The exciting world of Biopsychology continues… The functions and structures of the BRAIN Click on the brain to continue
What do you think the brain is responsible for?
Our brain is more powerful than we have even begun to understand. begun to understand. All of these functions (and more) are the responsibility of the brain!
What does our brain look like?
We can break the brain down into the following 4 major categories: The cerebral cortex: Frontal, Occipital, Parietal, and Temporal Lobes The Limbic System: Amygdala, Hippocampus, and Hypothalamus The Brainstem: Reticular Formation, Medulla, and Spinal Cord Other important parts: Corpus Callosum, Thalamus, Pituitary Gland, and Cerebellum
We have already learned about the cerebral cortex, so let’s start with the oldest part of the brain. Click on the part that develops first. The Medulla The Medulla The Thalamus The Thalamus The Brainstem The Brainstem The Hippocampus The Amygdala The Amygdala
CLUE: This part is the basement of the brain!
Our Brainstem is the first part of the brain to develop and contains the pons, medulla, reticular formation, and the spinal cord.
The Brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions Click on each part to learn more about its specific functions: PONS MEDULLA RETICULAR FORMATION SPINAL CORD When you have investigated all the parts of the brainstem, click on the brain to continue.
Parts of the brainstem: The Pons PONS The PONS is responsible for regulating breathing and relaying messages between the spinal cord (senses) and the cerebrum (movement)
Parts of the brainstem: The Medulla The MEDULLA is responsible for your heartbeat and breathing. MEDULLA Did you know that if a cat’s medulla is severed from the rest of the brain, it will still breathe and live?
Parts of the brainstem: The Reticular Formation The RETICULAR FORMATION plays an important role in arousal. RETICULAR FORMATION
Parts of the brainstem: The Spinal Cord The SPINAL CORD is responsible for connecting our CNS to our PNS, so that our brain can send messages all over our bodies. SPINAL CORD
If someone slipped into a coma, which region of the brain would most likely be affected? SPINAL CORD PONS MEDULLA RETICULAR FORMATION
NOPE …the spinal cord connects our CNS to our PNS Try Again Review the brainstem
CLOSE …someone in a coma is still breathing and has a heartbeat, think about what part is not working. Try Again Review the brainstem
WHOOPS …the bulging pons regulates our breathing, what part is necessary to be consciously awake? Try Again Review the brainstem
EXCELLENT! If you stimulate the reticular formation, a cat will almost instantly become awake and alert…too bad teachers can’t stimulate your reticular formation when you fall asleep in class If you stimulate the reticular formation, a cat will almost instantly become awake and alert…too bad teachers can’t stimulate your reticular formation when you fall asleep in class
Click on the link below to check out an interesting video about the brain. Make sure to take the quiz after you watch the video!
The Limbic System is the emotional center of the brain, and plays an important role in memory. It is located between the brainstem and the cerebral cortex and contains the hippocampus, amygdala, and the hypothalamus. Click on each part to learn more about its specific functions: When you have FINISHED reviewing all the parts, click here.
Parts of the Limbic System: The Hippocampus Emotion and memory are very closely related. You know this from your experience. Go to a party, meet a bunch of new people. Which faces are you going to remember? The woman who made you laugh, the man who made you feel embarrassed, and your new boss -- the ones who had an emotional impact.
Hippocampus So perhaps you would not be surprised to learn that the a portion of the emotional center of the brain (the "limbic system") is in charge of transferring information into memory…the part responsible for this is the Hippocampus. Parts of the Limbic System: The Hippocampus Continued You can remember the hippocampus is responsible for memory because a HIPPO is big just like an elephant who has an excellent memory!
Parts of the Limbic System: The Amygdala The Amydgala influences our experience with fear and aggression. If a usually ill- tempered monkey’s amygdala is severed it will become extremely mellow.
Parts of the Limbic System: The Hypothalamus The hypothalamus directs maintenance activities like eating, drinking, body temperature, and sexual behavior. The hypothalamus also controls the pituitary gland (the “master gland”)
To learn more about the Limbic System click on the following site:
Which area of the limbic system would most likely be affected if an animal displayed little interest in eating? AmygdalaHippocampusHypothalamus
NOT QUITE … if the amygdala was destroyed an animal would become very calm. Think about which area is closely related to motivation. Try Again Review the Review the Limbic System
WHOOPS …the hippocampus is related to our memory. This part is related to our “reward center”? Try Again Review the Limbic System Limbic System
When this region of the rat’s hypothalamus (lateral hypothalamus) is destroyed, even a starving rat will show no interest in food. BUT…if the lateral hypothalamus is stimulated it will increase the rat’s appetite.
Click on the following link to test your knowledge of the brain’s anatomy: We’ve investigated 3 major regions of the brain; The Cerebral Cortex, The Brainstem, and The Limbic System, WOW! Your brain needs a break! Take some time to have…
What about the other important parts of the brain? The Pituitary Gland The Cerebellum The Corpus Callosum The Thalamus Click on each region to learn more about it! When you have finished learning about EACH part, click here!
The Thalamus Thalamus The Thalamus can be viewed as the Grand Central Station of the brain. It is a sensory switchboard. It is the first place to receives information from all the senses (except smell) and it directs them to the correct spot in the cerebral cortex.
The Pituitary Gland The Pituitary Gland is the “Master Gland” of our endocrine system (whose own master is the hypothalamus) It makes hormones that regulate growth and controls the other endocrine glands. The production and secretion of pituitary hormones can be influenced by factors such as emotions and seasonal changes. PITUITARY GLAND HYPOTHALAMUS
The Corpus Callosum How do both hemispheres of your brain communicate? It is a bundle of neural fibers between the 2 hemispheres that allows messages to be sent back and forth for interpretation. CORPUS CALLOSUM Through the… CORPUS CALLOSUM
The Cerebellum The cerebellum is our “little brain” that is located in the back of our brain. Thanks to the cerebellum our voluntary movement is coordinated. CEREBELLUM We would have a hard time walking in a straight line without it.
Which area of the brain would most likely be affected if someone could not verbally communicate what they had just seen? The Reticular Formation The Amygdala The Thalamus The Hippocampus The Pituitary Gland The Corpus Callosum The Cerebral Cortex The Occipital Lobe
CLUE Think about hemisphere specialization. Hmmm… Try Again Review
NO WAY… This part is like a bridge for information. Hmmm… Try Again Review
When someone has a severed corpus callosum, the 2 hemispheres of the brain can’t communicate. Our right hemisphere is responsible for object recognition and would usually transmit this information to the left hemisphere which controls speech.
Phil Z. hurt his head when taping the sequel to “Discovering Psychology”…ouch, and now becomes extremely emotional when he sees certain people, which area of his brain was most likely affected? The Reticular Formation The Amygdala The Thalamus The Hippocampus The Pituitary Gland The Corpus Callosum The Cerebral Cortex The Occipital Lobe
Nice Try, but… The part you are looking for is shaped like a doughnut. Hmmm… Try Again Review
CLOSE… Think about how you usually remember information when you are more emotionally attached. Hmmm… Try Again Review
If Phil damaged his hippocampus (which I hope NEVER happens) he may have more emotional reactions to particular people who evoke certain memories. Remember the hippocampus is part of the limbic system which is our emotional center.
Take me back Take me back to the to the beginning! I’m set I’m set (for now ) (for now ) I’d like to I’d like to review the review the cerebral cortex! cerebral cortex!