Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe Cerebral CortexThe Four LobesThe Brain StemThe CerebellumThe Limbic SystemOther Parts of the BrainBrain ConditionsProtecting Your Brain
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Cerebral Cortex
The Four Lobes
The Brain Stem
The Cerebellum
The Limbic System
Other Parts of the Brain
Brain Conditions
Protecting Your Brain
Close
Thehuman brainis not only one of the most important organs in the human body; it is also the most complex. The brain is made up of billions of neurons and it also has a number of specialized parts that are each involved in important functions.
While there is still a great deal that researchers do not yet know about the brain, they have learned a great deal about the anatomy and function of the brain. Understanding these parts can help give people a better idea of how disease and damage may affect the brain and its ability to function.
MedicalRF.com/Getty Images
The cerebral cortex is the part of the brain that makes human beings unique. Functions that originate in the cerebral cortex include:
The cerebral cortex is what we see when we look at the brain. It is the outermost portion that can be divided into four lobes. Each bump on the surface of the brain is known as agyrus, while each groove is known as asulcus(gyri and sulci are the plural form).
The cerebral cortex is the largest part of the brain and is responsible for a number of complex functions, including conscious thought, information processing, language, memory, behavior, and personality.
PIXOLOGICSTUDIO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
The cerebral cortex can be divided into four sections, known as lobes. The frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe have been associated with different functions ranging from reasoning and memory to auditory and visual perception.
Frontal Lobe
This lobe is located at the front of the brain and is associated with reasoning, motor skills, higher-level cognition, and expressive language.
Parietal Lobe
The parietal lobe is located in the middle section of the brain, just behind the frontal lobe. It is associated with processing tactile sensory information such as pressure, touch, andpain.
A portion of the parietal lobe known as thesomatosensory cortexis located just behind the central sulcus and is essential to the processing of the body’s senses. It is also known as thesomatosensory homunculus.
HomunculusThe homunculus is known as the “little person' in the brain because it has a topographical map of the whole human body in a small area of the cerebral cortex. There is one for the motor cortex in the frontal lobe and one for the somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobe.
Homunculus
The homunculus is known as the “little person' in the brain because it has a topographical map of the whole human body in a small area of the cerebral cortex. There is one for the motor cortex in the frontal lobe and one for the somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobe.
Temporal Lobe
The temporal lobe is located on the bottom section of the brain next to the temples and ears.
Damage to the temporal lobe can lead to problems with memory, sound discrimination, and speech comprehension.
Occipital Lobe
The occipital lobe is located at the back portion of the brain and is associated with interpreting visual stimuli and information. Theprimary visual cortex, which receives and interprets information from the retinas of the eyes, is located in the occipital lobe.
Damage to this lobe can cause visual problems such as difficulty recognizing objects, an inability to identify colors, and trouble recognizing words.
RecapThe brain comprises four lobes, each associated with different functions. The frontal lobe is found at the front of the brain; the parietal lobe is behind the frontal lobe; the temporal lobe is located at the sides of the head; and the occipital lobe is found at the back of the head.
Recap
The brain comprises four lobes, each associated with different functions. The frontal lobe is found at the front of the brain; the parietal lobe is behind the frontal lobe; the temporal lobe is located at the sides of the head; and the occipital lobe is found at the back of the head.
The brainstem is an area located at the base of the brain that contains structures vital for involuntary functions such as heartbeat and breathing. It is comprised of the midbrain, pons, and medulla.
Midbrain
The midbrainis often considered the smallest region of the brain. It acts as a relay station for auditory and visual information and controls many important functions, such as the visual and auditory systems, as well as eye movement.
Portions of the midbrain called thered nucleusand thesubstantia nigraare involved in the control of body movement. The darkly pigmented substantia nigra contains a large number of dopamine-producing neurons.
The degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra is associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Medulla
The medulla is located directly above the spinal cord in the lower part of the brain stem and controls many vital autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.
Pons
The pons, meaning “bridge,” connects the cerebral cortex to the medulla and to the cerebellum and serves a number of essential functions. It plays a role in several autonomic processes, such as stimulating breathing and controlling sleep cycles.
RecapThe brainstem, which includes the midbrain, medulla, and pons, is responsible for involuntary processes, including breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure.
The brainstem, which includes the midbrain, medulla, and pons, is responsible for involuntary processes, including breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure.
Sometimes referred to as the "little brain,” the cerebellum lies on top of the pons behind the brain stem. The cerebellum makes up approximately 10% of thebrain’s total size, but it accounts for more than 50% of the total number ofneurons located in the entire brain.
The cerebellum is comprised of small lobes and serves several functions.
The cerebellum is associated with motor movement and control, but this is not because the motor commands originate here. Instead, the cerebellum modifies these signals and makes motor movements accurate and useful.
