WHY STUDY THE BRAIN IN PSYCHOLOGY? IT IS THE PART OF US THAT CONTROLS EVERY THOUGHT, ACTION, AND FEELING

THE LOWER BRAIN Lies deep inside the skull with the cerebral cortex fitting over and around it. The lower brain is the part that regulates the basic functions such as breathing. Parts of Lower Brain: Thalamus Hypothalamus Limbic System Cerebellum Reticular Activating System (Reticular Formation)

THALAMUS An oval mass of nerve cells Acts as a relay station to send incoming and outgoing messages to and from various parts of brain. Ex. If you want to move your big toe, the brain sends a message to the thalamus, which then sends it to the correct place on the motor strip.

HYPOTHALUMUS SITS BELOW THE THE THALAMUS-HYPO means Below. Size of a large pea—helps control rage, pleasure, hunger, thirst, sexual desire.

RETICULAR FORMATION Also called the Reticular Activating System Sits right at the base of the brain inside the spinal cord. It is a kind of “net” that catches nerve impulses. It regulates the activity level of the body

LIMBIC SYSTEM Contains structures that are involved in basic emotions and memory. TWO PARTS: Amygdala: primarily responsible for emotional responses, especially aggression. Hippocampus: enables us to form memories.

CEREBELLUM Looks like a ball of yarn, a little larger than a golf ball and it hooks on the base of the brain below the occipital lobe. Job is Complex: Coordinates and organizes bodily movements for balance and accuracy.

BRAIN CON’T Pituitary Gland-the master gland of the body Endocrine System (hormone system) Secretes hormones It is attached to and controlled by the hypothalamus Helps control growth, blood pressure, breast milk production, sex organs

PONS Part of the Central Nervous System Relays sensory information between the cerebellum and the cerebrum.

Medulla Controls the autonomic functions. Relays nerve signals between brain and spinal cord -respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, reflexes, vomiting

CEREBRAL CORTEX Outermost layer of the Brain Controls high level thought If you were to untangle it, it would be the size of a large bath towel

HEMISPHERES Brain is divided into two hemispheres or parts. The line that divides the is called a Fissure. Right and Left: each side of brain controls the opposite side of the body. Corpus Callosum: bundle of fibers that help each side of the brain communicate with the other.

FOUR LOBES The Cerebral Cortex is divided into four lobes. Frontal Lobe Parietal Lobe Temporal Lobe Occipital Lobe

FRONTAL LOBE Motor Strip: controls all bodily movements Pre-Frontal Area: (right behind your forehead)-enables us to re-experience past events in our personal lives. Frontal Association Area: associates ideas, forms and plans activities—it’s the core of personality because it interprets what is going on and how and what to feel and do.

FRONTAL ASSOCITATION AREA-Phineas P.Gage 1840’s-railroad worker- Freak accident Allowed us to first begin to understand the nature of the frontal association area. Phineas Gage Reenactment

BROCA’S AREA Located in the frontal lobe Language processing and speech production.

OCCIPITAL LOBE Very back of the Brain Interprets visual information like color, light, shape, and movement.

PARIETAL LOBE Behind the frontal lobe. Contains the sensory strip. Band that registers and provides all sensations.

TEMPORAL LOBE Contains the major centers for hearing. Some of the centers relating to speech are also located here.

WERNICKE’S AREA Part of the cortex in the temporal lobe In the left hemisphere Helps in understanding of the spoken language

HEMISPHERES AND HANDEDNESS 10% of the population is left-handed. When dealing with small, fine body movements, such as writing—one hemisphere has dominance. One hemisphere is always preferred to use. Most people are left-hemisphere dominant and right handed.

TASKS OF CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES