Greta Zender - Brain Function Worksheet

Instructions: Complete this worksheet and upload it to the assignment.

• Think of an activity you do on a regular basis (playing guitar, jogging, etc.)
• Next to ALL brain structures below, write down what its role is in doing that activity.
Example: My selected activity is jumping rope. Medulla: increases my heart, breathing, and blood pressure to their
maximum as I jump rope. Pons: contorts my facial expression when I miss the rope and almost trip. Cerebellum:
maintains my balance even when I miss the rope and allows me to coordinate my arms and legs to swing the rope
and jump when the rope swings down. Students should include information for EVERY structure listed below.

Enter the activity you will be describing here: Running on a treadmill

Brain Stem Structures

1. Medulla: Focuses on my BPM, blood pressure, and breath control as I run certain speeds.
2. Pons: Relaxes my face so that I can focus on breathing and running rather than what my face
looks like.
3. Cerebellum: Allows me to stay centered on the treadmill, allows my arms and legs to move
regularly when running.
4. Midbrain: Processes my rate of movement, releases endorphins as I run.
5. Reticular Formation: Regulates quickly firing cells, causing me to stay awake and fully conscious
in the moment.
Subcortical Structures
1. Thalamus: The way my feet feel on the treadmill travels through the thalamus first.
2. Basal Ganglia: Allows for my body to run at a certain pace voluntarily.
3. Hypothalamus: Regulates my body temperature and thirst as I continuously run
4. Hippocampus: remembers my end goal and the speed at which I am running.
5. Cingulate Cortex: Decides the speed at which I am running and how long I intend to run for.
6. Amygdala: Occasionally causes my to think about what happened if I stopped while the
treadmill was still running, possibly causing injury.
7. Nucleus Accumbens: Reminds me of the rewards that come from working out, such as a treat
later or the goal of running a certain length or losing a certain amount of calories.
Cerebral Cortex Structures
1. Frontal Lobe: Helps determine and set a goal for what speeds to run at and for how long.
2. Occipital Lobe: Helps my body process the pace at which the treadmill track is running at.
3. Parietal Lobe: Helps to recognize the pace at which my feet are touching the track and how
hard.
4. Temporal Lobe: Recognizes a change in pace, the sound of the treadmill running, my feet
stepping on the track, and of stopping or pausing the treadmill.
5. Corpus Callosum: Ensures that my entire brain is aware of the fact that I am running, and
regulates the sending of signals from the left and right sides of my brain.