The Thalamus


Diagram of Brain...

The Thalamus

The thalamus is sort of the hub for all sensory information in the brain, sort of like the mailroom in a large office building. Almost all signals that go into or come out of the brain pass through the thalamus. While the thalamus has long been thought to be just a relay station, new research suggests that it is much more complicated. For instance it is in some way related to sleep and wakefulness. Finally, the hypothalamus is the brain part that controls many hormones and regulates other important bodily functions including hunger, thirst, body temperature, and even breast feeding.

Diagram of brain....

diagram-of-brain-frontal-lobe

The Limbic System


The Limbic System
Diagram of Brain..
The brain parts that you do not often see in drawings is found deep within the brain. This brain part is called the limbic system and is involved in emotions and basic drives. Some refer to the limbic system as the lower brain, not only because of where it is located, but because it handles the things about us that are a bit less civilized. For example, the amygdala and nucleus accumbens are important for processing fear and reward. They are also involved in drug, alcohol and other addictions. The cingulate gyrus runs the day to day activities of the body that we do not directly control, like heart rate and blood pressure.

One interesting part of the limbic system that actually resides in the parietal cortex is called the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the brain part that forms memories. You have one of these on each side of the brain. If one hippocampus is injured, say by a stroke, the other one will still allow your brain to make memories. However, if both hippocampi are removed, as was once done through surgery, then you cannot form new memories! This horrible thing happened to a person that underwent surgery to prevent almost continuous, life-ruining seizures. After the surgery, it was found that the person could only remember things that happened prior to the surgery and could not make new memories. Each day, in fact each new moment was a confusing, perpetual question of “How did I get here?” Needless to say this surgery never happens anymore but this terribly unfortunate occurrence demonstrates the importance of the hippocampus in memory.
Diagram of Brain...

DIAGRAM OF BRAIN (Temporal Lobe)









DIAGRAM OF BRAIN

Temporal Lobe - There are two temporal lobes, one on each side of the brain located at about the level of the ears. These lobes allow a person to tell one smell from another and one sound from another. They also help in sorting new information and are believed to be responsible for short-term memory.

Right Lobe - Mainly involved in visual memory (i.e., memory for pictures and faces).

Left Lobe - Mainly involved in verbal memory (i.e., memory for words and names).
Diagram of Brain...

DIAGRAM OF BRAIN (Temporal Lobe)










DIAGRAM OF BRAIN

Temporal Lobe - There are two temporal lobes, one on each side of the brain located at about the level of the ears. These lobes allow a person to tell one smell from another and one sound from another. They also help in sorting new information and are believed to be responsible for short-term memory.

Brain Right Lobe - Mainly involved in visual memory (i.e., memory for pictures and faces).

Brain Left Lobe - Mainly involved in verbal memory (i.e., memory for words and names).

Diagram of Brain

diagramofbrain-/thalamus.

DIAGRAM OF BRAIN (Parietal Lobe)









DIAGRAM OF BRAIN

Parietal Lobe - One of the two parietal lobes of the brain located behind the frontal lobe at the top of the brain.

Parietal Lobe, Right - Damage to this area can cause visuo-spatial deficits (e.g., the patient may have difficulty finding their way around new, or even familiar, places).

Parietal Lobe, Left - Damage to this area may disrupt a patient's ability to understand spoken and/or written language.

The parietal lobes contain the primary sensory cortex which controls sensation (touch, pressure). Behind the primary sensory cortex is a large association area that controls fine sensation (judgment of texture, weight, size, shape)
Diagram of Brain
diagram-of-brain-cerebellum.

DIAGRAM OF BRAIN (Occipital Lobe)



















DIAGRAM OF BRAIN

Occipital Lobe -
Region in the back of the brain which processes visual information. Not only is the occipital lobe mainly responsible for visual reception, it also contains association areas that help in the visual recognition of shapes and colors. Damage to this lobe can cause visual deficits.
Diagram of Brain....

DIAGRAM OF BRAIN (Frontal Lobe)


DIAGRAM OF BRAIN
Frontal Lobe
- Front part of the brain; involved in planning, organizing, problem solving, selective attention, personality and a variety of "higher cognitive functions" including behavior and emotions.


The anterior (front) portion of the frontal lobe is called the prefrontal cortex. It is very important for the "higher cognitive functions" and the determination of the personality.

The posterior (back) of the frontal lobe consists of the premotor and motor areas. Nerve cells that produce movement are located in the motor areas. The premotor areas serve to modify movements.

The frontal lobe is divided from the parietal lobe by the central culcus.
Diagram of Brain.
diagram-of-brain.