Regions of the Brain
There are four lobes that make up the Cerebral Cortex (the outer most layer) also called the Frontal Cortex: The Frontal Lobe- The left and right frontal lobes sit directly behind the forehead and are responsible for:
The Temporal Lobe- Sit under the Parietal Lobes at the level of your ears and are responsible for speech, sound and parts of memory The Occipital Lobe: Sit in the back of the head and are responsible for vision and recognizing shapes, sizes and color. What is the "use it or lose it" principle? What structures of the brain are associated with this function? FUN FACTS:
|
The Cerebellum
Sits at the back of the brain below the Occipital Lobe. The Cerebellum allows us to have balance, coordination and movement. It controls both emotional and physical coordination... The Brain Stem Considered the oldest or reptilian part of the brain and is comprised of the Midbrain, Pons, & Medulla Oblongata. It is responsible for autonomic functioning such as breathing, heart beat, blood pressure and swallowing. Medulla Oblongata- Forms the lowest part of the brainstem and controls the heart and lungs; connects to the spinal cord.
Midbrain-Also called the mesencephalon (from the Greek mesos, middle, and enkephalos, brain) is associated with sight, sound, motor control, sleep/wake, alertness and temperature regulation. Pons- The message center between several parts of the brain; especially the Cerebrum and the Cerebellum. It plays a key role in REM sleep. What is REM sleep? How many hours of sleep does a teenager require? |
Important Internal Structures Corpus Collosum- A band of nerve fibers that connect the two hemispheres of the brain Amygdala- (Part of the Limbic System) Almond shaped neurons located in the temporal lobe; plays a key role in processing emotions. Hippocampus- (part of the Limbic system)- Named for its shape, the seahorse, it is important in all aspects of memory. The Limbic System- Contains the Hippocampus, Thalamus,Hypothalamus and Amygdala. The limbic system is a set of brain structures located on top of the brainstem and buried under the cortex. Limbic system is involved in our emotions and motivations, especially those related to survival including; fear, anger, and emotions related to sexual behavior. Pre-frontal Cortex- Sits right behind the forehead and is responsible for cognitive flexibility. What is Cognitive Flexibilty? What is the difference between gray and white matter? |