

HippocampusĪ structure within the temporal lobe, the hippocampus plays a role in learning and memory. It controls automatic reactions, such as the fight-or-flight response, in humans. The amygdala is a major component of the limbic system. The olfactory bulb lies beneath the frontal lobe and delivers information directly to the cortex for interpretation. Each branch helps supply blood to the different regions of the brain. The cerebrum also contains different sets of arteries to supply the brain with blood, separated into the anterior, middle, and posterior branches. The following are some other structures located within the cerebrum. The right hemisphere, in general, controls aspects of creativity, such as art and musical skills. This means, in general, that the right side of the brain receives and controls signals from the left side of the body, and that the left side of the brain receives and controls signals from the right side of the body.Īlso, although both hemispheres control many functions, some functions occur predominantly in one or the other.įor example, in general, the left hemisphere controls functions such as speech, writing, and mathematics. Each hemisphere controls processes on the contralateral side of the body. HemispheresĪ fissure divides the cerebrum into right and left hemispheres.

This includes connecting structures such as nerve fibers called axons, which help connect and transmit to various areas of the cerebral cortex. White matterīeneath the cerebral cortex lie the deeper structures, often known as white matter. Superior temporal gyrus: This is a ridge below the lateral sulcus, where the brain first receives and processes information.Ī fifth lobe, called the insular lobe, is located within the lateral sulcus.Lateral sulcus: This divides the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes.Postcentral gyrus: This is a ridge just behind the central sulcus, which neuroscientists use to identify the primary somatosensory cortex.Precentral gyrus: This is a ridge just in front of the central sulcus, which neuroscientists use to identify the primary motor cortex.Central sulcus: This divides the frontal and parietal lobes.These lobes each have two sections, divided by the central fissure in the brain.Īs there are no other distinct separations in the brain, neuroscientists divide the lobes roughly based on the major folds in the area. The cerebral cortex also houses the four major lobes: Ridges called gyri and valleys, or folds, called sulci help increase the surface area of the cerebral cortex. In humans, this gray matter has an uneven surface with many folds. The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the cerebrum, or its gray matter. The sections below will describe these divisions in more detail. The cerebrum itself has a few divisions, which neuroscientists generally use to classify the functions of the different areas.

In the human skull, the cerebrum sits atop the brainstem, with the cerebellum underneath the rear portion. The cerebrum, or telencephalon, is the large upper part of the brain.
