Brain Functions

Front 1

Cerebrum

Back 1

Sensory areas interpret impulses as sensations. Motor areas control voluntary muscle actions. Association areas interrelate various sensory and motor areas and are involve in intellectual processes, will, memory, emotions, and personality traits. the limbic system is involved with emotions as the relate to survival behavior.

Front 2

Cerebellum

Back 2

Controls posture, balance, and the coordination of skeletal muscle contraction.

Front 3

Diencephalon:

Thalamus

Back 3

Recieves and relays sensory impulses (except smell) to the cerebrum and motor impulses to lower brain centers. Provides a general awareness of pain, touch. posture. and temperature and determines sensations as pleasant or unpleasant.

Front 4

Diencephalon:

Hypothalamus

Back 4

Serves as a major control center for the autonomic nervous system. Controls water and mineral balance, heart rate and blood pressure, appetite and digestive activity, body temperature, and sexual response. Is involved in sleep and wakefulness and in emotions of anger and fear. Regulates functions of the pituitary gland.

Front 5

Brain Stem:

Midbrain

Back 5

Relays sensory impulses from the spinal cord to the thalamus and motor impulses from the cerebrum to the spinal cord. Contains reflux centers that move eyeballs in response to visual stimuli and head and neck in response to auditory stimuli.

Front 6

Brain Stem:

Pons

Back 6

Relays impulses between the midbrain and the medulla and between the cerebellar hemispheres. Helps medulla control breathing.

Front 7

Brain Stem:

Medulla

Back 7

Relays impulses between the brain and spinal cord. Reflux centers control heart rate, blood vessel diameter, breahing, swallowing, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, hiccuping. Sensory and motor fibers cross over to the opposite side. Reticular formation ( Also in midbrain and pons) control wakefulness.