Functions of the Brain

In the face of danger, two brain circuits become active. One circuit feeds sensory information about the danger -- the sight and smell of a fire, for example -- to the cerebral cortex (the rippled outer layer of gray matter jacketing both brain... Full Answer

The nucleus accumbens is the area of the brain that seeks pleasure and reward. That part of a teenager's brain is fairly well-developed early on. In imaging studies that compared brain activity among children, teenagers and adults showed that teenagers... Full Answer

Experts theorize that because human survival depends on achieving basic goals such as finding food and procreating, a rush of pleasurable sensations associated with eating or having sex would positively reinforce these behaviors, leading people... Full Answer

Researchers found that the neurotransmitter dopamine activates the reward system and is associated with positive emotions, exuberance, and desire. On the downside, the dopamine reward system may also be associated with addictions, in which people... Full Answer

Scientists have used modern brain-imaging methods to help determine exactly which areas of the brain correspond to sensations of pleasure. This approach has revealed distinct patterns in both the cortex and underlying structures when people feel... Full Answer

Studies support the notion that the left prefrontal cortex is generally associated with positive emotions and the right prefrontal cortex with negative emotions. Researchers have also identified the anterior cingulate cortex as active in... Full Answer

The neuron (the brain's basic unit for processing information) is both a receiver and a transmitter. When a neuron receives a signal, it generates an electrical impulse. This impulse travels through the neuron and down the axon to its end (the... Full Answer

The hippocampus is active in converting information into long-term memory and in memory recall. Repeated use of specialized nerve networks in the hippocampus enhances memory storage, so this structure is involved in learning from both commonplace... Full Answer

Operating at the first level, the brainstem and cerebellum control basic survival. The brainstem oversees vital functions such as heartbeat and body temperature, and the cerebellum orchestrates movement. Full Answer

At the back of the brain, near the brainstem, lies the cerebellum, which is responsible for maintaining balance and posture and coordinating movement.The cerebellum's role is crucial. For example, when you are learning a new, complex skill, such as... Full Answer