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.