Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Brain Higher Functions Diencephalon Cerebellum Cerebral Hemispheres “2-oval skull” (includes regions of higher functions) Cerebral hemispheres Cerebellum

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Diencephalon (integrates conscious and unconscious activity) Between cerebral hemispheres Mostly thalamus and hypothalamus

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Thalamus (relays sensory information and emotional state) Five groups of nuclei –Anterior group—limbic system –Medial group—hypothalamus emotion center to cerebrum frontal lobe –Ventral group—touch and proprioceptive information relayed to cerebral cortex –Posterior group—optic and auditory information to cerebral cortex –Lateral group—emotional state feedback from limbic system; integrates with sensory information Diencephalon

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Limbic system Diencephalon

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Limbic system Diencephalon

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Hypothalamus Superior to pituitary gland (gland is in sella turcica) Connected to pituitary by infundibulum stalk Diencephalon

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Hypothalamus function Feeding reflexes—licking, swallowing, etc. Subconscious skeletal muscle movements—facial expressions, sexual movements Autonomic center—control medulla oblongata nuclei for cardiovascular, respiration Secretes oxytocin that stimulates smooth muscle of uterus, mammary glands and prostate Regulates body temperature Controls pituitary gland by hormonal secretion—pituitary in turn regulates many hormonal endocrine functions Produces emotions/sensations/drives: e.g. thirst, hunger (not really “sensations” from periphery) Coordinates autonomic response to conscious input— thought of fear produces accelerated heart rate, etc. Diencephalon

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions

Pineal gland Regulates Cycles Secretes melatonin which helps regulate circadian and reproductive cycles Diencephalon

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Cerebellum (posture and movement) Oval at back of cranial cavity Convoluted surface of neural cortex (like cerebrum) Huge branching Purkinje cells—each cell gets input from 200,000 synapses Internal branching looks like tree—called “arbor vitae (tree of life) Damage leads to “ataxia”— disturbance of muscular coordination

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Cerebrum (processing central for somatic/conscious information) Two cerebral hemispheres separated by longitudinal fissure (sagittal plane) Central sulcus divide (coronal plane) separates frontal lobe from parietal lobe Horizontal lateral sulcus (in transverse plane) separates frontal lobe from temporal lobe Parietal-occipital sulculs separates parietal lobe from occipital lobe

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Cerebrum overall organization Left side receives somatic sensory and controls somatic motor of right side of body (and vice versa) Two hemispheres have different specialized areas (not symmetrical) Correspondence of functions with regions is difficult—lots of overlap and ability to “fill in” if areas are damaged Corpus callosum is bundle of axons that link two sides Cerebrum

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Cerebrum

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Cerebral function in brief Basal nuclei/ganglia ( sometimes considered part of midbrain) –Deep in hemispheres –Subconscious control of skeletal muscle –Rhythmic movements—overall walking coordination Frontal Lobe (primary motor cortex)-voluntary control of skeletal muscle Parietal lobe (primary sensory cortex)—conscious perception from skin—touch, pressure, pain Occipital lobe (visual cortex)—conscious perception of visual field Temporal lobe (auditory cortex and olfactory cortex)— conscious perception of sound and smell All Lobes—integration and processing of sensory input to initiate conscious motor output Cerebrum

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Cerebrum

Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Frolich, Higher Brain Functions Interactive overview of basic regions of brain from PBS [link]link