Function of the Brain and its components Carter Moody

Per 5
9/26/13
Ventricular System- The Ventricular System, located in the center of the brain is responsible
for protecting the brain from trauma related injuries and pumping cerebrospinal fluid
throughout the brain. This fluid (CSF) is a protein rich fluid that is absolutely essential for
brain function. Its main functions include excretion of brain waste and hormone distribution.
The CSF makes this possible by transporting said excretion from the brain and to the blood
stream where it can be disposed.
Forebrain- The Forebrain, located, as implied, at the front of the brain, is responsible for a
wide variety of tasks. Among many are: understanding language, perceiving, memory related
tasks, and also motor function. Relaying sensory information, as well as controlling
autonomic functions is also a major role of the Forebrain. However, most of the serious
processing and understanding is executed in the cerebral cortex.
Midbrain- The Midbrain, located in the Central-Southern portion of the brain connects the
hindbrain to the forebrain. It is in this region of the brain (where the hindbrain is connected to
the forebrain through the mid) that motor function, auditory responses, as well as visual
responses are processed.
Brain Hemispheres- The Brain Hemispheres, respectively are the two major divisions of the
brain in which different patterns of thought can be categorized. In the left hemisphere,
monotonous tasks such as interpreting numbers and analyzing data are conducted, and
interestingly, controls the right side of the body. The right side of the brain, contrary to that of
the left, is responsible for creative thinking such as: imagination, daydreaming, and
dimension. Like the left hemisphere, the right portion of the brain controls the opposite side
of the body, the left in this case.
White Matter- White Matter, is the inner part of the brain, within the walls of the grey matter,
and is made up mostly of nerve fibers. The white matter gets its color from the layer of fat,
called Myelin. This layer of fat serves as an insulator to the nerve fibers, protecting it and
serving as a conductor in nerve signaling.
Grey Matter- Grey Matter is the outer part of the brain, made up entirely of living cell bodies.
The purpose of grey matter is to serve as a pathway for motor or sensory stimulus in order to
create an appropriate response depending on the contents of the stimulus. Grey Matter
structures, also located in this area, serve to process sensory information or other information
coming from the many grey matter areas.
Corpus Callosum- The Corpus Callosum is responsible for many important functions of the
brain, and it is vital in order for inter-hemisphere communication to occur. Besides
controlling being involved in eye movement, it also controls the balance between arousal and
attention, but also tactile localization.
Cerebral Cortex- The Cerebral Cortex is by definition, Grey Matter. It is responsible for
cognitive function and also interpreting information from various sources throughout the
brain and the body itself. As explained in Grey Matter, the Cerebral Cortex is responsible for
things such as perceiving and understanding language.
Function of the Brain and its components Carter Moody
Per 5
9/26/13
Motor Cortex- The Motor Cortex is the portion of the Cerebral Cortex that is primarily
involved in the process and execution of voluntary motor-related activities. Procedure of said
motor related activities is divided into three parts: planning of the action, control of the
action, and finally executing the execution.
Somatosensory Cortex- The Somatosensory Cortex is the frontal part of the parietal lobe of
the brain that is responsible for deciphering senses and where they originated. The SSC
determines what has been sensed, for example: touch, pain, etc and where the signal has
been sent from.
Primary Auditory Cortex- The main function of the Primary Auditory Cortex is to process
sound. More specifically, exactly when a sound starts, stops, and if or when the sound
changes pitch. This Auditory Cortex is also responsible for determining the location of the
sound being emitted.
Auditory Association Area- The Auditory Association Area, located on the top edge of the
temporal lobe, is responsible for recognizing sounds and transforming the signals perceived
from them into recognizable ones, such as words, or exclamations.
Frontal Lobe- The Frontal Lobe, located, as implied, in the front-most region of the brain, as
a part of the midbrain. The frontal lobe is involved in many functions that require a higher
level of thinking such as: Judgement, Reasoning, Impulse Control, Motor Functions, and
even Memory related tasks.
Brocas Area- Brocas Area is located in the cerebral cortex as a part of the frontal lobe. This
area is involved in mainly social activities, such as speech. Aside from just speech however,
Language processing, or understanding what may have been said is also governed in this area
of the brain. In addition to these two language related tasks, is the ever-important job of
Facial Neuron Control, which aids in how emotions are expressed by changing the persons
facial expression.
Parietal Lobe- The Parietal lobe is located above the occipital lobe, and is responsible for
overall cognition, such as information processing. Speech, Spatial Orientation, and Visual
Perception are also influenced by this area, and also various pain/touch sensations.
Temporal Lobe- The Temporal Lobe is located in the bottom-center of the Cerebral Cortex,
and is influential to both physical and mental processes alike. Auditory Perception, Speech,
Memory, Visual Perception, and Responses relating to emotional situations are all example of
processes influenced by the Temporal Lobe
Wernickes Area- Wernickes Area is the area of the brain where language is processed and
understood. It is spoken language that is passed through this area and comprehended. Not
only what is actually processed, but also the existence of an intended meaning such as one in
a double-entendre is detected.
Function of the Brain and its components Carter Moody
Per 5
9/26/13
Occipital Lobe- The Occipital Lobe is the area of the Corpus Callosum where Visiual
sensations such as Visual and Color are processed and perceived. It is the Retina in the eyes
that sends these signals of what is seen to the Occipital Lobe in order to be understood.
