Parts of the brain
| Medulla oblongata | Contains the control centres for the heart and lungs in order to control breathing, swallowing, and heart rate. |
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| Cerebellum | Regulates muscular activity such as posture, movement, and balance. |
| Hypothalamus | Hormones are synthesised here and it controls body temperature, thirst, hunger, and sleep. |
| Pituitary gland | Releases the hormones made in the hypothalamus to regulate bodily functions. |
| Cerebral hemispheres | The centre for high-complexity functions such as language, memory, numerical calculations, decision-making, and emotions. |
| Frontal lobe | Regulates the higher intellectual functions and controls social behaviours. |
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| Parietal lobe | Responsible for movement, spatial awareness, and the sense of touch. |
| Temporal lobe | Involved in speech, memory, and hearing. |
| Occipital lobe | This visual centre is responsible for input from the eyes and helps to judge distance and perspective. |
- Broca's area: controls the production of speech and allows us to be able to communicate what we are thinking.
visual cortex: allows us to recognise patterns and how fast an object might be moving. Processes neural signals from the retinas.
nucleus accumbens: the 'pleasure' part of the brain and is stimulated by things like food and comedy that give us pleasure or laughter. Dopamine is released in this area to cause these feelings and can also be released by cocaine and nicotine.
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