Transcript The Brain - hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca

 The
cerebrum or cortex is the largest
part of the human brain, associated with
higher brain function such as thought and
action. The cerebrum controls voluntary
movement, speech, intelligence, memory,
emotion, and sensory processing.

The cerebral cortex is divided into four
lobes:
• The frontal lobe (double face-palm) is
associated with reasoning, planning, parts of
speech, movement, emotions, and problem
solving.
• The parietal lobe (hands on head) is associated
with movement, orientation, recognition,
perception of stimuli.
• The occipital lobe (getting comfortable) is
associated with visual processing.
• The temporal lobe (“I’m not listening” ) is
associated with perception and recognition of
auditory stimuli, memory, and speech.
 The
corpus callosum is the part of the
mind that allows communication between
the two hemispheres of the brain. It
is responsible for transmitting neural
messages between both the right and left
hemispheres.
 The
limbic system, often referred to as
the "emotional brain", is found buried
within the cerebrum. This system
contains the thalamus, hypothalamus,
amygdala, and hippocampus.
 The
thalamus is often referred to as the
switchboard of the brain. Almost all
sensory information enters this structure
where neurons send that information to
it’s final destination. Axons from every
sensory system (except olfaction)
synapse here as the last relay site before
the information reaches the cerebral
cortex.
 The
hypothalamus is involved in
functions including homeostasis,
emotion, thirst, hunger, circadian
rhythms, and control of the autonomic
nervous system. In addition, it controls
the pituitary.
 The
amygdala is located in the temporal
lobe; involved in memory, emotion, and
fear.
 The
hippocampus is part of the temporal
lobe. This part of the brain is important
for learning and memory, for converting
short term memory to more permanent
memory, and for recalling spatial
relationships in the world about us.
 The
cerebellum, or "little brain", is
similar to the cerebrum in that it has two
hemispheres and has a highly folded
surface or cortex. This structure is
associated with regulation and
coordination of movement, posture, and
balance.
 The
brain stem is located underneath the
limbic system. This structure is
responsible for basic vital life functions
such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood
pressure.
 Scientists say that this is the "simplest"
part of human brains because animals'
entire brains, such as reptiles, resemble
our brain stem. The brain stem is made of
the midbrain, pons, and medulla.
 The
midbrain, or mesencephalon, is
involved in functions such as vision,
hearing, eye movement, and body
movement. The anterior part has the
cerebral peduncle, which is a huge
bundle of axons traveling from the
cerebral cortex through the brain stem
and these fibers (along with other
structures) are important for voluntary
motor function.
 The
pons is part of the metencephalon in
the hindbrain. It is involved in motor
control and sensory analysis. For
example, information from the ear first
enters the brain in the pons. It has parts
that are important for the level of
consciousness and for sleep. Some
structures within the pons are linked to
the cerebellum, thus are involved in
movement and posture.
 The
medulla oblongata is responsible for
maintaining vital body functions, such as
breathing and heart rate.
 Broca's
area is usually associated with
the production of language, or language
outputs .
 Wernicke's area, which is located in the
temporal lobe, is associated with the
processing of words that we hear being
spoken, or language inputs.