Primary Visual Cortex- The Primary Visual Cortex is located in the Occipital Lobe of the
Cerebral Cortex and is responsible for receiving and passing signals from the optic nerves to
the Visual Association Area.
Visual Association Area- The Visual Association Area is the part of the Occipital Lobe that
receives signals from the Primary Visual Cortex and interprets them, for designation of an
appropriate response to what has been seen.
Limbic System- The limbic system is the primitive part of the brain located underneath the
cerebral cortex and at the top of the brainstem. The limbic System is responsible for
controlling emotions and motivations related to survival, and also memory related functions.
Cingulate Gyrus- The cingulate Gyrus is responsible for co-ordinating sensory information
with emotions and responses with feelings related to pain. Also the Cingulate Gyrus is
responsible for regulating most responses associated with aggression.
Fornix- The sole purpose of the Fornix is to bridge the gap between the hippocampus and the
hypothalamus, serving as almost an information bridge between the two memory related
components of the brain.
Thalamus- The Thalamus is the part of the Limbic System that is responsible for controlling
the awake and sleeping states of consciousness. It is also responsible for relaying sensory
signals and also motor control.
Caduate Nucleus- The Caduate Nucleus is primarily responsible for sensorimotor
coordination of the body. This means for the Caduate Nucleus to select an appropriate
response for the environment and execute said response.
Basal Ganglia- The Basal Ganglia is responsible for motor coordination and controlling
voluntary movement, such as suppressing an action. The Basal Ganglia is also involved in
overall cognition.
Dentate Gyrus- The dentate gyrus is located in the hippocampal formation, and is involved in
the formation of memories and the navigation in everyday environments.
Olfactory Bulbs- The Olfactory Bulbs are one component of the vertebrate forebrain which
extend towards the anterior brain and are involved in the perception of smell. They are one of
the few parts of the brain with the capability to regenerate.
Hypothalamus- The Hypothalamus is involved in controlling the Pituitary gland, a part of the
Endocrine system. By controlling the Pituitary gland, hormones are increased more or less
often and the salt-water balance of the body can be manipulated.
Function of the Brain and its components Carter Moody
Per 5
9/26/13
Amygdala- The Amygdala is located superior to the Hypothalamus and is responsible for the
processing of memory and reactions related to emotional stimulants.
Hippocampus- The Hippocampus in the central-southern part of the Limbic System, and
plays the most important role in the process, and storage of permanent memories.
Parahippocampal Gyrus- The Parahippocampal Gyrus is the portion of the limbic system that
envelops the Hippocampus, and aids it in the storage and synthesis of memories. An
extremely important role of the Parahippocampal Gyrus is to retrieve memories both
voluntarily and not when needed.
Putamen- The Putamen is the part of the Limbic system which is deeply involved in the
process by which you learn, and therefore is in direct relation with the Hippocampus and
Parahippocampal Gyrus in storing recently learnt information. Because the Putamen is
involved in learning, damage to it can be correlated with the existence of Parkinsons disease.
Globus Pallidus- The Globus Pallidus is located in the limbic system as a part of the Basal
Ganglia. It is responsible for the regulation and coordination of voluntary movement.
Mammillary Bodies- The Mammillary Bodies are located above the Hypothalamus, and are
involved in the recollection of stored memories. They are also thought to be responsible for
the addition of smell to memories.
Substantia Nigra- The Substantia Nigra is located at the very bottom of the Limbic System,
and is involved in Eye movement, motor planning, learning, and even in reward seeking.
Brainstem/Hindbrain- The Brainstem/Hindbrain is located below the posterior portion of the
brain. The Brainstem/Hindbrain is the major component of the brain that is responsible for
most vital body processes, such as respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, as well as state of
consciousness.
Cerebellum- the cerebellum is located at the very back of the brain, attached to the Brain
stem and involved in the coordination, precision, timing, and accuracy of motor related
functions.
Pons- The Pons is located at the top of the brainstem and is involved in the secretion of
hormones which influence sleep.
Medulla Oblongata- The Medulla is located below the Pons and involved in the regulation of
reflexes such as blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.
Reticular Formation- The Reticular Formation is located in the brainstem and is responsible
for the internal sleep-wake cycle and the filtration of stimuli received through various ways
such as sight, smell, touch, etc
Endocrine System- The Endocrine system is located throughout the body and the brain a nd is
responsible for the secretion of hormones which alter the chemical balances of certain
substances in the body.
Function of the Brain and its components Carter Moody
Per 5
9/26/13
Pituitary Gland- The Pituitary Gland is located below the Hypothalamus and is composed of
both the Anterior and Posterior Pituitaries. Both are involved in the secretion of hormones
which influence levels of substances in the body.
Posterior Pituitary- The Posterior pituitary, located in the Pituitary Gland, is responsible for
the regulation of salt and water in the body.
Anterior Pituitary- The Anterior Pituitary, located in the Pituitary Gland, is responsible for
the secretion of Growth Hormones and others that influence the thyroid, pancreas, and
gonads.

Sources:
http://biology.about.com/
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/know_your_brain.htm
http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/brain.html
http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/brain/