|
Structure Name:
|
Function/Application:
|
|
Hypothalamus
|
Regulates emotions, body temperature, sexual activity and food and water intake.
Driving along, you stop at a snack stand to pick up a bite to eat. The hypothalamus has control over your food and water intake, making sure you don't gorge yourself or eat to little to fulfill your hunger.
|
|
Thalamus
|
The great relay station of the brain. It relays all auditory, visual and touch sensory signals to different areas of the cortex. The only sense the thalamus has no correlation with is smell.
As you drive down the road, the thalamus will be interpreting things and relaying messages from different sections of your brain. It will process the road, watch for pedestrians and listen for any important noises (honking or sirens). It will then relay that information.
|
|
Reticular Formation
|
Controls levels of arousal.
In conjunction with the previous scenario (it's your first time driving), you're likely to be more alert. You watch the road carefully, because you don't want to mess up your very first time. The reticular formation is the source of your alertness.
|
Medulla
(Medulla Oblongata)
|
Regulates vital activities, such as breathing, swallowing, blood circulation, skeletal muscle contraction and coordination.
Everyone's a little nervous when it comes around to being their first time driving. So as you climb behind the wheel, you feel your breathing getting slightly faster and heavier. But after a while, it should return to normal, because the medulla is there to regulate it.
|
|
Cerebellum
|
Handles coordinated movements llike standing, walking and other muscle activities. It functions to smooth and integrate muscular events, so they produce a blended ensemble of behaviors.
The cerebellum lets you sit on the car seat like every normal person, and helps you to maintain your posture while driving. Damage to this structure would cause you to make discordant and spasmodic movements, which would not be so good on the road.
|
|
Pituitary Gland
|
The master gland of the body. It controls the secretions that monitor other endocrine glands, influences growth, metabolism and maturation.
|
|
Pons
|
A bridge that connects higher and lower brain regions. Part of the brain stem.
|
