Parts of the BrainThe human brain is an extremely complex organ composed of interdependent parts with each having its own specific functions and properties. However, all of these individual parts can be grouped into three fundamental segments: the hindbrain, the midbrain and the forebrain.
The hindbrain is the part located at the upper section of the spinal cord. It includes the brain stem and the cerebellum. The hindbrain is responsible for monitoring the vital functions of a body, like its heart rate and respiration. The hindbrain (by means of the cerebellum) is the coordinator of motion and is also responsible for muscle memory as seen in the seemingly reflex manner in which a pro golfer swings a club or an encoder types without looking at the keyboard.
The midbrain is the topmost section of the brain stem. It is associated with some, but not all, reflex actions, as well as with certain voluntary movements. The midbrain, for example, is part of the reason why an eye is able to move.
The forebrain is made up of the cerebrum, the hypothalamus, the thalamus, the basal ganglia and the hippocampus. It is the most advanced and the largest section of the brain, located in its uppermost part. It is from the forebrain that the “higher order” activities such as reasoning, remembering and thinking are derived.
Web Resources On Parts of the Brain
Know Your Brain
Wikipedia: The Human Brain
Book Resources On Parts of the BrainThe Human Brain: An Introduction to Its Functional Anatomy by John Nolte
A Celebration of Neurons: An Educator's Guide to the Human Brain by Robert Sylwester
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