Functions of the Brain

Each of the two hemispheres of the brain's cerebral cortex consists of four lobes. Although there is some overlap among these sections, each has distinct functions. The front portion is the frontal lobe, which controls voluntary movement, planning,... Full Answer

The brainstem, an extension of the spinal cord, is the oldest part of the brain in evolutionary terms. It connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord and regulates blood pressure, breathing, chewing, swallowing, and eye movements. At the top of the... Full Answer

The limbic system (emotional motor system) is responsible for the experience and expression of emotion. It is located in the core of the brain and includes the amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus. In the limbic system of the brain, experience... Full Answer

The brain registers all forms of pleasure in the same way, whether from a psychoactive drug (any substance that changes your mood, thinking, or behavior), a monetary reward, a sexual encounter, or a satisfying meal. In the brain, pleasure has a... Full Answer

When the head is cut off from the heart, the brain goes into a coma and starts to die. Consciousness is probably lost with a few seconds, according to experts. Most medical experts believe that any movements in a head after decapitation is likely due to... Full Answer

When detectives try to solve a mystery, they look for clues and try to make sense of them. That's the same thing the medical researchers do in the quest to solve medical mysteries. In the case of brain cells being killed by degenerative neurological... Full Answer

Recent studies have shown that numerous parts of the brain are activated in the midst of a religious experience. Andrew Newberg of the University of Pennsylvania used an imaging technology called single photo emission computed tomography, or SPECT, to... Full Answer

Here are a few examples of brain chemicals that influence your emotions: Norepinephrine: This is the caveman fight-or-flight chemical. It's what tells you to tangle with a saber-toothed tiger or hightail it to the safety of your hut. Serotonin:... Full Answer

Though it's useful to distinguish between controlled vs. automatic processes and thinking vs. feeling processes, many decision-making problems (especially ones that happen with money) may originate in an improper division of labor between the various... Full Answer

Different parts of the brain react, depending on the morality of the decisions you make. In some MRI tests, researchers found that the left frontal lobe and temporal lobes were activated when making moral judgments, and it seems that when some of that... Full Answer