Brain

• The brain controls complex behaviour. It is made of billions of interconnected neurones and has different regions that carry out different functions
• The cerebral cortex is responsible for consciousness, intelligence, memory and language
• The medulla controls unconscious activities like breathing and the heartbeat
• The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system
• The cerebellum is responsible for muscle coordination
• The brain has many different functions

  
• Studying patients with brain damage can tell neuroscientists what the damaged part of the brain does
• Electrically stimulating the brain can be achieved by pushing an electrode into the brain and giving it a small zap of electricity which can show what different parts of the brain do when stimulated
• MRI scans can give a detailed picture of the brains structures and can be used to see what parts of the brain are active when doing certain activities
• Knowledge of the brain can lead to developing more treatments for disorders of the nervous system
• The brain is complex and delicate so investigating and treating the brain can lead to physical damage and problems with brain function
• The hypothalamus controls temperature in the body