Download THE BRAIN The brain can be divided into three main regions

THE BRAIN
The brain can be divided into three main regions: hindbrain,
midbrain, and forebrain.
HINDBRAIN
1. Medulla: has charge of largely unconscious, but vital functions,
including circulating blood, breathing, maintaining muscle tone,
and regulating reflexes such as sneezing, coughing, and
salivating.
2. Pons: Contains several clusters of cell bodies involved with
sleep and arousal.
3. Cerebellum: critical to the coordination of movement and to the
sense of equilibrium. One of the structures first depressed by
alcohol.
MIDBRAIN
1. The midbrain contains an area that is concerned with
integrating sensory processes, such as vision and hearing. An
important system of dopamine-releasing neurons that projects
into various higher brain centers originates in the midbrain.
This dopamine system is involved in the performance of
voluntary movements. (Parkinsonism due to the decline in
dopamine synthesis that occurs in this region).
FOREBRAIN
1. Thalamus: Structure through which all sensory information
(except smell) must pass to get to the cerebral cortex. Made up
of clusters of cell bodies. Plays an active role in integrating
information from various senses.
2. Hypothalamus: Involved in the regulation of basic biological
needs. Lies beneath the thalamus. Controls the autonomic
nervous system. Serves as a vital link between the brain and
the endocrine system. Regulates basic biological drives related
to survival: fighting, fleeing, feeding and mating. Also regulates
thirst and temperature.
3. Limbic system: Loosely connected network of structures located
roughly along the border between the cerebral cortex and the
deeper subcortical areas. Includes parts of the thalamus and
hypothalamus, the hippocampus, the amygdala. Appears to be
rich in emotion-tinged pleasure centers.
Hippocampus: Plays a role in memory processes.
Amygdala: Plays a central role in the learning of fear
responses.
4. Cerebral cortex: Largest and most complex part of the human
brain. Includes the brain areas that are responsible for the most
complex mental activities, including learning, remembering,
thinking, and consciousness.
LOBES OF THE BRAIN
Each cerebral hemisphere is divided into four lobes. Each is
dedicated to specific purposes.
Frontal lobe: contains areas that control the movement of muscles.
The portion of the frontal lobe to the front of the motor cortex, called
the prefrontal cortex, is disproportionately large in humans.
Contributes to higher-order functions, such as memory for temporal
sequences, working memory, and reasoning about relations between
objects and events. It may house some sort of executive control
system thought to monitor, organize, and direct thought processes.
Parietal lobe: includes the area that registers the sense of touch.
Involved in integrating visual input and in monitoring the body’s
position in space.
Temporal lobe: contains the primary auditory cortex.
Occipital lobe: includes the area where most visual signals are sent
and visual processing is begun.