1. Cerebral Cortex - The outermost layer of the brain containing gray matter. Responsible for many "higher-order" functions like language and information processing.
Cerebral Cortex

2. Layers of the Cerebrum Gray Matter Outer layer of the brain
Composed of neuron cell bodies (site of nucleus)
Includes regions of the brain involved in muscle control, sensory perceptions, like seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech and critical thinking/problem solving
Cell Body of Neuron

3. Layers of the Cerebrum White Matter
Contains mainly long, myelinated axons
Involved in the relay of sensory information from the rest of the body to the cerebral cortex
Myelin = fatty outer covering of axons.
Allows for faster transmission of message.
Axon of Neuron

4. Limbic System set of evolutionary primitive brain structures
involved in emotions and motivations, like the ones related to survival
fear, anger, sexual behavior
also involved in feeling of pleasure
eating and sex

5. Limbic System Structures
Amygdala – linked to both fear responses and pleasure. Anxiety, autism, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and phobias are linked to abnormal functioning
Hippocampus – sends memories out to the appropriate part of the brain for long-term storage and retrieves them when needed.
damage to hippocampus can cause an inability to form new memories
Amygdala shrinks by more than 30% in males upon castration – minimizes pleasure

6. Diencephalon – “Interbrain”
Sits on top of the brain stem
Enclosed by the cerebral hemispheres; well-hidden brain region
Made of three parts
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus

7. Thalamus The relay station for sensory impulses (switchboard)
Transfers impulses to the correct part of the cerebrum for interpretation
All incoming impulses get sorted here first and identified as pleasant or non-pleasant

8. Hypothalamus Under the thalamus
Controls organs by maintaining homeostasis
Important autonomic nervous system center
Helps regulate body temperature
Controls water balance
Regulates metabolism
Hypothalamus
The pituitary gland is attached to the hypothalamus. It releases hormones which affect growth, sexual development, metabolism and reproduction.

9. Epithalamus
Helps to regulate the sleep/wake cycle by releasing hormones like melatonin from pineal gland
Controls some parts of emotions and mood
Epithalamus

10. Brain Stem Attaches to the spinal cord; primitive “rat brain”
Controls automatic behaviors necessary for survival (breathing)
Parts of the brain stem each about an inch long
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata

11. Brainstem
Midbrain = Smallest region of the brain which relays auditory and visual information.
Also controls eye movements, like blinking
Pons = “bridge” of the brainstem. Controls Breathing.
Medulla Oblongata = The lowest part of the brain stem
Merges into the spinal cord
Contains important control centers
Heart rate control
Blood pressure regulation
Breathing
Swallowing
Vomiting

12. Cerebellum
contains ~70% of all the brain's neurons; yet is only 10% of the volume of the brain!
contributes to precise timing of skeletal muscle activity (i.e. walking, running or standing on your hands)
controls our balance and equilibrium
Doesn’t function well under influence of alcohol
Works like ‘auto pilot’ – monitors body position and amount of tension in body parts

13. Cerebellum and other brain parts
Meninges = three connective tissue membranes covering and protecting brain
Dura Mater: outermost meninges; tough and thick. Can restrict movement of the brain within the skull. Protects the brain from movements that may stretch and break brain blood vessels.

14. Central Nervous System Disorders
Meningitis = inflammation of meninges. Serious threat since bacteria or viruses can spread to brain.
Concussion = injury is slight; dizzy, see stars, or lose consciousness briefly but no permanent damage.
Stroke = blood circulation to a brain area is blocked from ruptured blood vessel or blood clot.

15. More Brain Disorders
Hemorrhage = bleeding from ruptured blood vessels.
Aneurysm = dilation, bulging or ballooning out of part of the wall of a vein or artery in the brain
Can get larger over a lifetime
Pushes on brain regions causing symptoms like blurred vision, stutter, etc.
Can hemorrhage

16. What brain structures can you see?