Made up of billions of interconnected nerve cells, holds all of our thoughts and memories, responsible for complex behaviors
Brain regions
Cerebral cortex/cerebrum
Cerebellum
Hypothalamus
Brain stem/medulla
Cerebral cortex/cerebrum
Responsible for consciousness, intelligence, memory, language, vision, hearing
Cerebellum
Responsible for controlling balance and muscle coordination
Hypothalamus
Involved in regulating body temperature and sending signals to the pituitary gland
Brain stem/medulla
Controls unconscious activities like breathing and heartbeat
How scientists study the brain
1. Study people with brain damage
2. Electrically stimulate different parts of the brain
3. Use brain scanning techniques (CT, PET, MRI)
CT scans are mainly used for seeing which areas of the brain are damaged
PET and MRI scans are better at measuring the underlying activity of the brain
The brain is difficult to treat due to the wide range of things that can go wrong, it being encased in the skull and fragile brain tissue, and the brain's complexity
