Brain Essentials 101

The brain is divided into three parts - brain stem, midbrain, cerebrum or cortex - and has two sides, or hemispheres, which are joined by the corpus callosum.

The brain stem is similar to the brain of a reptile as it was the first part to evolve, and is responsible for survival.  It processes sensory information, and reacts instinctively to the information that it receives.

The midbrain, also described as the mammalian brain, was the next part to evolve and accommodates about nine different functions ranging from feeling, to learning and remembering.  An essential part of the midbrain is the limbic system, which is the seat of emotions (for example anger, fright, passion, love, joy and sadness), motivation and conscience.  As well, the limbic system commands certain behaviours for well being such as bonding, empathy and differentiating between agreeable and disagreeable behaviour.

The cerebrum distinguishes humans from other forms of life as it enables multiple functions, which can be loosely grouped into thinking and communication.  Within thinking comes a multitude of functions including problem solving, planning, inference, decision making and self control.  Communication, logically, includes language both  expressive and receptive for responding and understanding.  It also includes gesture, facial expression, tone, speech, and text.

The cerebrum is divided into two hemispheres: left and right.  The left hemisphere functions predominantly in a logical, sequential and detailed manner.  In contrast, the right processes complex information simultaneously  - a big picture analysis.