnected structures responsible for emotions, memory, and arousal.

• Amygdala: Involved in processing emotions, especially fear and aggression.

• Hippocampus: Critical for the formation of new memories.

• Hypothalamus: Regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

• Thalamus: Relays sensory information to the appropriate areas of the cortex.

Basal Ganglia: Involved in movement regulation and habit learning.

Cerebellum: Coordinates voluntary movements, posture, and balance.

Brainstem: Controls basic life functions like breathing and heart rate.

• Medulla Oblongata: Regulates autonomic functions like heart rate and breathing.

• Pons: Assists in motor control and sensory analysis; involved in sleep and arousal.

• Midbrain: Involved in visual and auditory processing and motor control.

Reticular Activating System (RAS): Arouses the cortex and screens incoming information; involved in sleep-wake cycles.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex: Plays a role in emotion regulation, impulse control, and decision-making.

Prefrontal Cortex: Associated with planning, personality, and social behavior.

Broca’s Area: Controls speech production (usually in the left frontal lobe).

Wernicke’s Area: Involved in language comprehension (typically in the left temporal lobe).