The brain
The brain controls complex behaviour. It is made of billions of interconnected Nerve cells. They carry an electrical message or impulse when stimulated. and has different regions that carry out different functions.
The brain contains the following main areas:
- cerebral hemispheres
- The part of the brain that controls balance and co-ordination
- The part of the brain controlling breathing, heart rate and peristalsis.
The structure of the brain
There are four main areas in the brain:
| Cerebral hemispheres | The cerebrum's outer layer, it is split into two hemispheres and is highly folded. These two hemispheres make up the cerebral cortex. This controls most of our senses, intelligence, personality, conscious thought and high-level functions, such as language and verbal memory. |
| Cerebellum | Controls balance, co-ordination of movement and muscular activity. |
| Medulla oblongata | Controls unconscious activities such as heart rate and breathing rate. |
| Hypothalamus | Regulates temperature and water balance within the body. |
| Cerebral hemispheres |
| The cerebrum's outer layer, it is split into two hemispheres and is highly folded. These two hemispheres make up the cerebral cortex. This controls most of our senses, intelligence, personality, conscious thought and high-level functions, such as language and verbal memory. |
| Cerebellum |
| Controls balance, co-ordination of movement and muscular activity. |
| Medulla oblongata |
| Controls unconscious activities such as heart rate and breathing rate. |
| Hypothalamus |
| Regulates temperature and water balance within the body. |