The Cerebral Cortex is split into four LOBES

• The Cerebral Cortex is split into four LOBES, with half of each one on the left, and half of each one on the right: – The FRONTAL LOBE – The PARIETAL LOBE – The OCCIPITAL LOBE – The TEMPORAL LOBE

• The Frontal Lobes are the portions of the cortex lying just behind the forehead • Mostly involved in abstract thought, speaking, muscle movements, making plans, and judgments

• The Frontal Lobes

• In the left frontal lobe specifically, there is an association area called Broca’s Area

• Broca’s Area controls language expression and the muscle’s involved with producing speech

• Along the top of both frontal lobes runs the motor cortex Sensory Motor Integration

• The motor cortex sends messages back to the muscles of the body in order to control voluntary movements.

• The Parietal Lobes are the portion of the cortex lying at the top of the head, and includes the sensory (or somato -sensory) cortex

• The sensory cortex registers and processes touch sensations, temperature, pressure.

• The parietal lobes play important roles in integrating sensory touch information, and in the handling and manipulation of objects.

• The Temporal Lobes are the portions of the cerebral cortex roughly located above the ears • The functions of the temporal lobes are generally specific to audio processing, and may extend to comprehension, naming, verbal memory and other language functions.

• In the left temporal lobe specifically, there is an association area called Wernicke’s Area

• Wernicke’s Area interprets both written and spoken language.

• Aphasia is a disorder of either Broca’s or Wernicke’s areas. • You may be able to comprehend, but cannot intelligibly communicate, or vice-versa.

• Broca’s Aphasia - Broca's aphasia characterizes patients as people who have loss the production of complete sentence structures in speech and writing. • Wernicke’s Aphasia - Individuals with Wernicke's aphasia speak in long, uninterrupted sentences; however, the words used are frequently unnecessary or even made-up. They have a great deal of difficulty understanding other people's speech, sometimes to the point of being unable to understand spoken or written language at all.

• The Occipital Lobes are located at the back of the head. • The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information.

• Collectively, the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and the amygdala are known as the Limbic System as well

• The THALAMUS receives sensory input from all of the senses except smell, and routes it to the proper area of the brain for processing

• The HYPOTHALAMUS is responsible for several maintenance activities, including eating, drinking, body temperature, and sexual arousal

• The HYPOTHALAMUS also relays communication between the brain and the endocrine system, via the pituitary gland, and then monitors the hormones released into the bloodstream

• The HIPPOCAMPUS is essential to transferring short term memory to long term memory

• The AMYGDALA: –Processes and recognizes emotions, especially those tied to anger, disgust, fear –Emotional aspects of memory stored here

II. The Midbrain • The Midbrain is located in the center of the brain and connects the forebrain to the hindbrain. It assists in: –Motor control –Hearing –Alertness and sleep/wake cycles –Temperature regulation

• The RETICULAR FORMATION runs from the spine up and through the midbrain and connects to the thalamus. It is responsible for: – Visual tracking – Relaying audio and visual information to the cerebellum – Pain sensations – Attentiveness and consciousness – Selective attention

III. The Hindbrain

• The hindbrain is the oldest and innermost region of the brain. It independently controls most life-sustaining functions of the body.

• There are three brain areas associated with the Hindbrain: –Medulla –Cerebellum –Pons

• The point at which the spinal cord enters the skull is called the MEDULLA. It is responsible for: –Involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.

• Extending from the rear of the brainstem is the CEREBELLUM • The CEREBELLUM coordinates voluntary movements and fine motor skills

• The PONS is responsible for – Sleep – Respiration – Swallowing – Bladder control – Eye movement – Facial expressions – Posture – Sleep paralysis – Generates the dreams of REM sleep