The 'lower brain' supporting bodily functions, movement, and balance; includes brainstem, medulla, pons, cerebellum, and part of the reticular formation.
Medulla
Continuation of the spine; controls breathing, heartbeat, and digestion.
Pons
Receives visual information to control eye and body actions; sits above the medulla.
Cerebellum
Walnut-shaped area that coordinates body movement; receives information from the pons.
Midbrain
Sits above the hindbrain and below the forebrain; regulates sleep, motormovement, and arousal.
Reticular Formation
Network of neurons part of both midbrain and hindbrain; important in control of arousal and sleeping/wakingcycle.
Forebrain
Includes cerebrum, hypothalamus, and thalamus; responsible for higher brain functions.
Cerebrum
Biggest part of the forebrain; covered by cerebral cortex and divided into left and righthemispheres.
Hypothalamus
Small structure controlling basic survivalactions like sleep, bodytemperature, emotions, and 'F's - feeding, fighting, fleeing, and fornication.
Thalamus
Communications center of the brain; receives sensory information from ears, eyes, and skin (except nose) and regulates overall activity in the cortex.