1. Lesson 9 -The Brain Brainstem – innermost region of the brain home to vital unconscious function.

2. The Hindbrain Medulla – attaches to spinal cord – Largely unconscious function control (blood circulation, breathing, muscle maintenance, regulation of reflexes like sneezing/coughing. The Pons – “the bridge” fibers that connect brainstem with cerebellum to pass info. – Movement, breathing, sleep, and arousal. Cerebellum – highly folded “little brain” responsible for coordinating fine muscle movements and balance.

5. The Midbrain – integrates sensory processes, contains dopamine releasing neurons Reticular formation – group of fibers that carry stimulation related to sleep and arousal through the brain stem. – Contributes to modulation of muscle reflexes, breathing, pain perception.

6. The Forebrain – largest most complex part Composed of the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum. Cerebrum – center for complex thought Cerebral cortex – wrinkly surface of cerebrum, outer layer of the brain.

7. The Thalamus: Sensory Relay All sensory information, except smell, must pass through to get to the cerebral cortex.

8. The Hypothalamus: Biological Needs Kidney bean sized area under the thalamus. Controls autonomic nervous system. Link between brain and endocrine system. The Four F’s Control of sexual motivation, hunger, thirst, temp. regulation.

9. The Limbic System: Emotion Emotion center, major pleasure cortex Includes: hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, the olfactory bulb Hippocampus – learning & memory processes Amygdala – emotion (fear) and aggression.

10. The Cerebrum – Complex Thought Responsible for sensing, thinking, learning, emotion, consciousness, and voluntary movement. Cerebral Hemispheres – Left/Right halves of the brain. – Lateralization – one area excels w/ particular task – Corpus Callosum – structure that connects the 2 cerebral hemispheres. – Divided into 4 lobes

11. The Four Lobes Occipital Lobe: back of head, primary visual cortex. Parietal Lobe: front of occipital, primary somatosensory cortex (touch) Temporal Lobe: below parietal, primary auditory cortex Frontal Lobe: Primary motor cortex, largest lobe, controls muscle movement. – Mirror Neurons – Prefrontal Cortex – working memory.

12. Plasticity of the Brain 1.Aspects of experience can shape features of the brain. 2.Brain damage can lead to natural reorganization. 3.Neurogenesis- adult brains can generate new neurons.

13. The Unixed Brain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHxyP- nUhUY The Unixed Brain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHxyP- nUhUY Bending the Mind – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcL5x7Ql mBI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcL5x7Ql mBI