Psychology of the Brain
This is a psychology paper discussing the structures and areas of the brain, its functions and related disorders associated with that certain part.
The nervous system is the body’s decision and communication center (, 2003). It is further divided in to two, the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) (, 2003). The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord while the peripheral nervous system mainly consists of nerves. Structurally, the brain is divided into cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem and limbic system (, 2003). The cerebrum is divided into two hemispheres; all lobes and structures are found on both halves except for the pineal body, or gland which is located between the hemispheres. The corpus callosum is a pathway connecting the two hemispheres, the left and right hemispheres (, 2003). The left hemisphere controls the right-side of the body and is the center for logical reasoning and analytic functions (, 2003) such as reading, writing and mathematical task, problems arising in this area as a result of a brain injury or trauma may lead to poor reasoning abilities and aphasia problems. The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body (, 2003) and is the center for creative thinking, intuition and artistic abilities. It is important to note this since this can be used during neurological assessments in cases of a stroke client or following a brain trauma or injury. The cerebral hemispheres are divided into four lobes: frontal parietal, temporal and occipital (, 2003). The frontal lobes control the organization of thought, body movement, memories, emotions and moral behavior. The integration of all this information regulates arousal, focuses attention, and enables problem solving and decision making. Abnormalities in the frontal lobes are associated with schizophrenia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and dementia (, 2003). The parietal lobes interpret sensations of taste and touch and assist is spatial orientation. The temporal lobes are centers of sense of smell and hearing and for memory and emotional expression. The occipital lobes assist in coordinating language generation and visual interpretation such as depth and perception (, 2003). The cerebellum is located below the cerebrum and is the center of coordination of movements and postural adjustments (, 2003). Problems in this area could result in lack of smooth coordinated movements as seen in diseases such as Parkinson’s and dementia (, 2003). The brain stem includes the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata (,2003), it also house the nuclei for cranial nerves III through XII (,2003). The medulla, contains vital centers for respiration and cardiovascular functions. The midbrain connects the pons and cerebellum, it includes the reticular activating system (RAS) which controls the sleep-wake cycle (,2003). Problems in RAS in usually associated with the control of consciousness. The limbic system is the area located above the brain stem that includes thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus and amygdala (,2003). The thalamus relays information from one area of the cortex to another (,1979). Just below the thalamus us the hypothalamus, a tiny structure about the size of the pea, yet a crucial part of the brain. It is largely responsible for maintenance of homeostasis, ensuring that all various parameters of bodily function are in balance and functions at their optimum (,1979). It also involves temperature regulation, appetite control, endocrine function, sexual drive and impulsive behavior associated with feelings of anger, rage, or excitement (,2003). The hippocampus and amygdala are involved in emotional arousal and memory. Disturbances in the limbic system have been implicated in a variety of mental illness such as memory loss (amnesia), memory loss accompanied by dementia and the poorly controlled emotions and impulses seen with psychotic or manic behavior (,2003).
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