Psychology--Parts of the Brain

hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

frontal lobe

Associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving. Contains the motor strip, prefrontal area, and frontal association area.

motor strip

Band running down the side of the frontal lobe that controls all bodily movements.

sensory strip

Band running down the side of the parietal lobe that registers and provides all sensation.

hypothalamus

Brain structure that acts as a control center for recognition and analysis of hunger, thirst, fatigue, anger, and body temperature.

thalamus

Brain structure that receives messages from the sense organs and relays the information to the proper region of the cerebrum for further processing.

amygdala

Limbic system component associated with emotion, particularly fear and anger.

reticular activating system

Part of brain stem involved in arousal and attention, sleep and wakefulness, and control of reflexes.

prefrontal area

Part of the frontal lobe that enables us to re-experience personal past events.

frontal association area

Part of the frontal lobe that engages in elaborate associations or mental connections; it plays an important part in integrating personality and in forming complex thoughts.

parietal lobe

Portion behind to the frontal lobe, responsible for sensations such as pain, temperature, and touch. Contains the sensory strip.

occipital lobe

Portion posterior to the parietal and temporal lobes, responsible for vision.

temporal lobe

Portion that lies below the frontal lobe, responsible for hearing, taste, and smell.

cerebellum

The area of the brain that is responsible for voluntary movement and balance.

cerebral cortex

The fabric of interconnecting cells that blankets the brain hemispheres; the brain's center for information processing and control.

corpus callosum

The fibers that connect the right and left hemispheres, enabling them to communicate.

left hemisphere

This half of the brain generally specializes in analysis, calculation, problem solving, verbal communication, interpretation, language, reading & writing. It receives info and controls opposite of the body.

right hemisphere

This half of the brain specializes in perception of physical environment, art, nonverbal communication, music & spiritual aspects. It receives information from and controls the opposite side of the body.