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Overview of Brain Functions and Structure

The brain is the central control module of the body that coordinates tasks like physical motion, hormone secretion, memory creation, and emotion sensation. It is roughly split into four lobes - the temporal lobe processes sensory input and assigns emotional meaning, the occipital lobe processes vision, the parietal lobe integrates sensory information like touch, and the frontal lobe is involved in attention, reward, memory, motivation, and planning. Specific brain regions like the basal ganglia control motor movements, the cerebellum controls precise motor control, and Broca's area is important for language processing. The spinal cord carries information between the brain and body and can generate reflexes and complex movements without brain input.

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91 views4 pages

Overview of Brain Functions and Structure

The brain is the central control module of the body that coordinates tasks like physical motion, hormone secretion, memory creation, and emotion sensation. It is roughly split into four lobes - the temporal lobe processes sensory input and assigns emotional meaning, the occipital lobe processes vision, the parietal lobe integrates sensory information like touch, and the frontal lobe is involved in attention, reward, memory, motivation, and planning. Specific brain regions like the basal ganglia control motor movements, the cerebellum controls precise motor control, and Broca's area is important for language processing. The spinal cord carries information between the brain and body and can generate reflexes and complex movements without brain input.

Uploaded by

agustin savitry
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The brain

The brain is the central control module of the body and coordinates a
multitude of tasks. From physical motion to the secretion of hormones, the
creation of memories and the sensation of emotion.

The brain is roughly split into four lobes, a simplified description of each is
given below:

The brain can be roughly split into four lobes, shown as green, purple,
yellow and pink in this picture.

 Temporal lobe (green): the temporal lobe is important for processing


sensory input and assigning it emotional meaning. It is also involved in
laying down long-term memories in conjunction with the hippocampus.
Some aspects of language perception are also housed here
 Occipital lobe (purple): the occipital lobe is the visual processing region
of the mammalian brain, housing the visual cortex. Damage to the primary
visual cortex can cause blindness

 Parietal lobe (yellow): the parietal lobe integrates sensory information


including touch, spatial awareness and navigation. Touch stimulation from
the skin is ultimately sent to the parietal lobe. It also plays a part in
language processing

 Frontal lobe (pink): positioned at the front of the brain, the frontal lobe
contains the majority of dopamine-sensitive neurons and is involved in
attention, reward, short-term memory, motivation and planning.

The following are some specific brain regions of note with a summary of
their theorized functions. The list is by no means exhaustive:

 Basal ganglia: involved in the control of voluntary motor movements,


procedural learning and decisions about which motor activities to carry
out. Diseases that affect the area include Parkinson's
disease and Huntington's disease

 Cerebellum: (shown in blue in the diagram above) predominantly involved


in fine, precise motor control, but also involved in language and attention.
If the cerebellum is damaged, the primary symptom is disrupted motor
control, known as ataxia

 Broca's area: this small area on the left side of the brain (sometimes on
the right, in left-handed individuals) is important in language processing.
When damaged, an individual finds it difficult to speak but can still
understand speech. Stuttering is sometimes associated with an
underactive Broca's area5
 Corpus callosum: a broad band of nerve fibers that join the left and right
hemispheres. It is the largest white matter structure in the brain and allows
the two hemispheres to communicate. Dyslexic children have smaller
corpus callosums and left-handed people, ambidextrous people and
musicians typically have larger ones6

 Medulla oblongata: extending below the skull, it is essential for a number


of involuntary functions such as vomiting, breathing, sneezing and
maintaining the correct blood pressure

 Hypothalamus: sitting just above the brain stem and roughly the size of
an almond, the hypothalamus secretes a number of neurohormones and
influences a variety of responses including body temperature control, thirst
and hunger

 Thalamus: sitting centrally in the brain, the thalamus receives sensory


and motor input and relays it to the rest of the cerebral cortex. It is
involved in the regulation of consciousness, sleep, awareness and
alertness

 Amygdala: two almond-shaped nuclei deep within the temporal lobe.


They are involved in decision-making, memory and emotional responses,
particularly negative emotions.

Spinal cord

The spinal cord, running almost the full length of the back, carries
information between the brain and body, but also carries out other tasks.
From the brainstem, where the spinal cord meets the brain, 31 spinal
nerves enter the cord.
Along its length, it connects with the nerves of the Peripheral Nervous
System that run in from the skin, muscles and joints.

Motor commands from the brain travel from the spine to the musculature
and sensory information travels from the sensory tissues - such as the skin
- toward the spinal cord and finally up to the brain.

The spinal cord contains circuitry that mediates reflexive responses such
as the involuntary movement your arm might make if your finger was to
come into contact with a flame.

The circuits within the spine can also generate more complex movements
such as walking. Even without input from the brain, the spinal nerves can
coordinate all of the muscles necessary to walk.

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