Summary
The cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem control thought, coordination and vital functions.
In depth
Cerebrum: four lobes (frontal for planning and movement, parietal for sensation, temporal for hearing and memory, occipital for vision). Cerebellum: coordination and balance. Brainstem (midbrain, pons, medulla): breathing, heart rate, arousal. Thalamus relays sensation.
Functions are distributed; no region works alone. Lateralisation means hemispheres specialise. The corpus callosum links them.
Example: the occipital lobe processes vision.
The brainstem (medulla, pons, midbrain) controls breathing, heart rate and consciousness; the cerebellum (about 10 percent of volume, over half of neurons) coordinates movement and timing; the thalamus relays sensory information; the hypothalamus regulates homeostasis; the basal ganglia select actions; the limbic system supports emotion and memory; and the cerebrum handles perception, thought and voluntary action. The left and right hemispheres are linked by the corpus callosum, with about 200 million fibres.
Phineas Gage's 1848 injury, and patient H.M. (hippocampus removal in 1953) showed that brain regions have specific roles. Split-brain studies by Sperry and Gazzaniga revealed hemispheric specialisation, with language usually in the left. Yet networks, not isolated regions, carry out most functions. Brain size does not correlate simply with intelligence.
Example: damage to the medulla can stop breathing, so brainstem death is used as a criterion for death in many countries.
Frequently asked questions
What is Brain Regions?
The cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem control thought, coordination and vital functions.
Which area of biology covers Brain Regions, and how advanced is it?
Brain Regions is one of the 54 topics in Neuroscience. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Language Areas of the Brain, Cerebral Cortex, Limbic System.
Can you give an example of Brain Regions?
A stroke in the left frontal region can impair speech.
What should I learn before Brain Regions?
Brain Regions is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Neuroscience that pair well with it include Nervous System, Neuron, Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems.
What topics are related to Brain Regions?
The closest topics to Brain Regions are Language Areas of the Brain, Cerebral Cortex, Limbic System, Sensory and Motor Neurons. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Brain Regions?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Brain Regions. To practise the whole of Neuroscience, use the Neuroscience quiz.
How is Brain Regions different from Language Areas of the Brain?
Brain Regions: The cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem control thought, coordination and vital functions. Language Areas of the Brain: Broca's area drives speech production and Wernicke's area supports comprehension, in a distributed network. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Brain Regions step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Language Areas of the Brain and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Neuroscience quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.