structure of the brain

• Hindbrain


  • Base of the brain around the brain stem
  • Link between spinal cords and brain
• Parts of the hindbrain

  • Cerebellum
  • Medulla
  • Pons
• Medulla


  • Controls bodily functions (including swallowing, breathing, heart rate, blood pressure)
• Pons


  • Controls sleeping, dreaming and arousal from sleep (waking)
  • Also involved in breathing and muscle coordination
  • Also relays messages to midbrain and forebrain
• Cerebellum


  • Coordinates fine muscle movement, regulates balance and posture
  • Essential for smooth/precise movement
• Midbrain


  • Central part of the brain
  • Involved in vision, hearing, motor control, sleep, alertness and temperature regulation
• Reticular formation

  • A network of neurons which runs through from the hindbrain up to the forebrain
  • Alters other parts of the brain to important info
  • Maintains consciousness
  • Regulates sleep/arousal/muscle tension
• Forebrain


  • Largest part of the brain
  • Regulates complex cognitive processes
  • Regulates thinking, learning and memory
• Parts of the forebrain

  • Cerebrum
  • Hypothalamus
  • Thalamus
• Cerebrum

  • Most recognised as the 'brain'
  • Split into hemispheres
• Hypothalamus

  • Regulates survival actions of body (Temperature, expression of emotion, sleep etc)
• Thalamus

  • Receives incoming sensory information and relays to cerebral cortex for processing
  • Involved in helping to determine which sensory information requires attention
  • Individuals with ADHD have abnormalities in their thalamus