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Simplified Functions Of The Brain
An Example
(A) Your eyes see a snake.
The image is sent back to (B)
where the visual cortex sees lines
and shapes. The information then
goes to (C) where the cortex analyses
distance and motion. Cortex area (D)
analyses the shape and determines that it is
a snake. The cortex signals the thalamus (E)
that a snake is close by.
The limbic system (H) determines from
memory that "snakes=danger."
The thalamus and limbic system trigger the
fear emotion in the hypothalamus (F), which
tells the pituitary gland (I) to send out appropriate hormones (J) to prepare for fight or flight.

The hypothalamus is "blind" and doesn't know whether the snake is real or imaginary! If you
imagine, remember, just see a picture, get tricked by a rope, or dream an image of a snake
anywhere in the cortex (G), the limbic system senses a "danger" tag on the memory of snakes,
and may automatically trigger the hypothalamus fear response, perhaps waking you up with
an adrenaline rush.