hindbrain

medulla, pons, and cerebellum; directs essential survival functions like breathing, sleeping, wakefulness, as well as coordination and balance

midbrain

found at the top of the brainstem; connects with hindbrain and forebrain; controls some motor movement, and transmits auditory and visual information

forebrain

consists of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus; manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities

brainstem

the central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

medulla

the hindbrain structure that is the brainstem's base; controls heartbeat and breathing

thalamus

the forebrain's sensory control center, 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 that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus; filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal

cerebellum

the hindbrain's "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; processes sensory input, coordinates movement output and balance, and enables nonverbal learning and memory

limbic system

neural system located mostly in the forebrain that includes the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus; associated with emotions and drives

amygdala

two almond-shaped clusters in the limbic system linked to emotion and threat perception

hypothalamus

limbic system structure below the thalamus; directs several maintenance activities like eating, drinking, body temperature, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

hippocampus

part of the limbic system that helps process explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events for storage

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain's cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

frontal lobes

the part of the cerebral cortex just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements as well as making plans and judgments

parietal lobe

the top of the cerebral cortex toward the rear of the head; receives sensory input for touch and body position

occipital lobe

part of the cerebral cortex at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from visual fields

temporal lobe

part of the cerebral cortex roughly above the ears; includes auditory processing information, each receiving info from primarily the opposite ear

motor cortex

a cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

somatosensory cortex

a cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobe that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

parts of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions like learning, remembering, thinking and speaking

neuroplasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

neurogenesis

formation of new neurons

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

split brain

a condition resulting from the surgical separation of the brain's two hemispheres by severing the connecting fibers (mainly corpus callosum)