Loading...
Initial language selection is based on your web browser preferences.
The **thalamus** is a sensory relay for the brain. All of our senses, with the exception of smell, are routed through the thalamus before being directed to other areas of the brain for processing.
The **hippocampus** is an essential structure for learning and memory.
The **amygdala** is involved in our experience of emotion and in tying emotional meaning to our memories.
The **hypothalamus** regulates a number of homeostatic processes, including the regulation of body temperature, appetite, and blood pressure.
The **midbrain** is comprised of structures located deep within the brain, between the forebrain and the hindbrain.
The **reticular formation** is centered in the midbrain, but it actually extends up into the forebrain and down into the hindbrain. The reticular formation is important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity.
The **hindbrain** is located at the back of the head and looks like an extension of the spinal cord. It contains the medulla, pons, and cerebellum. The medulla controls the automatic processes of the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate.
The word **pons** literally means “bridge,” and as the name suggests, the pons serves to connect the brain and spinal cord. It also is involved in regulating brain activity during sleep.
The **cerebellum** (Latin for “little brain”) receives messages from muscles, tendons, joints, and structures in our ear to control balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills. The cerebellum is also thought to be an important area for processing some types of memories.
*LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS
CC licensed content, Shared previously, The Brain and Spinal Cord, Authored by: OpenStax College. License: CC BY: Attribution. License Terms: Download for free at:http://cnx.org/contents/_Io4zP0c@7/The-Brain-and-Spinal-Cord*
