Brain Structures (SNAB)

Left & right cerebral hemispheres, each composed of 4 main lobes: parietal, frontal, temporal & occipital

Inside & corpus callosum = white matter; outside = grey matter

Grey Matter = Cortex

• Composed of mainly cell bodies, synapses & dendrites
• Highly folded - roughly 2/3 of brain's mass

White Matter

• Myelin sheath - gives white colour
• Nerve axons - connect neurones in different parts of the brain

Frontal Lobe

• Higher brain functions (e.g. decision making, emotions)
• Forming associations & ideas
• Includes primary motor cortex - neurones connect directly to spinal cord/brain stem & then to muscles; stores information on how to carry out movements

Parietal Lobe

• Orienation & movement
• Sensation 
• Calculation 
• Some types of recognition & memory

Occipital (Visual Cortex)

• Processes information from the eye
  • Vision, shape recognition & perspective

Temporal Lobe

• Processes auditory informationMemory
  • Hearing, sound recognition & speech (left temporal lobe)
• Memory

Lies below thalamus

Hypothalamus & Hormones

• Acts as endocrine gland, secreting hormores
• DIrectly connected to pituitary gland, which secretes other hormones

Contains thermoregulatory, sleep, thirst & hunger centres

Thermoregulatory Centre (Topic 7.4)

• Monitors core body & skin temperature
• Initiates corrective action to restore optimum (negative feedback)

Responsible for balance

Coordinates moevement as carried out, recieving information from primary motor cortex (frontal lobe), muscles & joints

Constantly checks if motor programme being used is correct

• Refers to incoming information about movement & external circumstances

Regulates body processes not under conscious control

Ventilation Centre

• Impulses sent from chemorecpetors & stretch receptors
  • Detect changes in pH, CO2 levels (etc.) in blood
• Ventilation sends impulse back to stimulate muscles involved

Cardiovascular Control Centre (CCC)

• Controls heart rate
• Automonic nervous system = nerves from CCC to heart
• Detects CO2, lactate, O2 & temperature levels of blood
• Impusles sent to CCC from sensory receptors in muscls