1. Older Brain Structures

2. Older Brain Structures The Brainstem & Thalamus

3. The combination of the Medulla and the Pons make up what is called the Brainstem. This is the oldest part, and central core of the brain.

4. The nerves from each side of the body cross over in this structure to opposite sides.

5. The Medulla controls life-sustaining functions such as heartbeat, breathing and swallowing.

6. The pons is above the medulla and acts as a bridge between the lower part of the brain and the upper part. It helps coordinate movement of the body.

7. The reticular formation runs through the medulla and the pons and controls our general level of attention and arousal.

8. The thalamus sits atop the brainstem and is the sensory control center
The thalamus sits atop the brainstem and is the sensory control center. It receives information from all the senses (except smell) and routes it to the higher brain regions.

9. Thalamus: like a massive intersection

10. Older Brain Structures The Cerebellum
The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance, enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

11. Older Brain Structures
All of the Old Brain functions occur without conscious effort.
Our brain processes most information outside of our awareness.

12. The Psy-1 blue book refers to these structures as the Hindbrain.

13. The Limbic System
Doughnut-shaped neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus
Associated with emotions and drives.

14. The Limbic System The Hippocampus
Curved structure located within each temporal lobe Responsible for the formation of conscious memories such as the storage of memory for location of objects.

15. The Limbic System The Amygdala
Two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system
Linked to emotion
Fear
Aggression

16. The Limbic System The Amygdala
Stimulate the amygdala in one spot, a cat will engage in fight-or-flight activity. Stimulate in a different spot, it will be afraid of just about anything. Amygdala Video

17. The Limbic System The Hypothalamus
Located below (hypo) the thalamus. Helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland. Directs several autonomic maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature).
It is also a “pleasure center” of the brain.

18. Rats will cross an electrified grid just to press a pedal that stimulates their hypothalamus.
Left alone, pressed up to 7000 times per hour until they dropped from exhaustion!

19. Remembering the Limbic System
ypothalamus A
mygdala T
halamus
Hippo
campus