"Physiologically, brains exert centralized control over a body's other organs."
Overview of the different parts of the brain, including the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. Detailed discussion on the different lobes of the brain and their corresponding functions.
Neurons: Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system. They are specialized cells that transmit information throughout the body.
Synapses: Synapses are the connections between neurons that allow them to communicate with each other. They are critical for learning and memory.
Brain regions: The brain is divided into several regions that are responsible for specific functions, such as the cerebellum (coordination and balance) and the cortex (thinking and reasoning).
Neurotransmitters: Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals between neurons. They play a critical role in mood, behavior, and cognitive functioning.
Central nervous system: The central nervous system (CNS) includes the brain and spinal cord. It is responsible for processing and interpreting sensory information and coordinating motor responses.
Peripheral nervous system: The peripheral nervous system includes all of the nerves outside of the CNS. It is responsible for transmitting sensory information to the CNS and controlling motor responses.
Neuroplasticity: Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change and adapt in response to new experiences. It plays a critical role in learning, memory, and recovery from injury.
Brain development: The brain undergoes significant development throughout childhood and adolescence, with certain regions maturing at different rates.
Brain disorders: Numerous disorders can affect the brain and nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Brain imaging: Advances in brain imaging techniques such as MRI and fMRI have revolutionized our understanding of the brain and its functions.
Cerebrum: The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is divided into two hemispheres. It is responsible for conscious thought, sensory perception, and voluntary movement.
Cerebellum: The cerebellum is located at the back of the brain and is responsible for coordinating movement, balance, and posture.
Brainstem: The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and is responsible for controlling many automatic functions of the body, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Thalamus: The thalamus is located in the center of the brain and acts as a relay station for sensory information, including touch, taste, sight, and hearing.
Hypothalamus: The hypothalamus is located below the thalamus and is responsible for regulating many of the body's hormonal and metabolic functions, such as hunger, thirst, body temperature, and sleep.
Basal ganglia: The basal ganglia are a group of interconnected structures located deep within the brain that are responsible for controlling motor movements and posture.
Limbic system: The limbic system is a network of interconnected structures that are responsible for regulating emotions, learning, memory, and motivation.
Corpus callosum: The corpus callosum is a band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the cerebrum and allows for communication between them.
Ventricles: The ventricles are a series of interconnected fluid-filled spaces within the brain that produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid, which helps cushion and protect the brain.
Reticular activating system: The reticular activating system is a network of neurons that extends from the brainstem to the thalamus and is responsible for regulating arousal, attention, and wakefulness.
"It is located in the head, usually close to the sensory organs for senses such as vision."
"It is the most complex organ in a vertebrate's body."
"The cerebral cortex contains approximately 14–16 billion neurons."
"The estimated number of neurons in the cerebellum is 55–70 billion."
"These neurons typically communicate with one another by means of long fibers called axons, which carry trains of signal pulses called action potentials to distant parts of the brain or body targeting specific recipient cells."
"Brains act on the rest of the body both by generating patterns of muscle activity and by driving the secretion of chemicals called hormones."
"This centralized control allows rapid and coordinated responses to changes in the environment."
"Sophisticated purposeful control of behavior based on complex sensory input requires the information integrating capabilities of a centralized brain."
"Some basic types of responsiveness such as reflexes can be mediated by the spinal cord or peripheral ganglia."
"Recent models in modern neuroscience treat the brain as a biological computer, very different in mechanism from a digital computer, but similar in the sense that it acquires information from the surrounding world, stores it, and processes it in a variety of ways."
"This article compares the properties of brains across the entire range of animal species, with the greatest attention to vertebrates."
"The ways in which the human brain differs from other brains are covered in the human brain article."
"The most important that are covered in the human brain article are brain disease and the effects of brain damage."
"The brain acquires information from the surrounding world."
"The brain stores information acquired from the surrounding world."
"The brain processes information acquired from the surrounding world."
"Each neuron is connected by synapses to several thousand other neurons."
"Brains generate patterns of muscle activity."
"Brains drive the secretion of chemicals called hormones."