The Brain

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The Brain

• Module 08

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I. Lower-Level Structures

• Brainstem, Thalamus, and Cerebellum

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A. Brainstem

• The oldest part of the brain
• Responsible for automatic survival functions

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1. Medulla

• Controls heartbeat and breathing
• Damage to this area can lead to death.

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2. Reticular Formation

• Controls alertness
• Damage to this area can cause a coma.

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B. Thalamus

• The brains sensory switchboard -- directs
  messages from sensory organs to the correct area
  of the brain

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C. Cerebellum

• Helps coordinate voluntary movements and balance
• Damage to this area can cause loss of fine motor
  skills
• Small yet controlled, skilled movements such as
  writing or playing guitar

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II. Limbic System

• Helps regulate memory, aggression, fear, hunger,
  and thirst
• Includes Hypothalamus, Hippocampus, and Amygdala

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A. Hypothalamus

• Regulates eating, drinking, body temperature,
  libido, and the fight or flight reaction

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B. Hippocampus

• Part of the limbic system that helps us form new
  memories
• Looks like a seahorse
• Hippo is Greek for horse.

If you saw a hippo on campus, youd never forget
it!
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C. Amygdala

• Controls emotional responses such as fear and
  anger
• Damage to this area could result in violent,
  aggressive behavior

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III. Cerebral Cortex

• Module 8 The Brain

• The bodys ultimate control and information
  processing center

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A. Corpus Callosum

• Connects the two brain hemispheres
• Is sometimes cut to prevent seizures

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B. The Four Lobes

• Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, and Temporal

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1. Frontal Lobes

• Located just behind the forehead
• Involved in personality, making plans and
  judgments

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2. Parietal Lobes

• Involved in making associations
• Located behind the frontal lobes

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3. Occipital Lobes

• The primary visual processing area
• Located in the back of the head
• Damage to this area could result in loss of vision

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4. Temporal Lobes

• Auditory (sound) information is first processed
  here
• Located above the ears

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Cerebral Cortex
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Cerebral Cortex
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Cerebral Cortex
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Cerebral Cortex
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IV. Hemispheric Differences

• Module 8 The Brain

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A. Left Hemisphere

• Spoken language is one of the clearest
  differences between the two hemispheres.
• For most people, language functions are in the
  left hemisphere.

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1. Brocas Area

• Located in the frontal lobe, usually in the left
  hemisphere
• Responsible for the muscle movements of speech
• Damage to this area causes problems in expressing
  thoughts in spoken language

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PET Scan of Brocas Area
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Brocas Area
This is the brain of Tal from whom Broca
discovered the area for speech.
Note the damage to Brocas Area.
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2. Wernickes Area

• Located in the temporal lobe (usually on the left
  side)
• Gives us the ability to understand what is said
  to us

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PET Scan of Wernickes Area
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B. Right Hemisphere

• Spatial skills - being able to perceive or
  organize things in a given space, judge distance,
  etc.
• Relationships and emotions

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Left Brain language, math, reasoning
Right Brain emotion, relationships, music
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C. Plasticity

• The ability of the brain tissue to take on new
  functions
• Greatest in childhood
• Important if parts of the brain are damaged or
  destroyed

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V. Imaging Techniques

• CAT Scan X-rays taken from different angles of
  the brain
• MRI computer generated images of soft tissue in
  the brain
• EEG electrodes on the scalp measure waves of
  electrical activity in the brain
• PET a visual display of brain activity based on
  glucose (blood sugar)

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The End

• Any questions?