Left hemisphere and holism

Question 1

What are the areas of the left hemisphere of the brain?

Answer 1

• Cerebral cortex
• Corpus callosum
• Limbic system
• Brain stem
• Cerebellum

Question 2

What is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 2

Outer layer of the cerebrum, covers the hemispheres of the brain.
Folds increase the surface area.
Home to ‘higher’ functions - reasoning, language, morals.
Appears grey because of cell bodies ‘grey-matter’.

Question 3

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 3

Bundles of millions of connective fibres (axons) join the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum. These axons form the ‘white matter’ of the brain.

Question 4

What is the limbic system?

Answer 4

Includes amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus and other areas.
Involved in many of our emotions and motivations, particularly those that are related to survival such as fear, anger and sexual behaviour.

Question 5

What is the brain stem?

Answer 5

Controls heart, breathing, involuntary actions.

Question 6

What is the cerebellum?

Answer 6

Responsible for motor actions such as balance, posture and smooth movement.