Parts & Functions1
Outer layer of the brain, thinking, organizing, and creative center.
Cerebral Cortex
A neural structure lying below the thalamus
Hypothalamus
the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.
Cerebral cortex
An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
Motor cortex (frontal lobe)
"emotional brain" thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus
limbic system
A group of subcortical structures (as the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, and the amygdala) of the brain are concerned especially with emotion and motivation.
Limbic System
An area at the back of each cerebral hemisphere that is the primary receiving area for visual information.
Occipital
A thick band of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and acts as a communication link between them.
Corpus callosum
hearing center located in temporal lobe
Auditory complex (temporal lobe)
two lima bean-shaped neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion
amygdala
Largest and longest lobe in each hemisphere. Association areas are involved with planning, problem-solving, personality, decision making, controlling emotions and speech production
Frontal Lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.
Temporal Lobe
Control of finely coordinated movements. Coordination center, voluntary movement and balance. "Small brain."
Cerebullum
Area of the brain responsible for the initial conscious registration of visual information; the designation of electric (nerve) impulses from the retina
Visual cortex (occipital lobe)
controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe
Wernicke's area (temporal lobe)
Connects the spinal cord to the remainder of the brain and contains many ascending and descending nerve tracts. Consists of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain.
Brainstem
A forebrain structure that processes sensory information for all senses, except smell, and relays it to the cerebral cortex.
Thalamus
A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.
Amygdala
A curved forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and is involved in learning and forming new memories
Hippocampus
A brain area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensations
Somatosensory cortex (parietal lobe)
Located in the upper back half of the brain. Receives and processes sensory information from the body and skin senses as well as other sensory areas in the brain.
Parietal lobe
An extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration.
Medulla
Nerves that run up and down the length of the back and transmit most messages between the body and brain
Spinal Cord
controls language expression-area of the frontal lobe in left hemisphere that directs muscle movements invloved in speech
Broca's Area
most frontal region of the frontal lobe; involved in higher-order cognitive processes (planning, decision making, emotional control)
Pre frontal Cortex