The BRAIN: Our Control Center

Optic nerve Optic tract Lateral geniculate nucleus Optic radiation Optic chiasm Primary visual cortex

Forebrain-Midbrain-Hindbrain

3 Divisions of the BRAIN ( see transparency) Hindbrain Hindbrain Midbrain Midbrain Forebrain Forebrain

LOCALIZTION FUNCTION All parts of the brain have tasks they are responsible for performing. All parts of the brain have tasks they are responsible for performing.

HINDBRAIN Medulla: responsible for automatic functions such as breathing & heart rate. Medulla: responsible for automatic functions such as breathing & heart rate. Pons: involved in attention, sleeping, waking, & dreaming. Pons: involved in attention, sleeping, waking, & dreaming.

HINDBRAIN Cerebellum: “lesser brain” regulates movement, balance/ coordination, & simple reflexes Cerebellum: “lesser brain” regulates movement, balance/ coordination, & simple reflexes

MIDBRAIN Reticular Activating System: dense network of neurons that screens incoming information; allows us to be conscious/alert; drugs reduce activity Reticular Activating System: dense network of neurons that screens incoming information; allows us to be conscious/alert; drugs reduce activity

Forebrain Thalamus: “inner chamber" relays sensory messages to the cerebral cortex except for the sense of smell Thalamus: “inner chamber" relays sensory messages to the cerebral cortex except for the sense of smell

Forebrain Hypothalamus: “under” involved in emotions and drives such as fear, hunger, thirst, sex, aggression, caring for off spring- problems here lead to unusual eating & drinking Hypothalamus: “under” involved in emotions and drives such as fear, hunger, thirst, sex, aggression, caring for off spring- problems here lead to unusual eating & drinking

Forebrain Pituitary Gland: releases hormones and regulates endocrine glands. Pituitary Gland: releases hormones and regulates endocrine glands. Limbic System: a group of brain areas involved in emotional reactions and motivated behavior Limbic System: a group of brain areas involved in emotional reactions and motivated behavior

PARTS OF LIMBIC SYSTEM Amygdala: regulates emotion; very active when depressed or anxious Amygdala: regulates emotion; very active when depressed or anxious Hippocampus: “sea horse” stores new information in memory Hippocampus: “sea horse” stores new information in memory

Hippocampus

The Brain: Our Universe Within Memory & Renewal Directions: While viewing the video clip, respond to the following questions below. 1. What part of the brain is involved in memory? 1. What part of the brain is involved in memory? 2. How do the limbic system & “sea horse” work together to form memories? 2. How do the limbic system & “sea horse” work together to form memories? 3. What part of Jeremy’s memory is lost? What part of Jeremy’s memory remains? 3. What part of Jeremy’s memory is lost? What part of Jeremy’s memory remains? 4. What role does the cortex play in memory? 4. What role does the cortex play in memory? 5. Why can Jeremy remember how to perform skills? 5. Why can Jeremy remember how to perform skills?

Forebrain Cerebral Cortex: “bark” thin layer covering the cerebrum; very wrinkled, deep crevasses, higher level functioning, 3 mm thick & contains 2/3 of the brains cells Cerebral Cortex: “bark” thin layer covering the cerebrum; very wrinkled, deep crevasses, higher level functioning, 3 mm thick & contains 2/3 of the brains cells

Corpus Callosum Bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres Bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres

LOBES of the Cortex 4 lobes per hemi 4 lobes per hemi Occipital Occipital Parietal Parietal Temporal Temporal Frontal Frontal

Lobes Responsibilities: Various senses and motor behaviors Various senses and motor behaviors

Occipital Lobes “in back of the head” “in back of the head” Contain visual cortex Contain visual cortex

Parietal Lobes “Pertaining to walls” “Pertaining to walls” Top of brain Top of brain Receive info on pressure, pain, touch, & temperature in the somatosensory cortex Receive info on pressure, pain, touch, & temperature in the somatosensory cortex

Temporal Lobes “pertaining to the temple” “pertaining to the temple” Above ears Above ears Memory, perception, emotion, sound processing Memory, perception, emotion, sound processing Wernicke’s Area of language comprehension Wernicke’s Area of language comprehension

Frontal Lobes Under skull in forehead Under skull in forehead Contains motor cortex which orders 600body muscles Contains motor cortex which orders 600body muscles Broca’s Area of speech production Broca’s Area of speech production

Association Areas Areas responsible for shaping information into meaning wholes. Areas responsible for shaping information into meaning wholes. Example: area in frontal lobe near the forehead is also known as the “executive area” responsible for problem solving and decision making Example: area in frontal lobe near the forehead is also known as the “executive area” responsible for problem solving and decision making