Module 08
The Brain
I. Lower-Level Structures
Brainstem, Thalamus, and
Cerebellum
A. Brainstem
• The oldest part of the brain
• Responsible for automatic survival
functions
1. Medulla
• Controls heartbeat and breathing
• Damage to this area can lead to death.
2. Reticular Formation
• Controls alertness
• Damage to this area can cause a coma.
B. Thalamus
• The brain’s sensory switchboard --
directs messages from sensory organs to
the correct area of the brain
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
II. Limbic System
Helps regulate memory,
aggression, fear, hunger, and
thirst
Includes Hypothalamus,
Hippocampus, and Amygdala
A. Hypothalamus
• Regulates eating, drinking, body
temperature, libido, and the “fight or
flight” reaction
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, you’d never
forget it!”
C. Amygdala
• Controls emotional responses such as
fear and anger
• Damage to this area could result in
violent, aggressive behavior
Module 8: The Brain
III. Cerebral Cortex
•The body’s ultimate
control and information
processing center
A. Corpus Callosum
• Connects the two brain hemispheres
• Is sometimes cut to prevent seizures
B. The Four Lobes
Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, and
Temporal
1. Frontal Lobes
• Located just behind the forehead
• Involved in personality, making plans
and judgments
2. Parietal Lobes
• Involved in making associations
• Located behind the frontal lobes
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
4. Temporal Lobes
• Auditory (sound) information is first
processed here
• Located above the ears
Cerebral Cortex
Cerebral Cortex
Cerebral Cortex
Cerebral Cortex
Module 8: The Brain
IV. Hemispheric
Differences
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.
1. Broca’s 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
PET Scan of Broca’s Area
Broca’s Area
This is the brain of “Tal” from whom Broca discovered the area for speech.
Note the damage to Broca’s Area.
2. Wernicke’s Area
• Located in the temporal lobe (usually on
the left side)
• Gives us the ability to understand what
is said to us
PET Scan of Wernicke’s Area
B. Right Hemisphere
• Spatial skills - being able to perceive or
organize things in a given space, judge
distance, etc.
• Relationships and emotions
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
V. Imaging Techniques
1. CAT Scan: X-rays taken from different
angles of the brain
2. MRI: computer generated images of soft
tissue in the brain
3. EEG: electrodes on the scalp measure
waves of electrical activity in the brain
4. PET: a visual display of brain activity
based on glucose (blood sugar)
The End
Any questions?