The document summarizes the structure and function of the major parts of the human brain. It describes how the hindbrain carries out basic functions like autonomic functions and sleep control. The midbrain coordinates signals by filtering sensory input. The forebrain processes signals, stores memories, and enables higher thought. It then provides more detail on the specific regions within these areas like the cortex, limbic system, cerebellum, and lobes of the cerebrum and their roles in functions like memory, movement, sensory processing, language, and emotion.

1. BRAIN STRUCTURE AND
FUNCTION
Prepared By: Ms. Simranjeet Kaur
Assistant Professor Pharmacology
PCTE Group of Institutions,
Ludhiana

2. Brain: Structure
• Hindbrain carries out the most
basic functions.
• Midbrain coordinates signals.
• Forebrain processes signals,
stores memories, creates
thought.

3. Hindbrain
• Medulla: controls
autonomic fuctions.
• Pons: controls sleep
stages.
• Cerebellum: coordinates
movement, stores some
motor memory.

4. Midbrain
• Reticular formation: the
“traffic cops” of the brain.
• Filters sensory input, which
allows us to concentrate.
• Filtering can be affected by
higher thoughts.

5. Forebrain
• Thalamus: relay station
channeling sensory
information.
• Limbic system: basic
emotions, drives, and
behaviors.
• Cortex: higher thought

6. Limbic system
• Hypothalamus: master
controller of the endocrine
system.
• Amygdala: sensations of
pleasure or fear, recognition
of fear in others.
• Hippocampus: formation of
memories.

7. Cortex
• Various areas control
sensory processing,
motor control, thought,
memory.
• Wiring is plastic: people
blind from birth, for
example, use parts of the
visual cortex to process
auditory signals.

8. Cerebrum
• The largest portion of the brain is the
cerebrum.
• It consists of two hemispheres that are
connected together at the corpus
callosum.
• The cerebrum is often divided into
five lobes that are responsible for
different brain functions.

9. Lobes of Cerebrum
Frontal Lobe
The frontal lobe is the area of the
brain responsible for higher
cognitive functions.
These include:
• Problem solving
• Spontaneity
• Memory
• Language
• Motivation
• Judgment
• Impulse control
• Social and sexual behavior.

10. Temporal Lobe
• The temporal lobe plays a role in
emotions, and is also responsible
for:
 Smelling
 tasting,
 Perception
 Memory
 understanding music
 aggressiveness, and sexual
behavior.
 The temporal lobe also contains the
language area of the brain.

11. Parietal Lobe
 The parietal lobe plays a role in our
sensations of touch, smell, and taste.
 It also processes sensory and spatial
awareness, and is a key component in
eye-hand co-ordination and arm
movement.
 The parietal lobe also contains a
specialized area called Wernicke’s area
that is responsible for matching written
words with the sound of spoken speech.

12. Occipital Lobe
 The occipital lobe is at the rear of the brain and controls vision and recognition

13. Limbic Lobe
 The limbic lobe is located deep in the brain, and makes up the limbic system.
 The limbic system is the area of the brain that regulates emotion and memory.

14.  The cerebellum is connected to the brainstem, and is the center for body movement
and balance.
Cerebellum

15. Thalamus
 Thalamus means “inner room” in Greek, as it sits deep in the brain at the top of the
brainstem.
 Nearly all sensory inputs pass through it to the higher levels of the brain.

16.  Sits under the thalamus at the top of
the brainstem.
 It controls many critical bodily
functions:
 autonomic nervous system
 emotional response and behavior
 body temperature
 food intake
 water balance and thirst
 sleep-wake cycles
 endocrine system
Hypothalamus

17. Brain Stem
 Most primitive part of the brain and
controls the basic functions of life
 Breathing, heart rate, swallowing,
reflexes to sight or sound, sweating,
blood pressure, sleep, and balance

18. Medulla Oblongata
 The medulla oblongata merges with the
spinal cord and creates the base of the
brainstem.
 The medulla is primarily a control
center for vital involuntary reflexes.

19. Pons
 The pons is the rounded brainstem
region between the midbrain and the
medulla oblongata.
 Major function of the pons is to
connect the cerebellum to the rest of
the brain and to modify the respiratory
output of the medulla.

20. Midbrain
• Filters sensory input, which allows us to concentrate.
• Filtering can be affected by higher thoughts.

21. Cranial Nerves
I. Olfactory nerve
II. Optic nerve
III. Oculomotor nerve
IV. Trochlear nerve
V. Trigeminal nerve
VI. Abducens nerve
VII. Facial nerve
VIII. Vestibulocochlear nerve
IX. Glossopharyngeal nerve
X. Vagus nerve
XI. Accessory nerve
XII. Hypoglossal nerve