The cerebellum is densley packed with neurons and is responsible for managing posture, balance, and the coordination of movement.
Although there is no totally agreed-upon list of the structures that make up the limbic system, four of the main regions include:
The Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is a grouping of nuclei that lie along the base of the brain near the pituitary gland. It connects with many other regions of the brain and is responsible for controlling hunger, thirst,emotions, body temperature regulation, and circadian rhythms.
The Amygdala
The amygdala is a cluster of nuclei located close to the base of the brain. It is primarily involved in functions including memory, emotion, and the body’sfight-or-flight response.The structure processes external stimuli and then relays that information to the hippocampus, which can then prompt a response to deal with outside threats.
The Thalamus
Located above the brainstem, the thalamus processes and transmits movement andsensory information.It is essentially a relay station, taking in sensory information and then passing it on to the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex also sends information to the thalamus, which then sends this information to other systems.
The Hippocampus
The hippocampus is a structure located in the temporal lobe. It is important in memory and learning and is considered to be part of the limbic system because it plays an important part in emotional regulation or the control ofemotional responses.It plays a role in the body’s fight-or-flight response and in the recall of emotional memories.
The limbic system controls behaviors essential for well-being and survival, including emotional regulation, the fight-or-flight response, feeding behavior, and reproduction.
Other important structures play an essential role in supporting the structure and function of the brain. Some of these parts of the brain include:
Meninges
The meninges are the layers that surround the brain and spinal cord and provide protection. There are three layers of meninges:
Nerves
The brain also contains 12 cranial nerves. Each nerve plays a vital role in relaying essential information to the brain. These nerves include:
RecapIn addition to the main parts of the brain, there are also other important structures that are important for normal functioning. This includes the protective meninges and the cranial nerves that transmit signals to and from the brain.
In addition to the main parts of the brain, there are also other important structures that are important for normal functioning. This includes the protective meninges and the cranial nerves that transmit signals to and from the brain.
By studying the brain and learning more about its anatomy and function, researchers are able to develop new treatments and preventative strategies for conditions that affect the brain.
RecapDisease and damage can affect the brain’s ability to function. Tumors, strokes, degenerative conditions, trauma, and infectious diseases are just a few of the conditions that can damage the brain.
Disease and damage can affect the brain’s ability to function. Tumors, strokes, degenerative conditions, trauma, and infectious diseases are just a few of the conditions that can damage the brain.
You can’t change your genetics or some other risk factors. But it’s important to take steps to help protect the health of your brain.
Diet and Exercise
Research suggests that regular physical activity is essential for brain health. Exercise can help delay brain aging and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. It is also associated with improvements in cognitive abilities and memory.
Similarly, a nutritious, balanced diet that includes omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants is important forbrain function(as well as overall health).
Rest
Sleep can also play a pivotal role inbrain health and mental well-being. Studies have found that sleep can actually play a role in the development and maintenance of some psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
Mental Activity
Evidence also suggests that staying mentally engaged can also play an important role in protecting your brain from some degenerative conditions. Activities that may help include learning new things and staying socially active.
Final Thoughts
The human brain is remarkably complex and researchers are still discovering many of the mysteries of how the mind works. By better understanding how different parts of the brain function, you can also better appreciate how disease or injury may impact it. If you think that you are experiencing symptoms of a brain condition, talk to your doctor for further evaluation.
