structure and function of brain:

The anatomy of the brain is complex due its intricate structure and fun
ction. This amazing organ acts as a control center by receiving, interpreting, a
nd directing sensory information throughout the body
The brain is made of three main parts: the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.
Forebrain:
the forebrain is the region of the brain located toward the top and front of the
brain and it comprises the cerebral cortex,basal ganglia, limiec system,the tha
lamus nad hypothalamus.
The Cerebrum:
The cerebrum or cerebral cortex is the largest part of the human brain, associat
ed with higher brain function such as thought and action. The cerebral cortex is
divided into four sections, called "lobes": the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, oc
cipital lobe, and temporal lobe. Here is a visual representation of the cortex:
Image of Cerebral Cortex
What do each of these lobes do?
* Frontal Lobe- associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, moveme
nt, emotions, and problem solving
* Parietal Lobe- associated with movement, orientation, recognition, percept
ion of stimuli
* Occipital Lobe- associated with visual processing
* Temporal Lobe- associated with perception and recognition of auditory stim
uli, memory, and speech
The cerebral cortex is highly wrinkled. Essentially this makes the brain more e
fficient, because it can increase the surface area of the brain and the amount o
f neurons within it.
A deep furrow divides the cerebrum into two halves, known as the left and right
hemispheres. The two hemispheres look mostly symmetrical yet it has been shown t
hat each side functions slightly different than the other. Sometimes the right h
emisphere is associated with creativity and the left hemispheres is associated w
ith logic abilities. The corpus callosum is a bundle of axons which connects the
se two hemispheres.
Nerve cells make up the gray surface of the cerebrum which is a little thicker t
han your thumb. White nerve fibers underneath carry signals between the nerve ce
lls and other parts of the brain and body.
The neocortex occupies the bulk of the cerebrum. This is a six-layered structure
of the cerebral cortex which is only found in mammals. It is thought that the n
eocortex is a recently evolved structure, and is associated with "higher" inform
ation processing by more fully evolved animals (such as humans, primates, dolphi
ns, etc).
The Cerebellum: The cerebellum, or "little brain", is similar to the cerebrum in
that it has two hemispheres and has a highly folded surface or cortex. This str
ucture is associated with regulation and coordination of movement, posture, and
balance.
The cerebellum is assumed to be much older than the cerebrum, evolutionarily. Wh
at do I mean by this? In other words, animals which scientists assume to have ev
olved prior to humans, for example reptiles, do have developed cerebellums. Howe
ver, reptiles do not have neocortex. Go here for more discussion of the neocorte
x or go to the following web site for a more detailed look at evolution of brain
structures and intelligence: "Ask the Experts": Evolution and Intelligence
Limbic System: The limbic system, often referred to as the "emotional brain", is
found buried within the cerebrum. Like the cerebellum, evolutionarily the struc
ture is rather old.
This system contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus. Here
is a visual representation of this system, from a midsagittal view of the human
brain:
Image of the Limbic System
Click on the words to learn what these structures do:
* Thalamus
Thalamus- a large mass of gray matter deeply situated in the forebrain at the to
pmost portion of the diencephalon. The structure has sensory and motor functions
. Almost all sensory information enters this structure where neurons send that i
nformation to the overlying cortex. Axons from every sensory system (except olfa
ction) synapse here as the last relay site before the information reaches the ce
rebral cortex.
* Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus- part of the diencephalon, ventral to the thalamus. The structure i
s involved in functions including homeostasis, emotion, thirst, hunger, circadia
n rhythms, and control of the autonomic nervous system. In addition, it controls
the pituitary.
* Amygdala
Amygdala- part of the telencephalon, located in the temporal lobe; involved in m
emory, emotion, and fear. The amygdala is both large and just beneath the surfac
e of the front, medial part of the temporal lobe where it causes the bulge on th
e surface called the uncus. This is a component of the limbic system.
* Hippocampus
Hippocampus- the portion of the cerebral hemisphers in basal medial part of the
temporal lobe. This part of the brain is important for learning and memory . . .
for converting short term memory to more permanent memory, and for recalling sp
atial relationships in the world about us.
Basal ganglia:
the basal ganglia are collection of neuron assential for motor function. dysfunt
ion in basal ganglia can result in motor deficits such as tremors,involuntary mo
vements,changes in posture and slowness of movement.deficits are observed in par
kinson disease and huntington disease both of which entail severe motor symptoms
.

Brain Stem:
Underneath the limbic system is the brain stem. This structure is respon
sible for basic vital life functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pre
ssure. Scientists say that this is the "simplest" part of human brains because a
nimals' entire brains, such as reptiles (who appear early on the evolutionary sc
ale) resemble our brain stem. Look at a good example of this here.
The brain stem is made of the midbrain, pons, and medulla. Click on the words to
learn what these structures do:
* Midbrain
Midbrain/ Mesencephalon- the rostral part of the brain stem, which includes the
tectum and tegmentum. It is involved in functions such as vision, hearing, eyemo
vement, and body movement. The anterior part has the cerebral peduncle, which is
a huge bundle of axons traveling from the cerebral cortex through the brain ste
m and these fibers (along with other structures) are important for voluntary mot
or function.
* Pons
Pons- part of the metencephalon in the hindbrain. It is involved in motor contro
l and sensory analysis... for example, information from the ear first enters the
brain in the pons. It has parts that are important for the level of consciousne
ss and for sleep. Some structures within the pons are linked to the cerebellum,
thus are involved in movement and posture.
it also contain part of raticular activating system (RAS).
* Medulla
Medulla Oblongata- this structure is the caudal-most part of the brain stem, bet
ween the pons and spinal cord. It is responsible for maintaining vital body func
tions, such as breathing and heartrate