The Student's Guide to Cognitive

Neuroscience
Chapter 2: Introducing The Brain

ᗘ The Gross Organization of Brain

ᗘ A hierarchical view of the central nervous system
ᗘ Terms of reference and section

How to map the brain regions:

Anterior/rostral and posterior/caudal refer to directions towards the front and the back
of the brain.
Superior/dorsal and inferior/ventral refer to directions towards the top and the bottom of
the brain.
Lateral and medial are used to refer directions towards the outer surface and the center
of the brain, respectively.

The brain can be sectioned in 2D slices. A coronal cross-section refers to a slice in the
vertical plane through the both hemispheres.
A saggital section refers to a slice in the vertical plane going through one of the
hemispheres. When it lies between the hemispheres, it is called a midline or a midial
section.
ᗘ The Cerebral Cortex
The raised surfaces of the cortex are termed gyri (gyrus for singular) and the tips and
folds are called sulci (sulcus for singular).
Most of the cortex contains six main cortical layers and this is termed the neocortex.
Other cortical regions are the mesocortex(including the cigulate gyrus and insula) and the
allocortex (including the primary olfactory cortex and hippocampus).
The lateral surface of the cortex o each hemisphere is divided into four lobes: the frontal,
parietal, temporal and occipital lobes. Other regions of the cortex are only observable in a
medial section, for example cingulate cortex. An island of cortex lies buried underneath
the temporal lobe, called insula.
There are three different ways in which brain regions of cerebral cortex may be divided
and labeled:
1) Regions divided by the pattern f gyri and sulci.
2) Regions divided by cytoarchitecture. (Brodmann's areas)
3) Regions divided by function.
ᗘ The Subcortex
ᗘ The basal ganglia
The basal ganglia are large rounded masses that lie in each hemisphere. They surround
and overhang the thalamus in the center of the brain. Involved in regulating motor
activity and the programming and termination of action. Disorders can be characterized
as hypokinetic (poverty of movement) or hyper kinetic (excess of movement). Example
diseases Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. It is also implicated in the learning of
skills and habits. The main structures are: the caudate nucleus, the putamen, and the
globus pallidus.
 ᗘ The limbic system
The limbic system is important for relating the organism to its environment based on
current needs and the presnt situation, and based on previous experience. Involved in
detection and expression fo emotional responses (amygdala and cingulate gyrus). The
hippocampus is particularly important for learning and memory. The mamillary bodies
are two small round protrusions that have traditionally been implicated in memory. The
olfactory bulbs underscore the importance of smell.

ᗘ The diencephalon
The thalamus consists of two inter-connected egg shaped masses that lie in the center of
the brain and appear prominent in medial section. It is the main sensory relay fo all
senses (except smell) between the sense organs and cortex. At the posterior end of the
thalamus lie the lateral geniculate nucleus and the medial geniculate nucleus for main
sensory relays to primary visiual and primary auditory corticles.
The hypothalamus lies beneath the thalamus and consists of a variety of nuclei that are
specialized for different functions primarily concerned with the body such as body
temperature, hunger snd thirst, sexual activity, and regulations of endocrine functions.
Tumors in this region can lead to eating and drinking disorders, precocious puberty,
dwarfism, and gigantism.
ᗘ The Midbrain and Hindbrain
The superior colliculi (integrates information from several senses such as vision, hearing
and touch) and inferior colliculi (auditory processing) are gray matter nuclei. They are
evolutionarily older then the main cortical sensory pathways and they provide a faster
route for rapid stimulus (flashes or bangs) before the stimulus registers to our conscious.
Midbrain also contains substantia nigra which is connected to the basal ganglia.
The cerebellum is attached to the posterior of the hindbrain via cerebellar peduncles. It is
The pons is a key link between the cerebellum and the cerebrum. It receives information
from visual areas to control eye and body movements.
The medulla oblongata protrudes from the pons and merges with the spinal cord and
regulates vital functions such as breathing, swallowing, heart rate and wake-slepp cycle.

References:
Ward, James. The Student's Guide to Cognitive Neuroscience. Ed. 2. New York:
Psychology Press, 2010. p23-30