Brain structure and function

1. Brain: Structure and Function
Dr. Suresh Kumar Murugesan PhD

2. Dr. Suresh Kumar
Murugesan PhD
● Head, Department of Psychology, The
American College, Madurai
● Founder of Yellow Pond Counselling and
Wellness Centre, Madurai
● Director of Redpond Educational and
Psychological Research Centre, Madurai,
India
● Adjunct Professor, School of Behavioural
Sciences, Texila AMerican University

3. The Brain
● Most complex organ of the body
● weighs 1,300 grams
● Contains billions of neural networks
that interact to create human
behaviour

4. Brain
The brain is composed of the
1. cerebrum,
2. cerebellum, and
3. brainstem

5. Cerebrum
Cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is
composed of right and left hemispheres.

6. Cerebrum
It performs higher functions like interpreting touch, vision and hearing, as well
as speech, reasoning, emotions, learning, and fine control of movement.

7. Cerebellum
It is located under the
cerebrum.

8. Cerebellum
Its function is
1. to coordinate muscle
movements,
2. maintain posture, and
3. balance.

9. Brainstem
It acts as a relay center connecting the cerebrum and
cerebellum to the spinal cord.

10. Brainstem
It performs many automatic functions such
as
1. breathing,
2. heart rate,
3. body temperature,
4. wake and sleep cycles,
5. digestion,
6. sneezing,
7. coughing,
8. vomiting, and
9. swallowing.

11. Right brain – left brain

12. Right brain – left brain
The cerebrum is divided into two halves: the
right and left hemispheres

13. Right brain – left brain
They are joined by a bundle of fibers called the
corpus callosum that transmits messages from one
side to the other.

14. Right brain – left brain
Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body.

15. Right brain –
left brain
If a stroke occurs on the right
side of the brain, your left arm
or leg may be weak or
paralyzed.

16. Right brain – left brain
Not all functions of the hemispheres are
shared.

18. Right brain – left brain
In general, the left hemisphere controls speech,
comprehension, arithmetic, and writing. The right
hemisphere controls creativity, spatial ability,
artistic, and musical skills.

19. Left brain
The left hemisphere is dominant in hand use and
language in about 92% of people.

20. Lobes of the brain

21. Lobes of the
brain
The cerebral hemispheres
have distinct fissures, which
divide the brain into four lobes.

22. Lobes of the brain
The lobes of the brain were originally a purely
anatomical classification, but have been shown also to be
related to different brain functions.

23. Lobes of the brain
Each hemisphere has 4 lobes: frontal, temporal, parietal,
and occipital. Each lobe may be divided, once again, into
areas that serve very specific functions.

24. Lobes of the brain
It’s important to understand that each lobe of
the brain does not function alone.

25. Lobes of the
brain
There are very complex
relationships between the
lobes of the brain and between
the right and left hemispheres.

26. Frontal lobe
● Personality, behavior,
emotions
● Judgment, planning,
problem solving
● Speech: speaking and
writing (Broca’s area)
● Body movement (motor
strip)
● Intelligence,
concentration, self
awareness

27. Parietal lobe
Parietal lobe
● Interprets language, words
● Sense of touch, pain, temperature (sensory
strip)
● Interprets signals from vision, hearing, motor,
sensory and memory
● Spatial and visual perception

28. Occipital lobe
● Interprets vision (color, light, movement)

29. Temporal lobe
● Understanding language (Wernicke’s area)
● Memory
● Hearing
● Sequencing and organization

30. Fore, Mid and Hind Brain

31. Brain
The brain structure is composed of three main parts:
1. the forebrain,
2. midbrain and
3. hindbrain,
each with multiple parts.

32. Forebrain
● The Cerebrum also known as the cerebral
cortex,
● the cerebrum is the largest part of the human
brain, and
● it is associated with higher brain function such
as thought and action.

33. Forebrain
In fore brian nerve cells make up the gray surface, which
is a little thicker than our thumb.

34. Forebrain
White nerve fibers
beneath the surface
carry signals between
nerve cells in other parts
of the brain and body.

35. Forebrain
The wrinkled surface in forebrain
increases the surface area, and is
a six-layered structure found in
mammals, called the neocortex.

36. Forebrain
● Forebrain is divided into four
sections, called “lobes”.
● They are; the frontal lobe, the
parietal lobe, the occipital lobe and
the temporal lobe.

37. Midbrain
The midbrain is located
below the cerebral cortex,
and above the hindbrain
placing it near the center of
the brain.

38. Midbrain
It is comprised of the
tectum, tegmentum,
cerebral aqueduct, cerebral
peduncles and several
nuclei and fasciculi.

