The Cerebral Cortex
The cerebral cortex is the part of the brain that makes human beings unique.
It is the outermost portion that can be divided into four lobes.
The Four Lobes
The cerebral cortex can be divided into four sections, known as lobes.
MedicalRF.com/Getty Images
It is associated with processing tactile sensory information such as pressure, touch, andpain.
It is also known as thesomatosensory homunculus.
Damage to the temporal lobe can lead to problems with memory, sound discrimination, and speech comprehension.
PIXOLOGICSTUDIO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
Recap
The brain comprises four lobes, each associated with different functions.
It is comprised of the midbrain, pons, and medulla.
Midbrain
The midbrainis often considered the smallest region of the brain.
PIXOLOGICSTUDIO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
Portions of the midbrain called thered nucleusand thesubstantia nigraare involved in the control of body movement.
The darkly pigmented substantia nigra contains a large number of dopamine-producing neurons.
The degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra is associated with Parkinsons disease.
Image by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Technology(MEXT) Integrated Database Project
It plays a role in several autonomic processes, such as stimulating breathing and controlling sleep cycles.
The cerebellum is comprised of small lobes and serves several functions.
Instead, the cerebellum modifies these signals and makes motor movements accurate and useful.
Image by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Technology(MEXT) Integrated Database Project
The hypothalamus also controls the pituitary gland by secreting hormones.
This gives the hypothalamus a great deal of control over many body functions.
The Amygdala
The amygdala is a cluster of nuclei located close to the base of the brain.
The cerebral cortex also sends information to the thalamus, which then sends this information to other systems.
The Hippocampus
The hippocampus is a structure located in the temporal lobe.
There are three layers of meninges:
Nerves
The brain also contains 12 cranial nerves.
Each nerve plays a vital role in relaying essential information to the brain.
This includes the protective meninges and the cranial nerves that transmit signals to and from the brain.
Brain Conditions
The brain can also be affected by a number of conditions and damage.
Disease and damage can affect the brain’s ability to function.
Protecting Your Brain
you’re free to’t change your genetics or some other risk factors.
But it’s important to take steps to help protect the health of your brain.
Diet and Exercise
Research suggests that regular physical activity is essential for brain health.
Exercise can help delay brain aging and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.
It is also associated with improvements in cognitive abilities and memory.
Rest
Sleep can also play a pivotal role inbrain health and mental well-being.
Activities that may help include learning new things and staying socially active.
Clinical and neuroimaging evidence.J Neurosci.
2017;37(40):9603-9613. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3218-16.2017
Johns Hopkins.Brain anatomy and how the brain works.
National Center for Biotechnology Information.The Auditory Cortex.
In: Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al., eds.Neuroscience (2nd ed).
Sinauer Associates; 2001.
2010;22(1):iv-7.
2015;54:29-37. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.03.008
Anand KS, Dhikav V.Hippocampus in health and disease: An overview.Ann Indian Acad Neurol.
2019;13:242. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2019.00242
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Brain basics: Know your brain.
A protocol for a meta-analytic review of randomised controlled trials.BMJ Open.
2017;7(9):e016873.
2019;16(8):e1002862.
doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002862
Carter R.The Human Brain Book.
Cengage Learning; 2016.
