The Brain

The brain has three main parts, the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The brain is divided into regions that control specific functions.

THE CEREBRUM:
Frontal Lobe

* Behavior
* Abstract thought processes
* Problem solving
* Attention
* Creative thought
* Some emotion
* Intellect
* Reflection
* Judgment
* Initiative
* Inhibition
* Coordination of movements
* Generalized and mass movements
* Some eye movements
* Sense of smell
* Muscle movements
* Skilled movements
* Some motor skills
* Physical reaction
* Libido (sexual urges)

Occipital Lobe

* Vision
* Reading

Parietal Lobe

* Sense of touch (tactile senstation)
* Appreciation of form through touch (stereognosis)
* Response to internal stimuli (proprioception)
* Sensory combination and comprehension
* Some language and reading functions
* Some visual functions

Temporal Lobe

* Auditory memories
* Some hearing
* Visual memories
* Some vision pathways
* Other memory
* Music
* Fear
* Some language
* Some speech
* Some behavior amd emotions
* Sense of identity

Right Hemisphere (the representational hemisphere)

* The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body
* Temporal and spatial relationships
* Analyzing nonverbal information
* Communicating emotion

Left Hemisphere (the categorical hemisphere)

* The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body
* Produce and understand language

Corpus Callosum

* Communication between the left and right side of the brain

THE CEREBELLUM

* Balance
* Posture
* Cardiac, respiratory, and vasomotor centers

THE BRAIN STEM

* Motor and sensory pathway to body and face
* Vital centers: cardiac, respiratory, vasomotor

Hypothalamus

* Moods and motivation
* Sexual maturation
* Temperature regulation
* Hormonal body processes

Optic Chiasm

* Vision and the optic nerve

Pituitary Gland

* Hormonal body processes
* Physical maturation
* Growth (height and form)
* Sexual maturation
* Sexual functioning

Spinal Cord

* Conduit and source of sensation and movement

Pineal Body

* Unknown

Ventricles and Cerebral Aqueduct

* Contains the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord

excerpt borrowed from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/brain/Structure.shtml