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Simplified Functions Of The Brain
(1) The Cortex is a layer about the
thickness of an orange peel, and is the
actual area where most "thinking"
takes place. The cortex has many
specialized patches. It can be also
thought of as the "unconscious mind"
because most patches of the cortex
work automatically. For example, your
sensory areas work 24 hours a day,
monitoring incoming sounds and skin
signals (your vision areas don't get sig-
nals at night, so use dreams to keep
active).

(2) Association fibres carry information
from one patch of the cortex to
another. The vision patch (A) will process what comes from the eye to see lines and shapes,
then pass it on to patch (B) which determines distance and motion, and thence to patch (C)
which is designed to recognize objects.

(3) The Thalamus is the master control centre of the brain. It acts a Chief Executive Officer or
CEO of the brain, monitoring all senses and actions.

(4) The Limbic System is important to memory. For example, it can add "emotional tags" of
"danger" to memories of snakes.

(5) The Hypothalamus is the master centre for emotions and instincts, such as fear, hunger, thirst,
pleasure, love and anger, and it also regulates body temperature.
(6) The Pituitary Gland translates nerve signals into chemical signals. Fear emotions in the
hypothalamus can trigger the pituitary gland to produce hormones to prepare the body for
"fight or flight."

(7) The Brain Stem is a complex network of wiring for sensory and muscle nerves. It automatically
controls eye movement, breathing, etc.

(8) The Basal Ganglia is a network of nerve connections around the thalamus. It is like a
gateway with a guard. The "yes" area of your frontal lobe may want you to grab the pizza off
your friend's plate, while the "no" area tries to inhibit the action. The thalamus "conscious centre"
or "will power" responds to whichever signal is stronger and controls the muscle signals via the
basal ganglia, a "go / stop" effect. During Parkinson's Disease, this area doesn't work properly,
resulting in go/stop shaking.
(9) The Cerebellum controls body balance, muscle coordination, and fast muscle movements. If
it is not working well, then you may be awkward and clumsy in sports, and type slowly with lots of
mistakes.