1. The Brain

2. Parts of the Brain Brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the “primitive” brain
responsible for automatic survival functions

3. The Brain – Parts of the Brainstem
Thalamus [THAL-uh-muss]
the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem
it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Reticular Formation
a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
Medulla [muh-DUL-uh]
base of the brainstem
controls heartbeat and breathing

4. Parts of the Brain Cerebellum [sehr-uh-BELL-um]
the “little brain” attached to the rear of the brainstem
it helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance

5. Parts of the Brain Limbic System
a doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres
associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food

6. The Brain – Parts of the Limbic System
Amygdala [ah-MIG-dah-la]
two almond-shaped neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion and memory
Hippocampus
Linked to long and short term memory and emotion.

7. The Brain – Parts of the Limbic System
Hypothalamus
neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus
directs several maintenance activities
eating
drinking
body temperature

8. The Brain – Parts of the Limbic System
Hypothalamus (cont)
helps govern the endocrine (hormones) system via the pituitary gland
growth and development, metabolism, tissue function, etc
is linked to emotion and mood

9. The Limbic System – An Experiment
Electrode implanted in reward center
What do you think the rat will do?

10. The Cerebral Cortex Cerebral Cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres
the body’s ultimate control and information processing center

11. Parts of the Cerebral Cortex

12. Parts of the Cerebral Cortex
Frontal Lobes
the “star” of the brain - involved in speaking and muscle movements, making plans and judgments, reasoning, impulse control
Parietal Lobes
include the sensory cortex – sensory integration

13. Parts of the Cerebral Cortex

14. Parts of the Cerebral Cortex
Occipital Lobes
include the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field
Temporal Lobes
auditory perception, categorization, essential for social interaction

15. Parts of the Cerebral Cortex

16. Parts of the Cerebral Cortex
Motor Cortex
area at the rear of the frontal lobes
controls voluntary movements
Sensory Cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes
registers and processes body sensations

17. Parts of the Cerebral Cortex

18. Parts of the Cerebral Cortex
Functional MRI scan shows the visual cortex activated as the subject looks at faces
Visual and Auditory Cortex

19. Parts of the Cerebral Cortex
Association Areas
More intelligent animals have increased “uncommitted” or association areas of the cortex

20. Cerebral Cortex Specialization and Integration
The brain uses many parts at once
i.e. Language functioning when reading and speaking
Click picture to watch about animal “language”

21. Cerebral Cortex - Specialization and Integration
Aphasia
impairment in the ability to use or comprehend words
Signs:
Understanding words.
Finding the word to express a thought
Understanding grammatical sentences.
Reading or writing words or sentences.
usually caused by left hemisphere damage
Wernicke’s Area
an area of the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression

22. Cerebral Cortex - Specialization and Integration
Apraxia
difficulty initiating and executing voluntary movement patterns necessary to produce speech when there is no paralysis or weakness of speech muscles.
Signs:
Producing the desired speech sound.
Using the correct rhythm and rate of speaking.
usually caused by left hemisphere damage
Broca’s Area
an area of the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech

23. Cerebral Cortex - Specialization and Integration
Brain activity when hearing, seeing, and speaking words

24. Cerebral Cortex - Brain Reorganization
Plasticity
the brain’s capacity for modification
brain reorganization following damage (especially in children)
in the effects of experience on brain development

25. Cerebral Cortex - Brain Reorganization Experiment
Some rats are housed alone in empty cages
Their littermate twins are group-housed in cages with toys, which are changed frequently
Richer environments led to heavier, thicker brains, more synapses, and better learning
Figure 2.06 from
Morris, C.G., & Maisto, A.A. (1999). Psychology, 10th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Rosenzweig, M..R., Bennett, E.L., & Diamond, M.C. (1972).
Scientific American,
See also:
Renner, M. J., & Rosenzweig, M.R. (1987). Enriched and Impoverished Environments: Effects on Brain and Behavior. New York: Springer Verlag.

26. Our Divided Brain – The Two Hemispheres
Left Hemisphere
Verbal
Math
Analytic
Right Hemisphere
Spatial
Holistic
Nonverbal
Corpus Callosum
Large band of neural fibers
Connects the two hemispheres
Carries messages back and forth
Corpus callosum

27. Our Divided Brain – Visual Field
The information highway from the eye to the brain

28. Our Divided Brain - Split Brain
a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them

29. Our Divided Brain - Split Brain

30. Our Divided Brain - Split Brain