Brain anatomy

Question 1

Cerebellum

Answer 1

The cerebellum is the area at the back and bottom of the brain, behind the brainstem. The cerebellum has several functions relating to movement and coordination, including: Maintaining balance: The cerebellum has special sensors that detect shifts in balance and movement.

Question 2

Cerebrum

Answer 2

the principal and most anterior part of the brain in vertebrates, located in the front area of the skull and consisting of two hemispheres, left and right, separated by a fissure. It is responsible for the integration of complex sensory and neural functions and the initiation and coordination of voluntary activity in the body.

Question 3

neocortex

Answer 3

outer most layer of the brain, the thinking brain. Superficial to the limbic brain and reptilian brain (made up of the pontine tegentum medulla oblongata and peripheral and enteric nervous system

Question 4

corpus callosum

Answer 4

The corpus callosum consists of a large bundle of fibers connecting the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Each hemisphere controls movement in the opposite (contralateral) side of the body and can also specialize in performing specific cognitive and perceptual functions. The corpus callosum allows information to move between hemispheres and is therefore a very important integrative structure.

Hutchinson and colleagues (2008) review evidence that children with ADHD may have a smaller splenium (part of the corpus callosum) than controls (Pubmed ID number: 18444712).

Tomimoto and colleagues (2004) report an association between corpus callosum atrophy and Alzheimer’s disease (Pubmed ID number: 15083283).

Walterfang and colleagues (2008) show that reductions in the thickness of the anterior corpus callosum are predictive of a transition to psychosis in schizophrenic patients (Pubmed ID number: 18562178).

Question 5

Frontal lobes

Answer 5

The Frontal Lobe
Overview
The frontal lobes are part of the cerebral cortex and are the largest of the brain’s structures. They are the main site of so–called ‘higher’ cognitive functions. The frontal lobes contain a number of important substructures, including the prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, motor and premotor cortices, and Broca’s area. These substructures are involved in attention and thought, voluntary movement, decision–making, and language.

Case study
Although no longer a common practice, approximately 40,000 people in the United States have received prefrontal lobotomy to treat a variety of personality and cognitive disorders. This highly controversial practice involves destroying or severing the connections to the prefrontal cortex and often results in impaired voluntary behavior.

Associated functions
Executive processes (voluntary behavior such as decision making, planning, problem–solving, and thinking), voluntary motor control, cognition, intelligence, attention, language processing and comprehension, and many others.

Associated cognitive disorders
The frontals lobes are the brain’s largest structures and consequently have been associated with a large number of disorders. These include ADHD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder (prefrontal cortex).

Associated with damage
Paralysis
Loss of spontaneity in social interactions
Mood changes
An inability to express language
Atypical social skills and personality traits

Substructures
Prefrontal cortex
Orbitofrontal cortex
Premotor cortex
Motor cortex
Broca's area
Frontal eye fields
Middle frontal gyrus
Inferior frontal gyrus

Research reviews
Aron and colleagues (2007) review evidence from a number of sources that a neural network consisting of neurons in the frontal lobes and basal ganglia is involved in inhibiting motor movements. This network may be impaired in ADHD (Pubmed ID number: 17978025).

Berger and colleagues (2007) examine how the maturation of the frontal areas of the brain facilitates self–regulation. This may have special relevance for ADHD (Pubmed ID number: 17651888).

Hon (2007) reviews the part played by frontoparietal activity in arriving at cognition and the role of this activity in representing behaviorally relevant information (Pubmed ID number: 17982567).

Jung and Haier (2007) review evidence for a parieto–frontal integration theory of intelligence to examine the expression of intelligence and reason (Pubmed ID number: 17655784).

Jurado and Rosselli (2007) review current research on executive functions such as goal–directed plans, effective performance, and the ability to inhibit overlearned behavior (Pubmed ID number: 17786559).

Question 6

Corticol

Answer 6

the outer layer of the cerebrum

Question 7

Nervous system breakdown

Answer 7

Central and peripheral

Peripheral;
Somatic; control muscles and conveys sensory info back to brain
autonomic

autonomic;
organ functions, blood shunting
sympathetic; fight flight
parasympathetic; rest and digest