Brain Structure

and Function
Overview

 Lobes of the brain (Forebrain)

 Midbrain/Hindbrain
 Protection and Blood supply
 Structure and Function of a neuron
 Synaptic Transmission
 Neurotransmitters
The brain

 Most complex
organ of the body
 Only weighs 1,300
grams
 Contains billions of
neural networks
that interact to
create human
behaviour
 Forebrain
 Cerebrum and Cerebral cortex
 Left and Right Hemispheres
 Left hemisphere for most people is the
dominant hemisphere- responsible for
production of language, mathematical
ability, problem solving, logic
 Right hemisphere thought to be
responsible for creativity and spatial
ability
The lobes of the cerebral hemispheres

Planning, decision Sensory

making speech

Vision
Auditory
 The Cerebral Cortex
 Frontal Lobes
– involved in speaking and
muscle movements and in
making plans and judgments
– the “executive”
 Parietal Lobes
– include the sensory cortex
 The Cerebral Cortex
 Occipital Lobes
– include the visual areas, which
receive visual information from the
opposite visual field
 Temporal Lobes
– include the auditory areas, each of
which receives auditory information
primarily from the opposite ear
 The Cerebral Cortex

 Frontal (Forehead to top)  Motor Cortex

 Parietal (Top to rear)  Sensory Cortex
 Occipital (Back)  Visual Cortex
 Temporal (Above ears)  Auditory Cortex
Motor/Sensory Cortex

 Contralateral
 Homunculus
 Unequal
representation
Sensory Areas – Sensory
Homunculus

Figure 13.10
 The Cerebral Cortex
 Aphasia
 impairment of language, usually caused by left
hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area
(impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area
(impairing understanding) –see clips
 Broca’s Area
 an area of the left frontal lobe that directs the
muscle movements involved in speech
 Wernicke’s Area
 an area of the left temporal lobe involved in
language comprehension and expression
Language Areas

 Broca 
Expression
 Wernicke 
Comprehension
and reception
 Aphasias
LEFT HEMISPHERE
 Paul Broca [1800s]

• Suggested localization
 Techniques to examine functions
of the brain

1. Remove part of
the brain & see
what effect it has
on behavior

2. Examine humans
who have suffered
brain damage
Diencephalon
 Thalamus- filters sensory
information, controls
mood states and body
movement associated
with emotive states
 Hypothalamus- ‘Central
control’ for pituitary
gland. Regulates
autonomic, emotional,
endocrine and somatic
function. Has a direct
involvement in stress and (http://training.seer.cancer.gov/mod
mood states. ule_anatomy/unit5_3_nerve_org1_c
ns.html)
 Hindbrain

 Cerebellum- regulates equilibrium,

muscle tone, postural control, fine
movement and coordination of voluntary
muscle movement.
 Pons- Relay station between cerebrum
and cerebellum
(http://training.seer.cancer.gov/module_anatomy/unit6_3_endo_glnds1_pituitary.html )
 Medulla oblongata- Conscious control of
skeletal muscles, balance, co-ordination
regulating sound impulses in the inner ear,
regulation of automatic responses such as
heart rate, swallowing, vomiting, coughing
and sneezing
 Reticular Formation- Important in arousal
and maintaining consciousness, alertness
attention and Reticular Activating System
which controls all cyclic functions i.e.
respiration, circadian rhythm.
 Basal Ganglia- Control
of muscle tone,
activity, posture, large
muscle movements
and inhibit unwanted
muscle movements.

 Substatia Nigra-
Produces dopamine is
connected to the basal
ganglia. – EPSE’s
(Barlow and Durand , 2005)
The Limbic system
 Amygdala- mediates
and controls major
affective mood states
such as friendship ,
love, affection, fear,
rage and aggression.
 Hippocampus-
Memory, particularly
the ability to turn short
term memory into long
term memory.
Alzheimer's disease. (Barlow and Durand , 2005)