Brain regions

• What does the forebrain consist of?


  Diencephalon

  Telencephalon

  Limbic system
• What makes up the diencephalon?


  thalamus

  • gateway to the cortex
  • all sensory except the olfaction relays to the thalamus before terminating in the cerebral cortex

  hypothalamus

  • key to control hormones and homeostasis
  • controls autonomic nervous system by causing the release of hormones
• What makes up the telencephalon?


  Cerebral cortex

  • higher level functioning

  basal ganglia

  • controls voluntary movements
  • made of 4 major groups of neurone
  • striatum (caudate and putamen)
  • gloves pallidus
  • subthalamic nucleus
  • substantia nigra
• What makes up the limbic system?


  hypothalamus

  hippocampus

  • establishes memories
  • memory retrieval
  • understanding spatial relationships

  amygdala

  • fear and threat detection

  cingulate cortex

  anterior thalamus

  mammillary bodies
• what does the midbrain consist of?


  tectum - auditory and visual processing

  tegmentum - coordination of movement, pain processing and alertness

  reticular formation - regulates sleep and activity
• what does the hindbrain consist of?


  pons

  • on top of the brain stem
  • bridge connecting the cerebrum with the medulla oblongata and cerebellum

  cerebellum

  • composed of grey and white matter
  • important in voluntary movement, body position and motor learning

  medulla oblongata

  • relays motor and sensory signals between spinal cord and higher brain regions
  • reflex control centre