Brain parts

base of the skull

involved in sleeping, waking, and dreaming

responsible for bodily functions that do not have to be consciously willed, such as breathing and heart rate

has connections with higher areas, screens incoming information and arouses the higher centers when something happens that demands their attention

“lesser brain,“ contributes to a sense of balance and coordinates the muscles so that movement is smooth and precise

deep in the brain’s interior, directs sensory messages to higher centers

private switching station

involved in drives associated with the survival of both the individual and the species, regulates body temperature and controls the autonomic nervous system, biological clock

structures form a border between the higher and lower parts of the brain, heavily involved in emotions

responsible for evaluating sensory information, quickly determining its emotional importance, and contributing to the initial decision to approach or withdraw from a person or situation

compares sensory info with what the brain has learned to expect about the world

stabilization of memories

the higher forms of thinking take place

two separate halves the cerebrum is divided into

large band of fibers

two hemispheres have somewhat different tasks and talents

thin layers of densely-packed cells that covers the cerebrum

lower back part of the brain

where visual signals are processed

top of the brain

receives info about pressure, pain, touch, and temperature from all over the body

involved in memory, perception, and emotion

processes sound

left of the temporal lobe, involved in language comprehension

contain motor cortex

issues orders to the 600 muscles of the body that produce voluntary movement

handles speech production

silent areas, involved in higher mental processes

personality

one side of the brain controls the other