The Cerebral Cortex is split into four LOBES, with half of each one on the left, and half of each one on the right: The FRONTAL LOBE The PARIETAL LOBE The OCCIPITAL LOBE The TEMPORAL LOBE

The Frontal Lobes are the portions of the cortex lying just behind the forehead Mostly involved in abstract thought, speaking, muscle movements, making plans, and judgments

The Frontal Lobes

In the left frontal lobe specifically, there is an association area called Broca’s Area

Broca’s Area controls language expression and the muscle’s involved with producing speech

Sensory Motor Integration Along the top of both frontal lobes runs the motor cortex Sensory Motor Integration

The motor cortex sends messages back to the muscles of the body in order to control voluntary movements.

The Parietal Lobes are the portion of the cortex lying at the top of the head, and includes the sensory (or somato-sensory) cortex

The sensory cortex registers and processes touch sensations, temperature, pressure.

The parietal lobes play important roles in integrating sensory touch information, and in the handling and manipulation of objects.

The Temporal Lobes are the portions of the cerebral cortex roughly located above the ears The functions of the temporal lobes are generally specific to audio processing, and may extend to comprehension, naming, verbal memory and other language functions.

In the left temporal lobe specifically, there is an association area called Wernicke’s Area

Wernicke’s Area interprets both written and spoken language.

Aphasia is a disorder of either Broca’s or Wernicke’s areas. You may be able to comprehend, but cannot intelligibly communicate, or vice-versa.

Broca’s Aphasia - Broca's aphasia characterizes patients as people who have loss the production of complete sentence structures in speech and writing. Wernicke’s Aphasia - Individuals with Wernicke's aphasia speak in long, uninterrupted sentences; however, the words used are frequently unnecessary or even made-up. They have a great deal of difficulty understanding other people's speech, sometimes to the point of being unable to understand spoken or written language at all.

The Occipital Lobes are located at the back of the head. The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information.

Collectively, the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and the amygdala are known as the Limbic System as well

The THALAMUS receives sensory input from all of the senses except smell, and routes it to the proper area of the brain for processing

The HYPOTHALAMUS is responsible for several maintenance activities, including eating, drinking, body temperature, and sexual arousal

The HYPOTHALAMUS also relays communication between the brain and the endocrine system, via the pituitary gland, and then monitors the hormones released into the bloodstream

The HIPPOCAMPUS is essential to transferring short term memory to long term memory

The AMYGDALA: Processes and recognizes emotions, especially those tied to anger, disgust, fear Emotional aspects of memory stored here

II. The Midbrain The Midbrain is located in the center of the brain and connects the forebrain to the hindbrain. It assists in: Motor control Hearing Alertness and sleep/wake cycles Temperature regulation

The RETICULAR FORMATION runs from the spine up and through the midbrain and connects to the thalamus. It is responsible for: Visual tracking Relaying audio and visual information to the cerebellum Pain sensations Attentiveness and consciousness Selective attention

III. The Hindbrain

The hindbrain is the oldest and innermost region of the brain The hindbrain is the oldest and innermost region of the brain. It independently controls most life-sustaining functions of the body.

There are three brain areas associated with the Hindbrain: Medulla Cerebellum Pons

The point at which the spinal cord enters the skull is called the MEDULLA. It is responsible for: Involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.

Extending from the rear of the brainstem is the CEREBELLUM The CEREBELLUM coordinates voluntary movements and fine motor skills

The PONS is responsible for Sleep Respiration Swallowing Bladder control Eye movement Facial expressions Posture Sleep paralysis Generates the dreams of REM sleep