Parts of the Parts of the BrainBrain

How do we study the brain?How do we study the brain?

•Case study analysis of brain injuries

•IE. Phineas Gage

AccidentsAccidents

Phineas Gage VideoPhineas Gage Video• While you watch think about these

questions:

• What part of the brain deals with emotions

• What part of the brain deals with judgment

LesionsLesions• Lesioning is the removal or

destruction of part of the brain.• IE. Lobotomy

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions• What are the key functions of the

brain?• What are the parts for responsible?

Divisions of the BrainDivisions of the Brain

I. The HindbrainI. The Hindbrain

HindbrainHindbrain

•basic biological functions•3 main parts:

–Medulla–Cerebellum–Pons

Hindbrain partsHindbrain parts•There are three brain areas

associated with the Hindbrain (some parts are associated with Brain Stem):–Medulla–Cerebellum–Pons

Hindbrain partsHindbrain parts•Medulla: breathing, heart rate

and blood pressure…•Cerebellum: coordinates

voluntary movements and balance (along with the BASIL GANGLIA)

•Pons: sleep center (among many other things)

Partner UpPartner Up

•Get a simile summary for the group of two

•You may pick any part of the hindbrain and make up a simile

•Have fun with this!

II. The MidbrainII. The Midbrain

MidbrainMidbrain• located between the hindbrain

and the forebrain•simple muscle movements with

changes in sensory information•hearing and sight•pupil dilation and eyeball

movement

III. The ForebrainIII. The Forebrain

ForebrainForebrain• thoughts and reason• 5 main regions:

– Thalamus– Hypothalamus– Hippocampus– Amygdala – The Cerebral Cortex

Limbic SystemLimbic System

Limbic SystemLimbic System

•includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala

•“emotional brain”–helps regulate memory, aggression, fear, hunger, and thirst

ThalamusThalamus•receives sensory input from all

of the senses except smell•routes input to the proper area

of the brain for processing–“relay center”

•controls the electrical currents in the brain

HypothalamusHypothalamus•maintenance activities:

eating, drinking, fight/flight, and sexual arousal

•(Four f’s)…

•Controls the pituitary gland

HippocampusHippocampus•memory processing

AmygdalaAmygdala

•emotions, especially those of aggression, rage, and fear

•In stressful situations, where teens make some of their decisions

Cerebral CortexCerebral Cortex

• intricate, wrinkled covering of the brain (FISSURES), Covers the brain’s lower level structures

• ultimate control and information processing center

• ~ 30 billion nerve cells

Cerebral CortexCerebral Cortex• In addition to interneurons, it

contains GLIAL CELLS– guide neural connections, provide

nutrients to myelin, and mop up neurotransmitters

Partner UpPartner Up

•Get a simile summary for the group of two

•You may pick any part of the forebrain and make up a simile

•Have fun with this!

Cerebral CortexCerebral Cortex

•split into two halves or Hemispheres:–Right Hemisphere–Left Hemisphere

•The two hemispheres of the brain are connected by the CORPUS CALLOSUM

Hemispheres of the BrainHemispheres of the Brain

VideoVideo• Corpus Callosum

Contralateral ControlContralateral Control

Hemispheric DifferencesHemispheric Differences• “Left-brained” and “right-

brained” debunked• Brain is divided into two

hemispheres but works as a single entity

• Both sides continually communicate via the corpus callosum

PlasticityPlasticity

• The ability of the brain tissue to take on new functions

• Greatest in childhood• Important if parts of the brain

are damaged or destroyed• The Story of Jodie

Split Brain ProceduresSplit Brain Procedures• What is the role of the corpus

callosum?• What happens if we cut the corpus

callosum?

LETLET’’S LOOK AT S LOOK AT THE LOBES!!!!THE LOBES!!!!

•The Cerebral Cortex is split into four LOBES:–The FRONTAL LOBE –The TEMPORAL LOBE–The PARIETAL LOBE–The OCCIPITAL LOBE

Frontal LobesFrontal Lobes

•just behind the forehead•involved in making plans and

judgments•abstract thought, speaking,

muscle movements•“Broca’s area”

Temporal LobesTemporal Lobes

• Found near the ears• Involved in hearing• Memory retrieval

Parietal LobesParietal Lobes

•behind the frontal lobes•general processing, including

mathematical reasoning•association lobes

– synesthesia

•sensation and motor control

Occipital LobesOccipital Lobes

•Located in the back of the head

•The primary visual processing area

Freud Tore (his) Pants OffFreud Tore (his) Pants Off

Motor CortexMotor Cortex

•At the rear of the frontal lobes•Controls voluntary movement

–receives messages from the rest of the brain and then sends messages to muscles

–contralateral

Somatosensory CortexSomatosensory Cortex

• Located in the front of the parietal lobes

• Registers and processes body senses

• Soma is Greek for “body”