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

2. 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)

3. 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.

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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

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

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

12. 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

13. 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.

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

15. 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.

16. 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

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

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

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

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

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

22. 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.

23. TASKS OF CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES