| Structure | Location | Functions |
|---|
Hindbrain
(Reptilian Brain) | | |
|
Medulla | at the top of the spinal cord | Medulla controls breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. |
|
Pons | hind brain | Pons regulates sensory information and facial expressions. |
|
Cerebellum | at the lower rear | controls movement, coordination, balance, muscle tone, and learning motor skills. |
|
Reticular Formation | a network of nerves extends from the medulla to the cerebrum | monitors the general level of activity in the hindbrain and maintains a state of arousal; essential for the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. |
|
Midbrain (superior & inferior colliculus) | above the pons between the hindbrain and forebrain | relays sensory information from the spinal cord to the forebrain. |
|
Pineal Gland | on top of the midbrain behind the thalamus (thethird eye¤ for fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and some birds) | involves in circadian and circannual rhythms; possibly involves in maturation of sex organs. |
Limbic System
(Mammalian Brain) | | |
|
Thalamus | in the middle of the limbic system | relays incoming information (except smell) to the appropriate part of the brain for further processing. |
|
Hypothalamus, Pituitary Gland | beneath thalamus | regulates basic biological drives, hormonal levels, sexual behavior, and controls autonomic functions such as hunger, thirst, and body temperature. |
|
Optic Chiasm | in front of the pituitary gland | left-right optic nerves cross-over point. |
|
Septum | adjacent to hypothalamus | stimulates sexual pleasure |
|
Hippocampus | within the temporal lobe | mediates learning and memory formation. |
|
Amygdala | in front of the hippocampus | responsible for anxiety, emotion, and fear |
|
Mammillary Body, Fornix | linked to the hippocampus | have a role in emotional behavior, learning, and motivation. |
|
Caudate Nucleus, Putamen, Globus Pallidus,Basal Ganglia (Striatum) | outside the thalamus | involves in movement, emotions, planning and in integrating sensory information |
|
Ventricles and Central Canal | from tiny central canal within the spinal cord to the enlarged hollows within the skull called ventricles | fills with cerebrospinal fluid for mechanical protection. |
|
Cingulate Gyrus | above corpus callosum | concentrates attention on adverse internal stimuli such as pain, contains the feeling of self. |
|
Corpus Callosum | under the cingulate gyrus | is a bundle of nerve fibers linking the cerebral hemispheres, involve in language learning. |
Forebrain
(Human Brain) | | |
Frontal Lobe
(Conscious Brain) | in front of the head | controls voluntary movement, thinking, and feeling. |
|
Prefrontal Cortex | in front of the frontal lobe | inhibits inappropriate actions, forms plans and concepts, helps focus attention, and bestows meaning to perceptions. |
|
Parietal Lobe | in top rear of the head | contains the primary somatosensory area that manages skin sensation. |
|
Occipital Lobe | in the back of the head | contains the visual cortex to manage vision. |
|
Temporal Lobe | on each side of the head above the temples | contains the auditory cortex to manage hearing and speech. |
