Three main parts of the brain
Forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain
Parts of the forebrain
Cerebral cortex, thalamus, limbic system
Cerebral cortex
- Makes up 80% of the human brain
- involved with: thought, planning, perception, and consciousness
- Divided into two hemispheres, each hemisphere has four lobes
The four lobes of the cerebral cortex
Frontal: Attention, planning, thinking creativity
Houses the primary motor area
The primary motor area sends signals to the CNS
Parietal: Sensation and perception of touch
Houses the somatosensory cortex
Temporal: Strong role in hearing
Houses the primary auditory cortex
Occipital: Strong role in vision
Houses primary visual cortex
Thalamus
- Relay center of the brain
- All messages to the primary sensory areas first go through the thalamus
Limbic System
Hippocampus: role in learning and memory
** think taxi driver
Hypothalamus: master of major drives ( hunger, thirst,
sexual behavior)
Controls the pituitary gland
Amygdala: processes emotional info, especially fear
Cingulate gyrus: role in attention and cognitive control
Basal Ganglia : role in voluntary motion
Nucleus Accumbens: Part of the basal ganglia
Role in reward
Midbrain
- Controls eye muscles
- Processes visual and auditory info
- Involved with voluntary movement
Hindbrain
Pons: REM sleep
bridge
Medulla: automatic reflexes
breathing
heart rate
blood pressure
Cerebellum: “little brain” because part of brain with most
neurons
movement and balance
fine motor skills
learning
language
Integrates sensory info
Reticular formation
- Network of nerves that run through the hindbrain and the midbrain
- important in arousal (waking up and falling asleep)
Parts of the brainstem
- midbrain
- pons
- medulla
