Brainstem Structures and Functions in 40 Characters
1. The Brainstem (hind/old brain)
2.6 What are the different structures of the bottom part of the brain?
• Brainstem–
located at the
base of the
brain,
consisting of
various parts
functioning to
sustain bodily
functions.
Peripheral Autonomic
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
2. The Old Brain (Brainstem)
Peripheral Autonomic
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
• Medulla
– Heartbeat and Breathing
• Pons “bridge”
– Coordinates Movement and Sleep
• Reticular Formation
– Net of Nerves Inside the Brainstem
– Controls Arousal & Alertness
– Example: When you name is called
• Locus Coeruleus
– Center of Reticular Formation
– Alertness and Panic
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3. The Cerebellum “little brain”
Peripheral Autonomic
• MAIN FUNCTION:
– Coordinates balance &
movement
• (ex. Walking, playing guitar hero)
• OTHER FUNCTIONS:
– Judges time
– Stores muscle memory
– Discriminates sounds
and texture
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
3
4. Peripheral Autonomic
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
Cerebellum
Medulla
Pons
Reticular Formation
5. 2.7 What controls emotion, learning memory and motivation?
• Limbic system
– located
under the
cortex and
involved in
learning,
emotion,
memory and
motivation
Peripheral Autonomic
Structures Under the Cortex
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
6. The Limbic System (Emotional)
Peripheral Autonomic
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
• Amygdala
– Aggression and Fear
• Thalamus
– Signal Switchboard
– Relays information to your pleasure areas
– Relays senses (not smell) information to cortex areas
• Ex: Information from eyes to visual cortex
• Hypothalamus
– Hunger, Thirst, Sex, & Body Temp.
– reward center & dopamine pathways
• Hippocampus
– Memory
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7. Thalamus
Peripheral Autonomic
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
Cerebellum
Medulla
Pons
Reticular Formation
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Hypothalamus
8. o r t e x
WHY is the cortex so
wrinkled?
Peripheral Autonomic
The
wrinkled
outermost
covering
of
the
brain
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
9. Peripheral Autonomic
The Cerebral Cortex
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
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10. Peripheral Autonomic
The Cerebral Cortex
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
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11. Peripheral Autonomic
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
S
o
m
a
t
o
s
e
n
s
o
r
y
Somatosensory & Motor Areas
M
o
t
o
r
12. Association areas deal with high level thinking such as
directions and location
Peripheral Autonomic
Association Areas
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
12
13. Thalamus
Peripheral Autonomic
Motor Cortex Sensory Cortex
Corpus callosum
Amygdala
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
Cerebellum
Medulla
Pons
Reticular Formation
Pituitary Gland
Hippocampus
Hypothalamus
14. • Both the left and right hemispheres can
be roughly divided into four sections
Peripheral Autonomic
Four Lobes of the Brain
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
15. Peripheral Autonomic
The Cerebral Cortex
• Frontal Lobes
– Thoughts & Decision Making
– Contains Motor Cortex
– Contains Prefrontal Cortex
• In charge of logic, step-by-step
decision making, morals, and
emotional control
• Parietal Lobes
– Sensation/Touch
– Contains Sensory Cortex
• Occipital Lobes
– Vision Processing
– Contains Visual Cortex
• Temporal Lobes
– Hearing & Memory
– Contains auditory cortex
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
15
16. Parietal Lobe
Thalamus
Peripheral Autonomic
Motor Cortex Sensory Cortex
Corpus callosum
Amygdala
Prefrontal
Cortex
Central Structure Action Synapse Reflex
Peeking Hind Limbic Lobes Motor Split
Hormones
Frontal Lobe
Occipital Lobe
Cerebellum
Medulla
Pons
Reticular Formation
Pituitary Gland
Hippocampus
Hypothalamus
Temporal Lobe