Cognitive Psychology: Brain and Cerebrum

• Cognitive psychology studies the brain

Cognitive Neuroscience

• The brain directly controls thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
• It is among the body's largest organs and coordinates most activities.
• Functions as the center for thought, memory, judgment, and emotion.
• Different brain parts control body functions like temperature and breathing.

Cerebrum

• The cerebrum is the brains largest part.
• It processes thoughts, judgment, memory, problem-solving, language, and imagination and is located in the upper portion of the brain.
• The cerebral cortex, the cerebrum's superficial layer, contains billions of neurons.
• The cerebrum contains left and right hemispheres, connected by the corpus callosum, a bridge of nerve fibers.

Lobes in the Cerebrum

• Frontal Lobe (motor cortex), located near the forehead controls motor function, personality, and speech and is located under the forehead.
• Parietal Lobe (sensory cortex) is located on the top of the head, receives and interprets nerve impulses from sensory receptors, interprets language, and receives sensory input from the skin, including touch, pressure, temperature, and pain.
• Occipital Lobe (visual cortex) receives input from the eyes and controls vision.
• Temporal Lobe (auditory cortex) is responsible for processing auditory information and encoding memory

Cerebellum

• The cerebellum is the 2nd largest part of the brain.
• The cerebellum, also known as the "little brain" coordinates movements, controls posture, balance, fine motor movement, and motor learning.

Brain Stem

• The brain stem contains the Thalamus, Midbrain, Pons, Medulla, and Spinal Cord.

Midbrain

• The midbrain is the brainstem's topmost part, serving as the connection between the brain and the spinal cord.
• It helps with vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake cycles, alertness, and temperature regulation.
• It screens information before it reaches higher brain structures.

Pons

• The Pons is the top region of the brain stem
• The Pons relays signals between the cerebrum and cerebellum
• The Pons controls breathing rate.

Medulla Oblongata

• The medulla oblongata is located at the bottom-most part of the brain, where the brain and spinal cord connect and serve as a key conduit for nerve signals to and from the body.
• The Medulla helps control vital processes like heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure.

Diencephalon

• The diencephalon is the caudal part of the forebrain (prosencephalon) that occupies the central region of the brain.
• Epithalamus connects the limbic system to other brain parts.
• Thalamus relays all incoming motor and sensory information.
• Subthalamus modulates movement.
• Metathalamus processes visual and auditory information.
• Hypothalamus manages body temperature, hunger, thirst, sex drive, blood pressure, and sleep.

Limbic System

• The limbic system is a group of interconnected brain structures that help regulate emotions and behavior.
• Limbic system structures work with other brain regions by processing memory, thoughts, and motivations, then signaling the body how to respond.