The Forebrain:
- Consists of the Cerebrum, Thalamus, and Hypothalamus
- Cerebrum
- Largest Part of Brain as a whole
- Newest Part of the Brain (Evolutionary)
- Located in the upper part of the cranial cavity
- The right half of the cerebrum controls the left side of the body while the left half of the cerebrum controls the right side of the body. Just remember: Right Controls Left and Left controls right.
- The Cerebrum is divided in the middle by the longitudinal fissure.
- The cerebrum is divided into four regions called lobes that control senses, thoughts, and movements.
- The Four regions are: The occipital lobe, two temporal lobes, the frontal lobe, and the parietal lobe
- Occipital Lobe: Found in the back of the cerebrum, it processes visual information.
- Temporal Lobes: One on each side of the brain, close to the ears. Primarily functions in auditory processing, but may also play a role in emotions
- Frontal Lobe: Allows you to complete complex tasks, and is also responsible for your personality traits.
- Parietal Lobe: Its function is sensation and feeling. Allows us to see if a situation could possibly be harmful. Ex: Standing too close to a fire causes you to feel discomfort.
- Thalamus
- Large lobe under the cerebral cortex
- Functions:
- Sensory Perception
- Regulations of Motor Functions
- Receives Auditory, Somatosensory, and Visual Sensory Signals
- Memory Formation and Emotional Expression
- Pain Perception
- Controls sleep and awake states
- Hypothalamus
- Located Below the Thalamus and right above the brainstem
- Functions:
- Controls Body temperature
- Controls Food and Water Intake
- Controls Sexual Behavior and Reproduction
- Controls the Release of hormones from the pituitary gland
For more information on the Forebrain, please visit:
http://www.brainexplorer.org/global/brain-atlas/forebrain