melatonin, brain stem

• Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness
• It helps with the timing of your circadian rhythms (24-hour internal clock) and with sleep.
• Being exposed to light at night can block melatonin production
• Brain stem - Connects the spinal cord to the remainder of brain
• 3 parts of brainstem

  • Medulla Oblongata
  • Pons
  • Midbrain
• Midbrain - The top part of your brainstem.
• The midbrain is involved in several functions, including motor control, particularly eye movements and processing of vision and hearing
• Pons - The middle portion of your brainstem that coordinates face and eye movements, facial sensations, hearing and balance.
• Medulla oblongata -The bottom part of your brainstem that regulates your breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure and swallowing