Functions of cerebrum

\( \newcommand\) • • • • • • • Cerebellar function was once believed to be motor-specific, but newer findings suggest the cerebellum is also involved in higher-level brain processing. Key Points • The cerebellum is essential for making fine adjustments to motor actions. Cerebellar dysfunction primarily results in problems with motor control. • Four principles are important to cerebellar processing: feedforward processing, divergence and convergence, modularity, and plasticity. • Signal processing in the cerebellum is almost entirely feedforward. Signals move through the system from input to output with very little internal transmission. • The cerebellum both receives input and transmits output via a limited number of cells. • The cerebellar system is divided into thousands of independent modules with similar structure. Key Terms • neural divergence: When a neuron fires and the signal is sent to many other neurons. • neuroplasticity: Changes in neural pathways and synapses due to changes in behavior, environment, neural processes, or bodily injury. • feedforward processing: A property of some neural circuits where signals move unidirectionally through the system from input to output with very little recurrent internal transmission. Examining the consequences of damage to the the cerebellum provides the strongest clues to its function. Animals and humans with cerebellar dysfunction show problems with motor control. They can still generate motor activity, but lose precision a...

The cerebrum is the largest part of your brain and is responsible for many critical everyday functions. This article will give you greater insight into the cerebrum and its vital functions. What Is the Cerebrum? The cerebrum is the single largest part of your brain, divided into two halves called hemispheres. The cerebrum contains different regions that carry out critical functions. Some interesting facts about the cerebrum: • The activity done by one side of your body is typically controlled by the other side of your brain. For example, a stroke on the right side of your brain would affect your left side functions. • The cerebrum makes up roughly 80% of the brain’s volume in an average adult. • To give you an idea of the cerebrum’s size, it’s around three times the size of a baseball and weighs between 2 and 2.5 pounds. • Your brain tissues consist primarily of water, which amounts to 77% of the brain mass. In addition, it also contains lipids (11%) and proteins (8%), while other substances make up the remaining 4%. • Although different parts of your brain carry out different functions, the notion of a “left-brained” or “right-brained” individual is considered something of a myth without any scientific proof. Cerebrum Location The cerebrum is located in your skull. It’s positioned at the top and front side of your brain. Cerebrum Anatomy The external layer of your cerebrum is called the cerebral cortex, mostly made up of smooth, folded tissue that looks similar to a walnu...

How do you tell the difference between a quarter and a dime when you reach into your front pocket in search of correct change? The answer to this question is found in your cerebrum. Your cerebrum is the main part of the brain in humans and other vertebrates. Functionally, it obtains information from your surroundings and/or body and then sends that information to a specific part of the cerebrum. The cerebrum interprets the knowledge and decides what must happen next. In short, your cerebrum, although approximately the size of a cantaloupe, holds the instructions for everything you do in your daily life. The cerebrum is located in the upper part of the cranial cavity, which is a space inside the top of the skull. It is divided into a right hemisphere and a left hemisphere by a deep groove known as the longitudinal fissure. The right half of the cerebrum controls the left side of the body. The left half of the cerebrum controls the right side of the body. The two halves are linked by the corpus callosum, a bundle of neural fibers. The corpus callosum passes messages between the two halves so that they can communicate with one another. Cerebral hemispheres separated by the longitudinal fissure. The cerebrum is divided into four regions called lobes that control senses, thoughts, and movements. The four lobes are the occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes. Although each lobe has a different task to perform, they all must work together. The occipital lobe, found in th...

• 1 Anatomical Position and Structure • 1.1 Internal Structure • 1.2 External Structure • 2 Lobes of the Cerebrum • 2.1 Frontal Lobe • 2.2 Parietal Lobe • 2.3 Temporal Lobe • 2.4 Occipital Lobe • 3 Vasculature • 4 Clinical Relevance: Cerebrovascular Accident The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain, located superiorly and anteriorly in relation to the It consists of two cerebral hemispheres (left and right), separated by the falx cerebri of the prosencephalon. In this article, we will look at the anatomy of the cerebrum – its structure, function, blood supply and the clinical implications of cerebral lesions. Database Center for Life Science and BodyParts3D [CC BY-SA 2.1 jp], via Wikimedia Commons Fig 1 – Anatomical position of the cerebrum. The cerebrum is located within the bony frontal bone anteriorly to the occipital bone posteriorly. Within the skull, the cerebrum fills the anterior and middle cranial fossae, and is located above the tentorium cerebelli inferoposteriorly. Internal Structure The cerebrum is comprised of two different types of tissue – grey matter and white matter: • Grey matter forms the surface of each cerebral hemisphere (known as the cerebral cortex), and is associated with processing and cognition. • White matter forms the bulk of the deeper parts of the brain. It consists of glial cells and myelinated axons that connect the various grey matter areas. External Structure Externally, the cerebrum has a highly convoluted appearance, consisting of...

