Hindbrain (The brainstem)

Medulla
Pons
Cerebellum
Hypothalamus
Thalamus

Forebrain
The cortex

Hemispheres
Lobes
Gyri
Sulci or fissures

The limbic system

Hippocampus
Amygdala

Thalalumus
Relay station

Hypothalamus
The 4 Fs

The Brainstem is the oldest part of the brain, beginning

where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull. It is
responsible for automatic survival functions.

The Medulla [muhDUL-uh] is the base of

the brainstem that
controls heartbeat and
breathing.
Pons

Reticular Formation is
a nerve network in the
brainstem that plays
an important role in
controlling arousal.

The Thalamus
[THAL-uh-muss] is
the brains sensory
switchboard, located
on top of the
brainstem. It directs
messages to the
sensory areas in the
cortex and transmits
replies.

The little brain

attached to the rear of
the brainstem. It helps
coordinate voluntary
movements and
balance.

The Limbic System is

associated with
emotions: fear,
aggression and drives for
food and sex. It includes
the hippocampus,
important in the storage
of memory, the
amygdala, and
hypothalamus.

The Amygdala [ahMIG-dah-la] is linked

to fear and anger
responses.

The Hypothalamus
lies below (hypo) the
thalamus.
directs maintenance
activities.
The 4 Fs, Feeding,
Fighting, Fleeing and...

Reproductive behaviors
Also regulates the
endocrine sytem via the
pituitary gland

Sanjiv Talwar, SUNY Downstate

 Ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the midbrain

Projects to the nucleus accumbens
VTA stimulates the nucleus accumbens by
releasing dopamine
VTA stimulated by internal sensory system

 Control (initiate?) voluntary movement

The Striatum
Caudate nucleus
Putamen

The Globus Pallidus

 Ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the midbrain

Projects to the nucleus accumbens
VTA stimulates the nucleus accumbens by
releasing dopamine
VTA stimulated by internal sensory system

 The nuc acc sends axons to the basal nuclei

Input to mesolimbic system stimulates motor
system (activity)
Inhibition of inhibition
Nuc acc normally inhibits basal ganglia
If nuc acc is inhibited, activity increases

 Sensory info about the environment processed by

thalamus and cortex, which projects to amygdala and
hippocampus
Prefrontal cortex-attention
Hippocampus-memory of actions which led to
activation of mesolimbic system
Hippocampal output to mesolimbic system

 Hunger activates mesolimbic system

Activity increases (e.g., find food)
Stimuli and activity associated with food are stored
in cortex by hippocampus
They become more noticeable (prefrontal cortex)
In the future, hunger activates mesolimbic system,
and stored memories guide activity to stored stimuli.

Sympathetic NS
Arouses
(fight-or-flight)
Parasympathetic NS
Calms
(rest and digest)