7 Brain Exercises to Strengthen Your Mind
15 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Boly M, Massimini M, Tsuchiya N, Postle BR, Koch C, Tononi G.Are the neural correlates of consciousness in the front or in the back of the cerebral cortex? Clinical and neuroimaging evidence.J Neurosci. 2017;37(40):9603-9613. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3218-16.2017Johns Hopkins.Brain anatomy and how the brain works.Dall’Orso S, Hamstreet T, Muceli S.The “little person” in the brain who helps to direct our movements.Frontiers for Young Minds.Published online 2023.National Center for Biotechnology Information.The Auditory Cortex. In: Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al., eds.Neuroscience (2nd ed). Sinauer Associates; 2001.Hurley RA, Flashman LA, Chow TW, Taber KH.The brainstem: Anatomy, assessment, and clinical syndromes.J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2010;22(1):iv-7. doi:10.1176/jnp.2010.22.1.ivWagner MJ, Kim TH, Savall J, Schnitzer MJ, Luo L.Cerebellar granule cells encode the expectation of reward.Nature. 2017;544(7648):96-100. doi:10.1038/nature21726Biran J, Tahor M, Wircer E, Levkowitz G.Role of developmental factors in hypothalamic function.Front Neuroanat. 2015;9:47. doi:10.3389/fnana.2015.00047Baxter MG, Croxson PL.Facing the role of the amygdala in emotional information processing.Proc Nat Acad Sci. 2012;109(52):21180-21181. doi:10.1073/pnas.1219167110Fama R, Sullivan EV.Thalamic structures and associated cognitive functions: Relations with age and aging.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015;54:29-37. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.03.008Anand KS, Dhikav V.Hippocampus in health and disease: An overview.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2012;15(4):239-246. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.104323Zhu Y, Gao H, Tong L, et al.Emotion regulation of hippocampus using real-time fmri neurofeedback in healthy human.Front Hum Neurosci. 2019;13:242. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2019.00242National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Brain basics: Know your brain.Di Liegro CM, Schiera G, Proia P, Di Liegro I.Physical activity and brain health.Genes (Basel). 2019;10(9):720. doi:10.3390/genes10090720Scott AJ, Webb TL, Rowse G.Does improving sleep lead to better mental health?. A protocol for a meta-analytic review of randomised controlled trials.BMJ Open. 2017;7(9):e016873. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016873Sommerlad A, Sabia S, Singh-manoux A, Lewis G, Livingston G.Association of social contact with dementia and cognition: 28-year follow-up of the Whitehall II cohort study.PLoS Med. 2019;16(8):e1002862. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002862Additional ReadingCarter R.The Human Brain Book. Penguin; 2014.Kalat JW.Biological Psychology. Cengage Learning; 2016.
15 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Boly M, Massimini M, Tsuchiya N, Postle BR, Koch C, Tononi G.Are the neural correlates of consciousness in the front or in the back of the cerebral cortex? Clinical and neuroimaging evidence.J Neurosci. 2017;37(40):9603-9613. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3218-16.2017Johns Hopkins.Brain anatomy and how the brain works.Dall’Orso S, Hamstreet T, Muceli S.The “little person” in the brain who helps to direct our movements.Frontiers for Young Minds.Published online 2023.National Center for Biotechnology Information.The Auditory Cortex. In: Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al., eds.Neuroscience (2nd ed). Sinauer Associates; 2001.Hurley RA, Flashman LA, Chow TW, Taber KH.The brainstem: Anatomy, assessment, and clinical syndromes.J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2010;22(1):iv-7. doi:10.1176/jnp.2010.22.1.ivWagner MJ, Kim TH, Savall J, Schnitzer MJ, Luo L.Cerebellar granule cells encode the expectation of reward.Nature. 2017;544(7648):96-100. doi:10.1038/nature21726Biran J, Tahor M, Wircer E, Levkowitz G.Role of developmental factors in hypothalamic function.Front Neuroanat. 2015;9:47. doi:10.3389/fnana.2015.00047Baxter MG, Croxson PL.Facing the role of the amygdala in emotional information processing.Proc Nat Acad Sci. 2012;109(52):21180-21181. doi:10.1073/pnas.1219167110Fama R, Sullivan EV.Thalamic structures and associated cognitive functions: Relations with age and aging.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015;54:29-37. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.03.008Anand KS, Dhikav V.Hippocampus in health and disease: An overview.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2012;15(4):239-246. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.104323Zhu Y, Gao H, Tong L, et al.Emotion regulation of hippocampus using real-time fmri neurofeedback in healthy human.Front Hum Neurosci. 2019;13:242. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2019.00242National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Brain basics: Know your brain.Di Liegro CM, Schiera G, Proia P, Di Liegro I.Physical activity and brain health.Genes (Basel). 2019;10(9):720. doi:10.3390/genes10090720Scott AJ, Webb TL, Rowse G.Does improving sleep lead to better mental health?. A protocol for a meta-analytic review of randomised controlled trials.BMJ Open. 2017;7(9):e016873. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016873Sommerlad A, Sabia S, Singh-manoux A, Lewis G, Livingston G.Association of social contact with dementia and cognition: 28-year follow-up of the Whitehall II cohort study.PLoS Med. 2019;16(8):e1002862. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002862Additional ReadingCarter R.The Human Brain Book. Penguin; 2014.Kalat JW.Biological Psychology. Cengage Learning; 2016.