PSYC 2012 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Cerebral Cortex, Hindbrain, Limbic System
Document Summary
Regulation of heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, swallowing. Key point: the hindbrain regulates functions that are basic and critical to life. All living creatures have to have these basic things functioning. Initiated by our sensory apparatus in our head - auditory and visual. These reflexes are activated when we hear or see something that attracts our attention. Controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sleep. Initiation and carrying out of motor movements (voluntary) Responsible for the generation of emotions - depends heavily on the cortex and the nuclei that form the limbic system. Making plans, decisions, problem solving - input from the forebrain relative to other parts of the brain. Most unique to humans and to each individual. Key point: many of the functions of the forebrain are what makes us uniquely human - conscious thought, memory, emotion, etc. The cerebral cortex is the largest part of the brain in humans and is much larger than in other animals.
