Powerpoint Chapter 4 - Cerebral cortex is the main brain...

• Cerebral cortex is the main brain
• Cerebellum is “back brain”/little brain in back
• The Brainstem is made of the Midbrain, the Pons, and the Medulla , which is
then followed by the Spinal Cord (Figure 4.4)
• Spinal Cord
o Capable of autonomous function
o Grey Matter
o White Matter
o Spinal Reflexes
 Example: The Stretch Reflex
• Brainstem
o Houses the basic programs of survival
o A complement of survival reflexes (gagging, breathing, swallowing, etc)
o Uses spinal reflexes to produce useful behavior
o The reticular formation and sleep
o “inner core” of brain; regulates life-support
o Rests atop and connects to spinal cord
o Contains medulla (vital involuntary functions), pons , reticular
formation (sleep, arousal, attention)
o Attaches to Cerebellum (balance/movement)
• Cerebellum
o Essential for movement
• Subcortical structures
o Control basic drives and emotions
• Cerebral cortex
o Underlies complex mental activity
• Limbic System
o Separate the “older” (brainstem and cerebellum) from the “newer”
(cerebral cortex) parts of the brain
o Critical to Motivation, Emotion, Memory
o Consists of Hypothalamus, Thalamus , Hippocampus, Amygdala, and
Basal Ganglia
 Thalamus
• Sensory Relay Station (gateway to cortex)
 Amygdala
• Aggression Center (emotion)
 Hippocampus
• Memory formation
 Hypothalamus
•