1. Organization of the Brain Hindbrain, Midbrain, Forebrain and Diencephalon

2. Hindbrain Controls functions vital to survival such as respiration and circulation Also plays a large role in muscular coordination Cerebellum Medulla pons

3. Midbrain Controls sleep/wake cycle, sensory processes, and voluntary movements

4. Forebrain Controls our highest level functioning – decision-making, reasoning, invention, language Cerebral cortex cerebrum

5. Diencephalon What most authors refer to as the lower levels of the forebrain, but brain scientists view as a fourth section Thalamus Hypothalamus Limbic system amygdala

6. The diencephalon regulates emotions, and biological needs and urges.

7. The regions of the brain that are most susceptible to injury/trauma from accidents are those that make us most human – the areas of the cerebrum.

8. The sections of the brain that control more basic life functions lie deep in the brain, and therefore are generally more protected from trauma. => People with brain injury often end up in “persistent vegetative states” but are still technically alive. Karen Ann Quinlan lived over 10 years in a coma after being removed from her respirator.

9. Theory of the Triune Brain Paul MacLean (1973) Related the three brain divisions (hindbrain, forebrain and midbrain) to the evolution of the brain in animals. Reptilian brain (hindbrain and midbrain) is thought to have developed first because of its importance to survival.

10. The old-mammalian brain (the limbic system) is supposed to have developed next evolutionarily speaking. Centers of emotion contained here gave animals the need to care for their young, a need that reptiles don’t have.

11. The new mammalian brain was last. The large amount of brain cortex allows higher animals and humans to develop their many advanced behaviors and brain activities. Humans have the largest new- mammalian brains => allow us to engage in in sophisticated behaviors