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[2] Corpus Callosum = (1) The "great commissural plate" of nerve fibers connecting your two cerebral hemispheres, except does not connect the temporal lobes of your brain. [3] Hypothalamus and Amygdala = The hypothalamus is the part of your brain that has nine specific critical functions that support human life by regulating other body parts. The Amygdala is a small almond-shaped neuro-structure involved in producing and responding to nonverbal signs of anger, avoidance, defensiveness, and fear. Its small mass of gray matter inspires aversive cues, such as the freeze reaction, sweaty palms, or the tense-dry-mouth display. Many gestures reflect your amygdala's turmoil. In an anxious meeting, you may unconsciously flex your arms, lean away, or angle away from colleagues who upset you. Your lip, neck, and shoulder muscles may tense as your amygdala activates brain-stem circuits designed to produce protective facial expressions, such as "tense-mouth" or protective postures, such as "bow" and "crouch." Your amygdala also prompts the release of adrenaline and other hormones into your blood stream, thus starting an "avoider's response" and disrupting your control over your rational humanistic ethical thought processes. Also, your amygdala coordinates the actions of your "autonomic" and "endocrine" systems and is involved in the expression of your emotions. In this way, it is a part of a general-purpose "defense response" control network. It is known that unpleasant odors can activate your amygdala and your cortex in your temporal lobe or insula. In the broader evolutionary context, in addition to its other practical current functions, the amygdala's gray matter evolved to mediate the evolutionary ancient "chemical nervous system," represented today by your bloodstream. Working through your Hypothalamus, your tiny Amygdala releases hormones, including adrenalin and endorphins, into your circulating blood stream. It is known that after the surgical removal of the Amygdala tissue from research animals and patients, the sounds of growls, screams, angry voices, and other negative signs may lose their meaning and become incomprehensible as feeling cues representing genuine human emotions. www.aol.com/nonverbal2/amygdala.htm) [5] Midbrain = The part of your brain with three basic functions, including relaying impulses from the cerebral cortex to the pons and spinal cord and relaying sensory impulses from the spinal cord to the thalamus. [6] Cerebellum = The part of your brain that controls subconscious skeletal muscle contractions required for coordination, posture, and balance. [7] Reticular-Activating System = The top of your brain that is the middle section of the frontal lobes that allows you to shift attention freely from one thing to another. When it is overactive you may get "stuck" on certain thoughts or behaviors (Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, page 30) [8] Spinal Cord = The part of your brain that is an extension of your brain stem beginning at the foramen magnum and continuing down through your vertebral canal to the first lumbar vertebra. It has two functions, (1) transmitting nerve impulses via neurons in the white matter of your spinal cord by transmitting sensory signals from the peripheral regions to your brain and motor signals from your brain to peripheral regions; and (2) transmitting spinal reflexes via neurons in the gray matter of your spinal cord integrating incoming sensory information and responses with motor impulses that control your muscles, including skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles, or glands. [9] Medulla Oblongata = The part of your brain with six basic functions, including causing your consciousness and arousal and maintaining your equilibrium. [10] Pons = The part of your brain with three basic functions, including (1) acting as a relay within your brain and between parts of your brain and spinal cord; (2) containing the nuclei of origin for cranial nerves V, VI, Vii, and VIII; (3) containing pneumotaxic area and apneustic area, which together with your medulla helps control your breathing. [11] Brain Stem = The part of your brain that contains your medulla, pons, and midbrain. [12] Pituitary Gland = this gland controls your endocrine system, including your electrolytes (salts such as sodium, chloride and potassium chemicals) that are essential for the healthy functioning of your brain and nervous system. Electrolytes nourish your neuron networks and synapses for easy painfree movement. [13] Meninges = They are the protective coverings of the brain (cranial meninges) and spinal cord (spinal meninges) which consist of three layers of membranous connective tissue: (1) the "dura mater" is the tough outer layer lying just inside your skull and vertebrae; (2) the "arachnoid mater" is the middle meninx which contains blood vessels and circulates CSF in fine threads of tissue resembling a spider web; (3) and the "pia mater" is the innermost meninx layer which tightly covers the brain following all its convolutions and the spinal cord, carrying blood vessels that provide nourishment to these nervous tissues. [14] Caudate Nucleus = The part of your brain in the telencephalic nucleus, one of the input nuclei of the "basal ganglia"; involved with control of voluntary movement in the brain. It is the part of the striate body which lies under the floor of the lateral ventricle, and which curves from an anterior headlike swelling to a posterior narrow tail-like termination continuous with the "amygdaloid nucleus." [2] Your PREFRONTAL CORTEX is involved in your conscious thinking processes, especially making choices by using your brainpower; [3] Your LIMBIC SYSTEM is involved in the expression of your instincts and feeling processes, including your many moods, since it includes your hypothalamus and amygdala parts; [4] Your CEREBELLUM is involved in your posture and many coordinated movements; [5] Your BRAINSTEM controls your body's most basic unconscious life-sustaining functions, including your breathing and heartbeat. |