Cerebrum function

\( \newcommand\) • • • • • • • With the assistance of the cerebellum, the cerebrum controls all voluntary actions in the body. Key Points • The cerebrum is the largest and most developed of the five major divisions of the brain. • The brain contains two hemispheres, the left and the right, connected by a bundle of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum. • The cerebrum directs the conscious or volitional motor functions of the body. Damage to this area of the brain can result in loss of muscular power and precision rather than total paralysis. • The primary sensory areas of the cerebral cortex receive and process visual, auditory, somatosensory, gustatory, and olfactory information. • Each hemisphere of the mammalian cerebral cortex can be broken down into four functionally and spatially defined lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital. Key Terms • sulci: Any of the grooves that mark the convolutions of the surface of the brain (plural of sulcus). • cerebral cortex: The cerebrum’s outer layer of neural tissuecomposed of folded gray matter. The cerebral cortex plays a key role in memory, attention, perception, awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. • olfactory bulb: A neural structure of the vertebrate forebrain involved in olfaction (sense of smell). • Broca’s area: A region in the frontal lobe of the dominant hemisphere of the human brain with functions linked to speech production. • Wernicke’s area: Involved in the comprehension or understanding of wri...

The frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes cover the brain’s surface (see figure Lobes of the brain ); the insula is hidden under the Sylvian fissure. The limbic lobe (limbic system) is a C-shaped area on the most medial edge of each cerebral hemisphere; it includes some parts of the adjacent lobes. Although specific functions are attributed to each lobe, most activities require coordination of multiple areas in both hemispheres. For example, although the occipital lobe is essential to visual processing, parts of the parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes on both sides also process complex visual stimuli. Brain function is extensively lateralized. Visual, tactile, and motor activities of the left side of the body are directed predominantly by the right hemisphere and vice versa. Certain complex functions involve both hemispheres but are directed predominantly by one (cerebral dominance). For example, the left hemisphere is typically dominant for language, and the right is dominant for spatial attention. The primary sensory areas receive somesthetic, auditory, visual, and gustatory stimuli from the thalamus, which receives stimuli from specialized sensory organs and peripheral receptors. Olfactory pathways bypass the thalamus and go directly to specialized areas of the cortex. Sensory stimuli are further processed in association areas that relate to one or more senses. Heteromodal association areas are not restricted to any single motor or sensory function but rece...

Your cerebrum is the largest part of your brain and handles conscious thoughts and actions. Different areas within your cerebrum also have different responsibilities like language, behavior, sensory processing and more. Areas of your brain also commonly work together on the same tasks, helping you understand what’s happening in the world around you. Overview The cerebrum is the upper part of the brain, handling many different functions, including muscle movements, language, processing what your senses pick up and more. What is the cerebrum? Your cerebrum is the largest part of your Your cerebrum is instrumental in everything you do in day-to-day life, ranging from thoughts to actions. In essence, it’s responsible for the brain functions that allow us to interact with our environment and make us who we are. Scientists have been studying the brain for years, trying to unlock just how it works and how to diagnose and treat conditions that affect it. While experts know a lot about how the cerebrum works, there’s much that’s not fully understood. Fortunately, advances in technology and medical science have helped drive growth in what experts understand about the brain. What’s the difference between the cerebellum and cerebrum? Your cerebrum is the largest part of your brain and includes parts above and forward of your cerebellum. Your cerebrum is the part of your brain that starts and manages conscious thoughts; meaning, things that you actively think about or do. Your cerebell...