39. Midbrain
The primary role of the midbrain is to act as a
sort of relay station for our visual and
auditory systems.

40. Midbrain
Portions of the midbrain called the red nucleus and the substantia nigra are
involved in the control of body movement, and contain a large number of
dopamine-producing neurons.

41. Midbrain
The degeneration of
neurons in the substantia
nigra is associated with
Parkinson’s disease.

42. Midbrain
The midbrain is the smallest region of the brain, and is located most centrally
within the cranial cavity.

43. Limbic System
Limbic System – the limbic
system is often referred to
as our “emotional brain”, or
‘childish brain’.

44. Limbic System
It is found buried within the
cerebrum and contains the
thalamus, hypothalamus,
amygdala and
hippocampus.

45. Thalamus
Thalamus – the primary role of the thalamus is to relay sensory information
from other parts of the brain to the cerebral cortex

46. Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus – the primary role of the hypothalamus is to regulate various
functions of the pituitary gland and endocrine activity, as well as somatic
functions e.g.body temperature, sleep, appetite.

47. Midbrain - Amygdala
Amygdala – the primary role of the amygdala is to be a
critical processor for the senses. Connected to the
hippocampus, it plays a role in emotionally laden
memories and contains a huge number of opiate receptor
sites that are implicated in rage, fear and sexual feelings.

48. Hippocampus
Hippocampus – the primary role of the hippocampus is memory forming,
organizing and storing information. It is particularly important in forming new
memories, and connecting emotions and senses, such as smell and sound, to
memories.

49. Pituitary Gland
Pituitary Gland – the primary role of the
pituitary gland is an important link between
the nervous system and the endocrine
system. It releases many hormones which
affect growth, metabolism, sexual
development and the reproduction system.
It is connected to the hypothalamus and is
about the size of a pea. It is located in the
center of the skull, just behind the bridge of
the nose.

50. Hindbrain

51. Hindbrain
The Cerebellum – The cerebellum, or “little brain”,
is similar to the cerebrum with its two hemispheres
and highly folded surface.
It is associated with regulation and coordination of
movement, posture, balance and cardiac,
respiratory and vasomotor centers.

52. Hindbrain
Brain Stem – The brain stem is
located beneath the limbic
system. It is responsible for
vital life functions such as
breathing, heartbeat, and blood
pressure. The brain stem is
made of the midbrain, pons,
and medulla.

53. Hindbrain
Pons – The primary role of the
pons is to serve as a bridge
between various parts of the
nervous system, including the
cerebellum and cerebrum.

54. Hindbrain
Pons – Many important nerves
that originate in the pons, such
as the trigeminal nerve,
responsible for feeling in the
face, as well as controlling the
muscles that are responsible
for biting, chewing, and
swallowing.

55. Hindbrain
Pons – It also contains
the abducens nerve,
which allows us to look
from side to side and
the vestibularcochlear
nerve, which allows to
hear.

56. Hindbrain
Pons – As part of the brainstem, a section
of the lower pons stimulates and controls
the intensity of breathing, while a section
of the upper pons decreases the depth
and frequency of breaths.

57. Hindbrain
Pons – The pons is also
associated with the control
of sleep cycles, and
controls respiration and
reflexes. It is located above
the medulla, below the
midbrain, and just in front
of the cerebellum.

58. Hindbrain
Medulla – The primary role of the medulla is
regulating our involuntary life sustaining
functions such as breathing, swallowing and
heart rate. As part of the brain stem, it also
helps transfer neural messages to and from
the brain and spinal cord. It is located at the
junction of the spinal cord and brain.

59. About
● Dr.Suresh Kumar Murugesan is a passionate
Professor, researcher and Mental Health Practitioner
from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
● He is very keen in learning new research studies in
behavioural Sciences and open to learn.
● His ultimate aim is to make impression in the field of
Knowledge
● His area of specializations are Psychotherapy,
Positive Psychology, Education Psychology,
Cognitive Psychology, Cyber Psychology etc

60. Contact
Dr. Suresh Kumar Murugesan PhD
sureshkumar800@yahoo.com
Home:
7, Vivekananda Street,
New Vilangudi,
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
WhatsApp: +91 9750 406463

61. References
1. https://mayfieldclinic.com/pe-anatbrain.htm
2. https://www.nbia.ca/brain-structure-function/
3. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology/chapter/structure-
and-function-of-the-brain/
4. https://www.springer.com/journal/429
5. https://bouve.northeastern.edu/nutraumaticbraininjury/braintbi-anatomy/brain-
functions/
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_brain