1. III. What Are the Basic Brain Structures and Their Functions?
The Brainstem Houses the Basic Programs of Survival
The Cerebellum Is Essential for Movement
Subcortical Structures Control Emotions and Basic Drives
The Cerebral Cortex Underlies Complex Mental Activity

2. III. What Are the Basic Brain Structures and Their Functions?
The nervous system’s different parts all have essential roles
The central nervous system (CNS)
Spinal cord and the brain
The peripheral nervous system (PNS)
All the other nerve cells in the body

3. III. What Are the Basic Brain Structures and Their Functions?
Psychological scientists have learned a great deal about the different brain regions through studying people with damaged brains
Phineas Gage
Broca’s area

4. This illustration shows the location of Broca’s area.4

5. 1. The Brainstem Houses the Basic Programs of Survival
At the base of the skull, the top of the spinal cord forms the brainstem, which is involved in basic functions such as breathing and walking as well as general arousal
Medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain, reticular formation

6. Brainstem
Medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain 6

7. 2. The Cerebellum Is Essential for Movement
The cerebellum (“little brain”), the bulging structure connected to the back of the brainstem, controls balance and is essential for movement

8. Cerebellum 8

9. 3. Subcortical Structures Control Emotions and Basic Drives
The subcortical structures play a key part in psychological functions
Hypothalamus
Controls vital functions
Organs, body temp., blood pressure, hunger, thirst, motivation, emotion
Thalamus
Sensory relay
All sensory information passes through before cortex (except smell)

10. 3. Subcortical Structures Control Emotions and Basic Drives
Hippocampus
Memories
Creates new neural connections after experiences
Amygdala
Emotions
Associates emotions to experiences
Especially important for fear responses
Basal ganglia
Planning and producing of movement
Communicates between cortex and brainstem

11. Subcortical Structures11

12. 4. The Cerebral Cortex Underlies Complex Mental Activity
The lobes of the cortex each play specific roles
Occipital
Vision
Parietal
Touch

13. 4. The Cerebral Cortex Underlies Complex Mental Activity
Temporal
hearing and speech comprehension
Frontal
Planning and movement
Prefrontal Cortex
Prominent in humans
Attention, working memory, decision making, personality

14. Cerebral Cortex 14

15. 15

16. IV. How Are Neural Messages Integrated into Communication Systems?
The Peripheral Nervous System Includes the Somatic and Autonomic Systems
The Endocrine System Communicates through Hormones
Actions of the Nervous System and Endocrine System Are Coordinated

17. 1. The PNS Includes the Somatic and Autonomic Systems
Somatic system
Relays sensory information
Autonomic system
The structures and functions that regulate the body’s internal environment
Divided into the alarm response (sympathetic) and the return-to-normal response (parasympathetic)

19. 19

20. 2. The Endocrine System Communicates through Hormones
Both endocrine glands and organs produce and release chemical substances
Travel to body tissues through the bloodstream and influence a variety of processes, including sexual behavior

21. 21

22. 3. Actions of the Nervous System and Endocrine System Are Coordinated
The endocrine system is controlled by the central nervous system
Most of the central control of the endocrine system occurs through the actions of both the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
Pituitary gland controls the release of hormones from the rest of the endocrine glands
CNS Pituitary Gland Endocrine Glands

23. V. How Does the Brain Change?
The Interplay of Genes and Environment Wires the Brain
The Brain Rewires Itself throughout Life
The Brain Can Recover from Injury

24. 1. The Interplay of Genes and Environment Wires the Brain
Chemical signals influence the growth and function of cells
Environmental experiences, especially during critical periods, are necessary for cells to develop properly and for them to make more detailed connections

25. 2. The Brain Rewires Itself throughout Life
Although plasticity decreases with age, the brain retains the ability to rewire itself throughout life
Change in the strength of connections between neurons underlies learning
Fire together, wire together
The functions of portions of the cerebral cortex shift in response to activity

26. 3. The Brain Can Recover from Injury
The brain can reorganize its functions in response to brain damage
This capacity decreases with age
Anomalies in sensation and in perception, such as synesthesia, are attributed to cross-wiring connections in the brain