Internal Brain Structures

Unit 2

Lesson 4

Objectives

Identify organization, function, and location of major brain structures.

Explain how damage would impact function.

Review

NeuronsNervous SystemCerebral Cortex

2 halves4 lobes each side

Review Cont…

Which hemisphere? Right side of body?

Creativity, art & music?

Following directions?

Talking and writing?

Left side of body?

Picking people out of a crowd?

Which lobe? Reasoning, movement?

Vision?

Sensory info?

Hearing and memory?

Communication between halves?

When damaged/severed?

Internal Structures of Brain

Begins as a tube of tissue

Brain organized into three main parts:HindbrainMidbrainForebrain

Hindbrain

Hindbrain

Brainstem Where spinal cord meets

brain; includes following structures:

Medulla (Oblongata) Regulates vital functions

rate, blood flow, respiration

Role in sleep, sneezing, coughing, vomiting

Pons Transmits info about body

movement Role in attention, sleep,

respiration

Reticular Activating System (RAS)… EEG arousal Sleep/wake cycle

(midbrain)

Cerebellum “Little Brain” Balance, posture, muscle

coordination

Midbrain- A Bit Player

Control of eye movement

Involuntary muscle tone

RAS…sleep/wake cycle

Forebrain

Forebrain

Thalamus Relays incoming sensory info

to the cortex

Hypothalamus Control ANS and endocrine

system Maintains homeostasis Sets drives (thirst, hunger,

desire)

Pituitary Gland Master Gland…more later

Limbic System Emotional expression… Hippocampus- long-term

memory , learning Amygdala- attach emotion to

event, mediates aggressive behavior

Cerebrum 80% of forebrain Divided into 2 hemispheres,

connected by corpus callosum, and 4 lobes

Responsible for higher mental functions (ex: thought)

Covered by cerebral cortex

Brain Activities:

Match the structure to its function as a review.

Use your book to guess what could happen if each area is damaged.

The Minds of Girls

Larger corpus callosum- Leads to more cross talk between hemispheres.

Stronger neural connections- Leads to better listening skill, more richly detailed memory

Larger hippocampus- Increases girls learning advantage esp. in language arts.

Prefrontal cortex is more active- making them less impulsive.

The Minds Of Boys

Have more cortical areas dedicated to spatial-mechanical functioning- Makes boys want to move around, throw and object

Less serotonin and oxytocin- Makes boys more impulsive.

Boys lateralize brain activity- Boys compartmentalize learning. Less multitasking.

Closure

What are the three main parts of the brain?