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Older Brain Structures
Older Brain Structures
The Brainstem & Thalamus
The combination of the Medulla and the Pons make up what
is called the Brainstem. This is the oldest part, and central
core of the brain.
The nerves from each side of the body cross over in this
structure to opposite sides.
The Medulla controls life-sustaining functions such as
heartbeat, breathing and swallowing.
The pons is above the medulla and acts as a bridge between
the lower part of the brain and the upper part. It helps
coordinate movement of the body.
The reticular formation runs through the medulla and the
pons and controls our general level of attention and arousal.
The thalamus sits atop the brainstem and is the sensory
control center. It receives information from all the senses
(except smell) and routes it to the higher brain regions.
Thalamus: like a massive intersection
Older Brain Structures
The Cerebellum
The “little brain” at the rear
of the brainstem; functions
include processing sensory
input and coordinating
movement output and
balance, enabling
nonverbal learning and
memory.
Older Brain Structures
All of the Old Brain
functions occur without
conscious effort.
Our brain processes
most information outside
of our awareness.
The Psy-1 blue book refers to these
structures as the Hindbrain.
The Limbic System
Doughnut-shaped neural
system located below the
cerebral hemispheres
– Hippocampus
– Amygdala
– Hypothalamus
Associated with emotions
and drives.
The Limbic System
The Hippocampus
Curved structure located
within each temporal lobe
Responsible for the
formation of conscious
memories such as the
storage of memory for
location of objects.
The Limbic System
The Amygdala
Two lima bean-sized
neural clusters in the
limbic system
Linked to emotion
− Fear
− Aggression
The Limbic System
The Amygdala
Stimulate the amygdala
in one spot, a cat will
engage in fight-or-flight
activity.
Stimulate in a different
spot, it will be afraid of
just about anything.
Amygdala Video
The Limbic System
The Hypothalamus
Located below (hypo) the
thalamus.
Helps govern the
endocrine system via the
pituitary gland.
Directs several autonomic
maintenance activities
(eating, drinking, body
temperature).
It is also a “pleasure center” of the brain.
Rats will cross an electrified grid just to press a
pedal that stimulates their hypothalamus.
Left alone, pressed up to 7000 times per hour until
they dropped from exhaustion!
Remembering the Limbic System
H ypothalamus
A mygdala
T halamus
Hippocampus