"The brain consists of the cerebrum, the brainstem and the cerebellum."
Understanding the structure and function of the brain is essential to understanding how it works. Learn about the major structures and their functions.
The Nervous System: The nervous system is the body's communication network, consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
Neurons and Glia: Neurons are the building blocks of the nervous system, and glia are the supportive cells that help neurons function.
Brain Structures: This includes the different regions of the brain, such as the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and brainstem, and their functions.
Neurotransmitters: These chemicals allow neurons to communicate with each other across synapses.
Brain Development: How the brain develops from infancy to adulthood, including milestones in brain maturation.
Brain Plasticity: The brain's ability to adapt and change in response to new experiences or damage.
Neuroimaging: This includes methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, used to visualize the brain and its structures.
Sensory Systems: How the brain processes and interprets different types of sensory information, such as vision, hearing, and touch.
Motor Systems: How the brain controls voluntary movement, including the role of the motor cortex and basal ganglia.
Memory and Learning: The mechanisms behind how memories are formed and retrieved, and how the brain learns and adapts to new information.
Emotions and Motivation: The neural circuits underlying emotions, motivation, and reward.
Neuropsychological Disorders: Various conditions that affect brain function, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and traumatic brain injury.
Cerebrum: The largest part of the human brain, responsible for conscious thought, learning, and higher-order cognitive processing.
Cerebellum: Located at the back of the brain, this region is responsible for fine motor coordination, balance, and proprioception.
Brainstem: The lower part of the brain that connects the cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord. The brainstem performs vital functions such as regulating breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Diencephalon: Located between the cerebrum and brainstem, the diencephalon includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland. This region plays a critical role in regulating the body's internal environment, including temperature, thirst, and hunger cues.
Basal Ganglia: A group of subcortical nuclei that are responsible for motor control, particularly in initiating and stopping movements.
Limbic System: This region includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and cingulate gyrus, among other structures. It is involved in emotion, motivation, memory, and social behavior.
Ventricles: Fluid-filled spaces in the brain that serve as a cushion against injury, help remove waste products, and facilitate the flow of neurotransmitters.
Corpus Callosum: A thick band of neural fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain and allows for communication between them.
Gray and White Matter: Gray matter refers to the brain's cell bodies and synapses, while white matter consists of axons (the fibers that communicate information between neurons).
Meninges: Three layers of protective tissue that surround the brain and spinal cord: the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.
Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Occipital Lobe, and Temporal Lobe: The four primary lobes of the brain, each with its specific functions, including movement, sensation, vision, and hearing, respectively.
"The cerebral cortex – composed of grey matter – processes, integrates, and coordinates the information it receives from the sense organs, and makes decisions as to the instructions sent to the rest of the body."
"Each hemisphere is conventionally divided into four lobes – the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes. The frontal lobe is associated with executive functions including self-control, planning, reasoning, and abstract thought, while the occipital lobe is dedicated to vision."
"Although the left and right hemispheres are broadly similar in shape and function, some functions are associated with one side, such as language in the left and visual-spatial ability in the right."
"The cerebrum is connected by the brainstem to the spinal cord."
"The cerebellum is connected to the brainstem and helps with motor coordination, posture, and balance."
"Underneath the cerebral cortex are several important structures, including the thalamus, the hypothalamus, and the pituitary gland."
"The cells of the brain include neurons and supportive glial cells."
"There are more than 86 billion neurons in the brain."
"Brain activity is made possible by the interconnections of neurons and their release of neurotransmitters in response to nerve impulses."
"The brain is protected by the skull, suspended in cerebrospinal fluid, and isolated from the bloodstream by the blood–brain barrier."
"Damage can be caused by trauma or a loss of blood supply known as a stroke."
"The brain is susceptible to degenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis."
"Psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia and clinical depression, are thought to be associated with brain dysfunctions."
"Numerous techniques are used to study the brain, including functional neuroimaging and electroencephalography (EEG) recordings."
"The pseudoscience of phrenology attempted to localize personality attributes to regions of the cortex in the 19th century."
"In science fiction, brain transplants are imagined in tales such as the 1942 Donovan's Brain."
"The study of the anatomy of the brain is neuroanatomy."
"The study of the function of the brain is neuroscience."
"Neuroscience research has expanded considerably, and research is ongoing."