Central nervous system (CNS)

Brain + Spinal Cord

Forebrain

cerebral hemispheres

telencephalon

cortex, basal ganglia

diencephalon

thalamus, hypothalamus

Midbrain

brain stem

tectum, tegmentum

Hindbrain

cerebellum, pons, medulla

Cerebral cortex
central sulcus
postcentral gyrus
grey matter
white matter

Surface is folded to increase area:

Sulcus (pl. sulci) = groove
Gyrus (pl. gyri) = bulge between sulci
Grey matter = cell bodies
White matter = axons

Cerebral
hemispheres
corpus callosum

Left & right hemispheres are connected by

white matter tracts called commissures.

These allow communication between lateralized

brain areas.
Largest commisure is the corpus callosum.
In split brain patients the corpus callosum is
transected, leading to neuropsychological deficits.

Lobes of the cerebral cortex

parietal lobe
-body sense
-multimodal integration

frontal lobe
-motor
-executive
functions

occipital lobe
-visual
temporal lobe
-memory
-auditory

Primary & association cortex

Primary cortical areas are most directly
linked to the sensory or motor systems in
the body.
These areas project to association cortex,
allowing integration of information.
Association cortex is where sophisticated,
higher-level processing takes place, e.g.:

planning of a sequence of movements - motor

association cortex, frontal lobe
perceiving a visual object - visual association
cortex, temporal lobe
making decisions - multimodal association cortex,
frontal lobe

Primary cortical areas

primary somatosensory area
primary motor area

medial surface of right

hemisphere

central sulcus

primary visual area

lateral fissure
(Sylvian fissure)
primary auditory area

lateral surface of left

hemisphere

Functional Distribution of Cortex

1. Primary Cortex (Direct
Projection Areas)
3 SensoryVisual,
Auditory, Somatosensory

1 Motor.

2. Secondary Cortex
(unimodal)
3. Tertiary Cortex
(Association, polymodal)

Subcortical structures
In the forebrain, these are:

in the telencephalon, the basal ganglia

and the limbic system.
in the diencephalon, the thalamus and
hypothalamus.
basal ganglia

thalamus
hypothalamus

Basal ganglia

important in motor control

and cognition.
Damage to the basal ganglia
occurs in Parkinsons
disease and Huntingtons
disease.

5Components:
1.CaudateNucleus
2.Putamen
3.GlobusPallidus
4.SubthalamicNucleus
5.SubstantiaNigra

Limbic system
cingulate gyrus
hippocampus
amygdala

Functions include emotion and memory.

Limbic system includes cortical & subcortical
structures:
Cingulate gyrus (cognitive control).
Hippocampus, fornix & mamillary bodies
(episodic memory).
Amygdala (emotion).

Diencephalon
Thalamus:

Closely connected with

cerebral cortex & its functions.
Thalamic nuclei have distinct
functions, e.g. lateral
geniculate nucleus in vision.

Hypothalamus:

Controls autonomic nervous

system and endocrine
system (hormones).

Lastsensorywaystationonthewaytothecortex.

Thalamic nuclei
1. Ventral Posterior Nuclei: Somatosensory
2. Lateral Geniculate: Visual
3. Medial Geniculate: Auditory

Pulvinarconnects
withparietallobe
andisamajorpart
ofanattentional
controlsystem.

Midbrain
tegmentum
tectum

Midbrain (and hindbrain) structures perform relatively

primitive functions, e.g. reflexes.
Tectum comprises:
superior colliculi, fishs visual system
inferior colliculi, fishs auditory system.
Tegmentum includes nuclei involved with :
arousal (reticular formation)
species-specific behavior (periaqueductal grey)
nigra)
motor control (red nucleus, substantia

Hindbrain
Cerebellum

important for precise movement

control and learning.
also involved in cognition.

Pons:

pons

nucleus relays info. from cortex to cerebellum.

contains reticular formation - arousal.

Medulla (oblongata):

medulla

necessary for vital functions: breathing, heartbeat.

cerebellum

 BRAINSTEM

Many neurotransmitter systems

Reticular Activating System
Sleep & wakefulness control
Controls respiration and other bodily functions

Midbrain
Pons
Medulla

Brainstem Components
Midbrain

Superior Colliculus:
Eye movements and
visual reflex functions.
Inferior Colliculus:
Auditory reflex
functions.
Pons & Medulla.
Ascending sensory
and descending motor
pathways. Bulge of
Pons caused by
pathways to the
cerebellum.

Cerebellum
Inputs from sensory & motor
centers and vestibular system.
Outputs to spinal cord and
thalamus (then cortex).
Functions:

Maintenance of posture, and fine

motor control (timing).
Also involved in higher functions
including language