Parts of the Brain

1. Parts of the Brain 

2. How do we study the brain?

3. Accidents • Case study analysis of brain injuries • IE. Phineas Gage

4. Phineas 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

5. Lesions • Lesioning is the removal or destruction of part of the brain. • IE. Lobotomy

6. Essential Questions • What are the key functions of the brain? • What are the parts for responsible?

7. Divisions of the Brain

8. I. The Hindbrain

9. Hindbrain • basic biological functions • 3 main parts: • Medulla • Cerebellum • Pons

10. Hindbrain parts • There are three brain areas associated with the Hindbrain (some parts are associated with Brain Stem): • Medulla • Cerebellum • Pons

13. Hindbrain 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)

14. Partner 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!

15. II. The Midbrain

16. Midbrain • located between the hindbrain and the forebrain • simple muscle movements with changes in sensory information • hearing and sight • pupil dilation and eyeball movement

18. III. The Forebrain

19. Forebrain • thoughts and reason • 5 main regions: • Thalamus • Hypothalamus • Hippocampus • Amygdala • The Cerebral Cortex

20. Limbic System

21. Limbic System • includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala • “emotional brain” • helps regulate memory, aggression, fear, hunger, and thirst

22. Thalamus • 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

25. Hypothalamus • maintenance activities: eating, drinking, fight/flight, and sexual arousal • (Four f’s)… • Controls the pituitary gland

28. Hippocampus • memory processing

29. Amygdala • emotions, especially those of aggression, rage, and fear • In stressful situations, where teens make some of their decisions

31. Cerebral 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

34. Cerebral Cortex • In addition to interneurons, it contains GLIAL CELLS • guide neural connections, provide nutrients to myelin, and mop up neurotransmitters

35. Partner 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!

36. Cerebral Cortex • split into two halves or Hemispheres: • Right Hemisphere • Left Hemisphere • The two hemispheres of the brain are connected by the CORPUS CALLOSUM

37. Hemispheres of the Brain

40. Video • Corpus Callosum

41. Contralateral Control

42. Hemispheric 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

43. 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 • The Story of Jodie

44. Split Brain Procedures • What is the role of the corpus callosum? • What happens if we cut the corpus callosum?

45. LET’S LOOK AT THE LOBES!!!!

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

48. Frontal Lobes • just behind the forehead • involved in making plans and judgments • abstract thought, speaking, muscle movements • “Broca’s area”

50. Temporal Lobes • Found near the ears • Involved in hearing • Memory retrieval