A Tour Through the Brain: Hindbrain and Midbrain

Brain Structure and Function

• The cerebellum is responsible for the coordination of fine muscular movement, balance, and some aspects of perception and cognition.

Reticular Formation

• The main function of the reticular formation in the brain is to act as a filter for incoming sensory information, determining what information is important enough to reach conscious awareness.

Thalamus

• The thalamus relays sensory messages to the cerebral cortex, acting as a relay station for sensory information.

Hypothalamus

• The primary responsibility of the hypothalamus in the brain is to regulate body temperature, hunger, thirst, and other basic bodily functions.

Neuronal Communication

• Communication between neurons occurs through the release of neurotransmitters from the terminal end of the axon, which then bind to receptors on adjacent neurons.

Neurotransmitter Regulation

• Excess neurotransmitters or those that do not fit into adjacent receptor sites are either broken down by enzymes or taken back up by the neuron that released them through a process called reuptake.

Action Potential

• The occurrence of an action potential in a receiving neuron is determined by the sum of the excitatory and inhibitory signals it receives.

Sensory Neurons

• Sensory neurons, also known as afferent neurons, carry information from sensory systems to the brain.

Glial Cells

• Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells create the myelin sheath and prevent harmful substances from entering the brain.

Neurotransmitters

• Dopamine plays a crucial role in regulating mood, pleasure, and overall wellbeing in the human body.
• Oxytocin also acts as a hormone in addition to its role as a neurotransmitter.

Corpus Callosum

• The main function of the corpus callosum is to facilitate communication between the two hemispheres of the brain.

Split-Brain Research

• Split-brain research helps to understand how the two hemispheres of the brain process and integrate information, and how they are functionally connected.

Sex Differences in Brain Lateralization

• Sex differences in brain lateralization can be inferred to exist, with males and females showing different patterns of brain lateralization, although the exact nature of these differences is not fully understood.