Brain Regions/Functions - Hindbrain, Midbrain, and Subcortical Forebrain Structures

Question 1

The hindbrain is located just above the spinal cord and includes the:

Answer 1

Medulla
Pons
Cerabellum

Question 2

This hindbrain structure is responsible for the involuntary mouth and throat movements involved in swallowing, coughing, and sneezing, and it regulates a number of functions that are essential for survival including respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure. Brain injury and certain diseases and drugs (especially opioids) can disrupt its functioning and result in death.

Answer 2

Medulla (or medulla oblongata)

Question 3

This hindbrain structure connects the two halves of the cerebellum and helps coordinate movements on the two sides of the body, and it relays messages between the cerebellum and cerebral cortex. It also plays a role in respiration and the regulation of deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Answer 3

Pons

Question 4

This hindbrain structure coordinates voluntary movements and is responsible for maintaining posture and balance. Damage can cause ataxia which is characterized by symptoms associated with alcohol intoxication and include a lack of muscle control, impaired balance and coordination, slurred speech, nystagmus (jerky eye movements), and blurred or double vision. This structure is important for processing and storing procedural memories (e.g., running, playing a musical instrument, driving a car) and other implicit memories (memories that operate on an unconscious, automatic level). It’s also involved in some non-motor cognitive functions including attention, linguistic processing, and visuospatial abilities.

Answer 4

Cerebellum

Question 5

The midbrain connects the hindbrain to the forebrain and includes…

Answer 5

Substantia nigra

Reticular formation

Question 6

This midbrain structure plays a role in reward-seeking, drug addiction, and, through its connection to the basal ganglia, motor control. Degeneration of dopamine-producing cells in this structure is a cause of the slowed movement, tremors, rigidity, and other motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Answer 6

Substantia nigra

Question 7

This midbrain structure consists of a network of neurons that extend from the medulla into the midbrain. It’s involved in a variety of functions including regulation of muscle tone, coordination of eye movements, and control of pain. It contains the reticular activating system (RAS) which is also known as the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS). The RAS mediates consciousness and arousal, controls the sleep/wake cycle, and alerts the cerebral cortex to incoming sensory signals. Lesions in the RAS can cause a comatose state, while direct electrical stimulation or stimulation by sensory input can awaken a sleeping person and cause an awake person to become more alert.

Answer 7

Reticular formation

Question 8

This substructure of the (midbrain) reticular formation mediates consciousness and arousal, controls the sleep/wake cycle, and alerts the cerebral cortex to incoming sensory signals. Lesions in this can cause a comatose state, while direct electrical stimulation or stimulation by sensory input can awaken a sleeping person and cause an awake person to become more alert.

Answer 8

Reticular activating system (RAS) or ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)

Question 9

Subcortical forebrain structures include:

Answer 9

Hypothalamus
Thalamus
Basal ganglia
Amygdala
Hippocampus

Question 10

Through its effects on the autonomic nervous system, somatic nervous system, and endocrine system, this subcortical forebrain structure helps maintain many aspects of the body’s homeostasis including body temperature, blood pressure, hunger, thirst, and sleep. In addition, it influences the development of secondary sex characteristics and sexual and reproductive behaviors by stimulating the pituitary gland to release sex hormones.

Answer 10

Hypothalamus

Question 11

This substructure of the (subcortical) hypothalamus plays a role in memories.

Answer 11

Mammillary bodies

Question 12

This substructure of the (subcortical) hypothalamus serves as the body’s biological clock and regulates the sleep-wake cycle and other circadian rhythms

Answer 12

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

Question 13

This subcortical forebrain structure is described as a “relay station” because it receives and then transmits sensory information to the cortex for all of the senses except smell. It also plays an important role in the coordination of sensory and motor functioning, language and speech, and declarative memory.

Answer 13

Thalamus

Question 14

This subcortical forebrain structure consist of the caudate nucleus, putamen, nucleus accumbens, and globus pallidus. These structures are involved in the initiation and control of voluntary movements, procedural and habit learning, cognitive functioning (e.g., attention and decision-making), and emotions. Damage to this has been linked to a number of conditions including mood disorders, schizophrenia, ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s disorder, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

Answer 14

Basal ganglia

Question 15

This collection of structures in the brain, which include the amygdala, cingulate cortex, and hippocampus, is known as:

Answer 15

the limbic system

Question 16

This subcortical structure plays an important role in the experience of emotions, recognition of fear and other emotions in facial expressions, acquisition of conditioned fear responses, evaluation of the emotional significance of events, and attachment of emotions to memories. With regard to memory, the it is involved in the formation of flashbulb memories, which are vivid and enduring memories for surprising and shocking events.

Answer 16

Amygdala

Question 17

This subcortical structure of the limbic system contains the cingulate gyrus and cingulate sulcus and plays a role in motivation, memory, and emotions, including emotional reactions to pain. People with damage to the structure experience pain but are not emotionally distressed by it. Abnormalities here have also been linked to major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder

Answer 17

Cingulate cortex

Question 18

This subcortical structure of the limbic system is responsible for transferring declarative memories from short-term to long-term memory and plays an important role in spatial memory (memory for the spatial characteristics of the environment). The impact of damage to this on memory is demonstrated by research linking the degeneration of cells in it and entorhinal cortex (an area adjacent) to the impairments in episodic memory and spatial navigation associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Answer 18

hippocampus