The sperm whale has the biggest brain among mammals. But the human brain has the highest number of neurons, which store and transmit information as signals.
Parts of the brain and their functions
In order to lead a healthy life, maintaining a good mental health is indispensable. Therefore, learning about the different parts of the brain and their functions becomes important.
The closer a part of the brain is to the spinal cord, the more basic the functions it performs.
Brainstem
Location
Function
The functions this part of the brain performs are very basic. It controls several voluntary and involuntary functions like breathing, digestion, heartbeat etc. It can be further divided into Midbrain, Pons and Medula Oblangata.
Damage
Damage to the Brainstem can cause speech impairment, memory loss, loss of consciousness, coma, paralysis and stroke.
Prevention
Traffic accidents are the main cause of damage to the Brainstem. So, wearing helmets and seat-belts can reduce the risk of injury.
Cerebellum
Location
The Cerebellum is located at the back of our brain (on the opposite side of the Brainstem). It contributes to only 10% of the weight of the brain. Yet, it contains half of all the neurons in our brain.
Function
Cerebellum receives information from the nervous system, spinal cord and other parts of the brain and regulates body movements. It is also responsible for maintaining equilibrium, balance, coordination and learning motor behaviors like cycling, swimming, walking, etc.
Damage
Damage to Cerebellum can cause problems in juding distances properly and make you fall easily. It can also lead to weak muscles, slurred speech, difficulty/inability in performing fast alternate movements, headaches and stroke.
Prevention
Quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, exercising regularly, avoiding the handling of Lead and using protective head gears.
Thalamus
Location
This part of the brain is located just above the Brainstem and Cerebellum.
Function
The main functions of the Thalamus are relaying sensor signals to the Cerebrum and regulation of sleep, consciousness and alertness. Just below the Thalamus, we can find the Hypothalamus which is responsible for regulating body temperature.
Below the Hypothalamus the Pituitary gland is located. It secretes the Hormones that control growth, blood pressure, metabolism and the functions of sex organs, thyroid glands etc.
Damage
Damage to any part of Thalamus could lead primarily to sensory confusion. For example, Audio sensory information (from your ears) could be wrongly sent to visual information processing center or vice versa. It can lead to reduced pain sensation and loss in sensation in one side of the body. It can also cause difficulties in finding words, memory and attention disorders, apathy, and inability to stop a thought from occurring. In some cases, it also leads to coma.
Damage to Pituitary gland can cause the Pituitary gland to stop producing one or more of its hormones. It might lead to reduced/excessive growth, reduced sex drive, weight gain and delaying or absence of puberty.
Prevention
While brain injuries can also damage the Thalamus, the primary reasons are malnutrition, eating- and genetic-disorders. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (but contains less saturated fats), Vitamin B and Vitamin C can keep the Thalamus healthy.
The main cause of damage to Pituitary gland are Pituitary tumors (non-cancerous). Drinking at least 4-6 cups of water a day and reducing stress can help keep your Pituitary gland healthy. Eating a well-balanced diet (rich in fruits and vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids), and reducing Sodium intake are also important.
Cerebrum
Location
The Cerebrum is the largest part of our brain. It contains the cerebral cortex that can be further divided into right and left hemispheres.
Function
This part of the brain is responsible for everything that differentiates us from animals. It controls our decision-making abilities, thought process, memory, senses, speech and emotional response.
The Cerebrum can be further divided into the Frontal lobe, the Parietal lobe, the Occipital lobe and the Temporal lobe. The Frontal lobe is located just behind our forehead. It is responsible for reasoning, planning, problem-solving, our emotions, our social and sexual behaviors. In the mid section, the Parietal lobe is located, which is responsible for movement, orientation and perception of stimuli. At the back side, we have the Occipital lobe where visual processing takes place. On both sides, we have the Temporal lobe which is responsible for audio processing, speech and memory.
Damage
Damage to Cerebrum can cause several problems.
A Frontal lobe injury can cause personality, mood and behavioral changes; problems in focusing and problem-solving; difficulty in interacting.
A damaged Parietal lobe may cause problems in reading, drawing and hand-eye coordination; differentiating right and left; doing Mathematics.
An Occipital lobe injury may cause problems in reading, writing, distinguishing colors, locating objects, and cause visual hallucinations.
Damage to the Temporal lobe can cause auditory hallucinations, short-term memory loss, and aggressive behavior. It can also make recognizing faces difficult.
Prevention
Cerebral damage may occur during childbirth (Cerebral Palsy). It can also occur at a later point in life due to Stroke or Dementia. Moreover, traffic accidents, sports injuries, violence, and falling (Traumatic head injury) can also cause cerebral damage. So, to protect your child from Cerebral Palsy, get vaccinated before childbirth, and avoid using alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Also use protective headgear for your children when you think their safety could be compromised.
Eating a well-balanced diet and exercising for 30 minutes a day can help prevent a Stroke. As for traumatic head injuries, being careful and using protective head-gears can certainly reduce the probability of damage to the cerebrum. According to a research, running increased the lifespan of mice with cerebral damage from 40 days to about 365 days. So, exercising can certainly help keep your Cerebrum healthy.
Safety system
Our brains have several layers of defenses to protect them from external damage. The outermost layer is our skull. Inside the skull, the brain is further protected by sturdy membranes called Meninges. Inside the meninges, the brain lies in a layer of fluid to further cushion it from damage.
Fun facts that you probably didn’t know
- The right hemisphere of the frontal lobe controls the left part of the body, and vice versa.
- Your brain is almost 75% water. That’s why dehydration impacts the functions of your brain negatively.
- The brain contributes to only 2% to your body’s mass. Yet, it consumes 25% of all the energy and uses 20% of the Oxygen and blood in your body.
- Cholesterol is indispensable for learning and memory. Indeed, 25% of all the cholesterol inside your body is in your brain. However, depending on age and several other factors, high Cholesterol can have negative effects.
- 7-9 hours of sleep is recommended for your brain and body to heal and function properly. Sleep deprivation can kill brain cells impacting cognition, judgment and reaction time negatively.
- Men’s brains are typically 10% larger than women’s. However, the Hippocampus (located in the Temporal lobe), which is mostly responsible for memory, is larger in women.
- Technology impacts your brain negatively. The average attention span has dropped from 12s in 2000 to 8s as of now. Even a goldfish has a higher attention span of 9s.
- Relying on GPS negatively impacts your innate sense of direction, that took thousands of years for your ancestors to develop and hone.
- Don’t rely on your memory too much, because memories can change over time. Indeed accounts of eye-witnesses are only 50% accurate.
Common myths, Busted
- You don't have to be born as a genius. Due to Brain Plasticity, your brains can change throughout your life. So, even if you are not born as a genius, you can become one by training your brain.
- Computer and video games are not always bad. They can actually improve your cognitive abilities (learning and problem-solving). However which type of games improve your cognitive abilities is not yet clear.
- You don’t just use 10% of your brain. You use almost all of your brain all the time. But the intensity to which several areas of the brain are activated depends mostly on the activity you are doing at the current time. That’s why, sometimes, the solution to a problem materializes several days later, when you are not even thinking about it.
We hope that this blog post helped you understand about the different parts of the human brain and their functions. If you liked this blog post, you will like the following blog post too:
