THE BRAIN

HISTORY Psychologists know information on the brain based off people’s brain injuries over thousands of years Today, electrical, chemical &/or magnetic stimulation to parts of brain (TECHNOLOGY!) allows us to measure & visually study brain

HINDBRAIN (1 of 2) 1. medulla oblongata: heartbeat & breathing (nerve fibers crisscross to connect brain & body) 2. pons: brain activity during sleep 3. reticular activating system: runs length of the brain stem – alerts brain to stimulation & relays info, sleep, arousal, & attention

HINDBRAIN (2 of 2) cerebellum: “little brain” (extends from rear of brainstem) nonverbal learning, memory, balance, rapid-fire calculations for muscles, etc. works w/the basal ganglia (gray matter) to control deliberate movement

FOREBRAIN (1 of 2) limbic system: emotions & motivations for basic needs, some memory processing, hormones amygdala: fear/aggression hypothalamus: maintenance – thirst/hunger, body temp, sexual behavior, autonomic nervous system hippocampus: process & create memory Pituitary gland: “master gland” that controls growth/development and functioning of all endocrine glands

FOREBRAIN (2 of 2) thalamus: hub or filter for all senses except smell cerebral cortex: outermost covering of brain – intricate mass of neural cells held together by glial cells – info processing & adaptability Corpus callosum: band of nerve fibers connecting the 2 hemispheres Video: How Does the Brain Work? 

FOUR LOBES parietal : touch/speech (Broca’s area) occipital: vision temporal: hearing frontal: motor control, attention, planning

CORTEX motor cortex: (arch-shaped region at back of frontal lobe running from ear to ear) when stimulated, opposite side of body moves  message sender sensory cortex: (just behind motor cortex) gets info from skin senses & movement of body parts  message recipient (SOMATOSENSORY)

HOW IS EINSTEIN’S BRAIN DIFFERENT THAN MINE?  VIDEO

Crash Course Video Overview: Getting To Know Your Brain Time Permitting  Start Video 5 minutes in