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Boly M, Massimini M, Tsuchiya N, Postle BR, Koch C, Tononi G.Are the neural correlates of consciousness in the front or in the back of the cerebral cortex? Clinical and neuroimaging evidence.J Neurosci. 2017;37(40):9603-9613. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3218-16.2017Johns Hopkins.Brain anatomy and how the brain works.Dall’Orso S, Hamstreet T, Muceli S.The “little person” in the brain who helps to direct our movements.Frontiers for Young Minds.Published online 2023.National Center for Biotechnology Information.The Auditory Cortex. In: Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al., eds.Neuroscience (2nd ed). Sinauer Associates; 2001.Hurley RA, Flashman LA, Chow TW, Taber KH.The brainstem: Anatomy, assessment, and clinical syndromes.J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2010;22(1):iv-7. doi:10.1176/jnp.2010.22.1.ivWagner MJ, Kim TH, Savall J, Schnitzer MJ, Luo L.Cerebellar granule cells encode the expectation of reward.Nature. 2017;544(7648):96-100. doi:10.1038/nature21726Biran J, Tahor M, Wircer E, Levkowitz G.Role of developmental factors in hypothalamic function.Front Neuroanat. 2015;9:47. doi:10.3389/fnana.2015.00047Baxter MG, Croxson PL.Facing the role of the amygdala in emotional information processing.Proc Nat Acad Sci. 2012;109(52):21180-21181. doi:10.1073/pnas.1219167110Fama R, Sullivan EV.Thalamic structures and associated cognitive functions: Relations with age and aging.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015;54:29-37. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.03.008Anand KS, Dhikav V.Hippocampus in health and disease: An overview.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2012;15(4):239-246. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.104323Zhu Y, Gao H, Tong L, et al.Emotion regulation of hippocampus using real-time fmri neurofeedback in healthy human.Front Hum Neurosci. 2019;13:242. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2019.00242National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Brain basics: Know your brain.Di Liegro CM, Schiera G, Proia P, Di Liegro I.Physical activity and brain health.Genes (Basel). 2019;10(9):720. doi:10.3390/genes10090720Scott AJ, Webb TL, Rowse G.Does improving sleep lead to better mental health?. A protocol for a meta-analytic review of randomised controlled trials.BMJ Open. 2017;7(9):e016873. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016873Sommerlad A, Sabia S, Singh-manoux A, Lewis G, Livingston G.Association of social contact with dementia and cognition: 28-year follow-up of the Whitehall II cohort study.PLoS Med. 2019;16(8):e1002862. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002862
Boly M, Massimini M, Tsuchiya N, Postle BR, Koch C, Tononi G.Are the neural correlates of consciousness in the front or in the back of the cerebral cortex? Clinical and neuroimaging evidence.J Neurosci. 2017;37(40):9603-9613. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3218-16.2017
Johns Hopkins.Brain anatomy and how the brain works.
Dall’Orso S, Hamstreet T, Muceli S.The “little person” in the brain who helps to direct our movements.Frontiers for Young Minds.Published online 2023.
National Center for Biotechnology Information.The Auditory Cortex. In: Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al., eds.Neuroscience (2nd ed). Sinauer Associates; 2001.
Hurley RA, Flashman LA, Chow TW, Taber KH.The brainstem: Anatomy, assessment, and clinical syndromes.J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2010;22(1):iv-7. doi:10.1176/jnp.2010.22.1.iv
Wagner MJ, Kim TH, Savall J, Schnitzer MJ, Luo L.Cerebellar granule cells encode the expectation of reward.Nature. 2017;544(7648):96-100. doi:10.1038/nature21726
Biran J, Tahor M, Wircer E, Levkowitz G.Role of developmental factors in hypothalamic function.Front Neuroanat. 2015;9:47. doi:10.3389/fnana.2015.00047
Baxter MG, Croxson PL.Facing the role of the amygdala in emotional information processing.Proc Nat Acad Sci. 2012;109(52):21180-21181. doi:10.1073/pnas.1219167110
Fama R, Sullivan EV.Thalamic structures and associated cognitive functions: Relations with age and aging.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015;54:29-37. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.03.008
Anand KS, Dhikav V.Hippocampus in health and disease: An overview.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2012;15(4):239-246. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.104323
Zhu Y, Gao H, Tong L, et al.Emotion regulation of hippocampus using real-time fmri neurofeedback in healthy human.Front Hum Neurosci. 2019;13:242. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2019.00242
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Brain basics: Know your brain.
Di Liegro CM, Schiera G, Proia P, Di Liegro I.Physical activity and brain health.Genes (Basel). 2019;10(9):720. doi:10.3390/genes10090720
Scott AJ, Webb TL, Rowse G.Does improving sleep lead to better mental health?. A protocol for a meta-analytic review of randomised controlled trials.BMJ Open. 2017;7(9):e016873. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016873
Sommerlad A, Sabia S, Singh-manoux A, Lewis G, Livingston G.Association of social contact with dementia and cognition: 28-year follow-up of the Whitehall II cohort study.PLoS Med. 2019;16(8):e1002862. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002862
Carter R.The Human Brain Book. Penguin; 2014.Kalat JW.Biological Psychology. Cengage Learning; 2016.
Carter R.The Human Brain Book. Penguin; 2014.
Kalat JW.Biological Psychology. Cengage Learning; 2016.
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
