The brain

• Function of the cerebral cortex

  controls consciousness, intelligence, memory and language
• Function of the cerebellum

  controls muscular coordination
• Function of the medulla

  controls unconscious activities
• Why is the investigation and treatment of the brain difficult?

  • brain is complex and delicate
  • easily damaged and destroyed
  • certain membranes prevent drugs from reaching the brain
  • exact function of each part of the brain is unknown
• What methods are used to determine brain function

  • studying patients with brain damage: damaged regions may have been involved in things they can no longer do
  • electrical stimulation of the brain: see what happens in regions
  • MRI scans: when someone is doing something to see which regions are active