Meninges are three membranes layers that cover and protect your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). These membranes — the dura mater, arachnoid mater and pia mater — protect and anchor your brain and provide a support system for blood vessels, nerves, lymphatics and the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds your central nervous system. Overview The Three Layers of Meninges What are meninges? Meninges are three layers of membranes that cover and protect your brain and spinal cord (your central nervous system [CNS]). They’re known as: • Dura mater: This is the outer layer, closest to your skull. • Arachnoid mater: This is the middle layer. • Pia mater: This is the inner layer, closest to your brain tissue. Together, the arachnoid mater and pia mater are called leptomeninges. There are three spaces within the meninges: • The epidural space is a space between your skull and dura mater and the dura mater of your spinal cord and the bones of your vertebral column. Analgesics (pain medicine) and anesthesia are sometimes injected into this space along your spine. The spinal cord ends between the first and second lumbar vertebra in the middle of your back, at which point, only cerebrospinal fluid is present. This is the site where a • The subdural space is a space between your dura mater and your arachnoid mater. Under normal conditions, this space isn’t a space, but can be opened if there’s trauma to your brain (such as a brain bleed) or other medical condition. • The sub...

The cerebellum, one of three main parts that make up your brain, is responsible for coordinating movement and balance. Also known as the “little brain,” it plays a vital role in language and attention and can assist people with vision and eye movement. Located toward the back of the brain, the cerebellum is one of the densest structures in the brain and is well protected from trauma compared to the brain stem, frontal, and temporal lobes. When a person experiences damage to this area, it may result in movement and coordination difficulties. It could also make it hard to maintain posture or control motor learning. Continue reading to discover more about the functions, anatomy, and disorders linked to the cerebellum. What Is the Cerebellum? The cerebellum is a major structure of your hindbrain responsible for a wide range of functions, including coordinating your movements. It is important in processing some types of memory. Over The cerebellum, cerebrum, and brain stem are the three main parts of your brain. The brain stem connects to your spinal cord and sits just underneath the cerebrum. The largest part of the brain is the cerebrum, which consists of four lobes, each with a distinct function. It is responsible for managing processes such as breathing, digestion, and sleeping. A narrow midline area called the vermis connects the What Does the Cerebellum Do? Our understanding of the cerebellum continues to grow as technology advances. New studies analyzing the areas of the...

\( \newcommand\) • • • • • • • The brainstem regulates vital cardiac and respiratory functions and acts as a vehicle for sensory information. Key Points • In vertebrate anatomy, the brainstem is the posterior part of the brain adjoining, and structurally continuous with, the spinal cord. • Though small, the brainstem is an extremely important part of the brain, as the nerve connections from the motor and sensory systems of the cortex pass through it to communicate with the peripheral nervous system. • The brainstem also plays an important role in the regulation of cardiac and respiratory function, consciousness, and the sleep cycle. • The brainstem consists of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain. Key Terms • pons: Contains nuclei that relay signals from the forebrain to the cerebellum, along with nuclei that deal primarily with sleep, respiration, swallowing, bladder control, hearing, equilibrium, taste, eye movement, facial expressions, facial sensation, and posture. • midbrain: Associated with vision, hearing, motor control, sleep and wake cycles, alertness, and temperature regulation. • medulla: The lower half of the brainstem that contains the cardiac, respiratory, vomiting, and vasomotor centers and regulates autonomic, involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Location and Basic Physiology In vertebrate anatomy, the brainstem is the most inferior portion of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the brain and spinal...