the brain
DESCRIPTION
The Brain. Module 08. 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. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Brain
Module 08
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
III. Cerebral Cortex
Module 8: The Brain
•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
IV. Hemispheric Differences
Module 8: The Brain
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
Right Brain: emotion, relationships, musicLeft
Brain
: language, m
ath, r
easonin
g
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
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