Superior parietal gyrus. Functions of the occipital lobe of the brain. Brain functions

On the surface of the superior and lateral parietal lobe, there are 3 gyri: 1 vertical - posterior central and 2 horizontal - inferior parietal and superior parietal. The proportion of the inferior parietal gyrus, which bends around the posterior part of the lateral groove, is called above the marginal (supramarginal), the part covering the temporal superior gyrus is called the nodal zone.

Parietal lobe, functions

The functions of the parietal lobe are combined with the perception and analysis of sensitive stimuli. There are also functional centers in the convolutions of the parietal lobe.

In the posterior central gyrus, the sensitive centers are projected with the projection of the body characteristic of the central anterior gyrus. In the lower third of the gyrus, the face is projected, in the middle third - the arm, trunk, and the upper third - the leg. In the parietal gyrus, on top, there are centers that are in charge of difficult types of sensitivity: two-dimensional spatial feeling, muscular-articular, a sense of recognizing objects at random, a sense of volume and weight of movement.

There is a part from the upper parts of the central posterior gyrus that is responsible for the ability to recognize your body, the proportions of parts and position.

The first, second, third fields of the postcentral zone occupy the main cortex of the skin analyzer. Together with field 1 and field 3, it is indicated as primary, and the second field is the secondary projection area of \u200b\u200bthe skin analyzer. The postcentral part is connected by efferent fibers with the stem and subcortical formations, with the pericentral and other sections of the cerebral cortex. Further, in the parietal lobe there is the cortical section of the sensitive analyzer.

Sensory and primary zones - this is the zone of the sensory cortex, irritation, their destruction causes continuous changes in the body's sensibility. They are composed of monomodal neurons and form sensations of a single quality. In the primary sensory areas, as a rule, there is a spatial representation of body parts, receptor zones.

Around the primary sensory zones, there are also secondary sensory zones, whose neurons respond to the effects of several stimuli, they are polymodal.

A special sensory part is the parietal cortex of the postcentral gyrus and part of the para central zone on the medial surface of the hemispheres, and it is designated the somatosensory region. Here is the projection of the skin sensitivity of the other side of the body from pain, tactile temperature receptors, and the receptive sensitivity and senses of the musculoskeletal system - from the articular, muscle and tendon receptors.

Along with the somatosensory region, the smallest somatosensory region II is also noted, located at the border of the intersection of the central sulcus with the upper edge of the temporal lobe, in the very depth of the lateral sulcus. The level of dependence of body regions is expressed in a smaller part.

The parietal lobe is of great importance, like the frontal, in the cerebral hemisphere. In the genetic view, the old department is emphasized, that is, the central gyrus behind, the new one is the superior parietal gyrus and the much newer is the inferior parietal gyrus.

There are praxis centers in the lower part of the parietal lobe. Praxis, understand how, automatic, in the process of exercise and repetition, purposeful actions that are performed in the process of learning and continuous practice throughout life. Walking, dressing, eating, an element of the mechanics of writing, different types of work are praxis. Praxis is the highest manifestation inherent in man. It is performed as a result of the combined activity of different areas of the cerebral cortex. In the lower sections, the posterior and anterior central gyri are the center of the analyzer of the receptive impulses of the internal organs and vessels. The center has a close relationship with the subcortical vegetative bases.

What is the brain responsible for?

The brain is the main regulator of all body functions. It belongs to one of the elements of the central nervous system. Its structure and functions have been the main subject of medical study for a long time. Thanks to their research, it became known what the brain is responsible for and what departments it consists of. Let's dwell on all this in more detail.

The structure of the brain

Before you know what the brain is doing, you should familiarize yourself with its structure. It consists of the cerebellum, trunk and cortex, the latter being formed by the left and right hemispheres. They, in turn, are subdivided into the following lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal and parietal.

Brain functions

Now let's dwell on the functions of the brain. Each of its departments is responsible for certain actions and reactions of the body.

Parietal lobe

The parietal lobe allows a person to determine their spatial position. Its main task is to process sensory sensations. It is the parietal lobe that helps a person understand which part of his body has been touched, where he is now, what he is experiencing in relation to space, and so on. In addition, the parietal lobe has the following functions:

  • is responsible for the ability to write, read, etc .;
  • controls human movements;
  • responsible for the perception of pain, heat and cold.

Frontal lobe

The frontal lobe of the brain has various functions. She is responsible for:

  • abstract thinking;
  • attention;
  • the ability to independently solve problems;
  • striving for initiative;
  • critical self-esteem;
  • self-control.

The frontal lobe also contains the center of speech. In addition, she controls urination and body formation. The frontal lobe is responsible for transforming memories for insertion into a person's long-term memory. At the same time, its effectiveness decreases if attention is concentrated on several objects simultaneously.

At the top of the frontal lobe is Broca's area. It helps a person find the right words during conversations. Therefore, those people who have been injured in Broca's area often have problems expressing their thoughts, but they clearly understand what others are saying to them.

The frontal lobe is directly involved in thinking about memories, helping a person to comprehend them and draw conclusions.

Temporal lobe

The main function of the temporal lobe is to process auditory sensations. It is she who is responsible for converting sounds into words that are understandable to humans. The temporal lobe contains a site called the Hippocampus. It is responsible for long-term memory and is involved in several types of epileptic seizures. Therefore, if a person was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy, it means that the hippocampus is affected.

Occipital lobe

The occipital lobe contains several neuronal nuclei, so it is responsible for:

  • vision. It is this share that is responsible for the receptivity and processing of visual information. She also controls the work of the eyeballs. Therefore, damage to the occipital lobe causes partial or complete loss of vision.
  • visual memory. Thanks to the occipital lobe, a person can easily assess the shape of objects and the distance to them. If it is damaged, the functions of binocular vision are disrupted, as a result, the ability to navigate in an unfamiliar environment is lost.

Brain stem

It should be said right away that the brain stem is formed from the medulla oblongata and midbrain, as well as the bridge. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves in it. They are responsible for:

Another important function of the brain stem is the regulation of breathing. He is also responsible for the human heartbeat.

Cerebellum

Now let's dwell on what function belongs to the cerebellum. First of all, he is responsible for the balance and coordination of human movement. It also signals the central nervous system about the position of the head and body in space. With its defeat, a person's smoothness in the movement of the limbs is disturbed, there is a slowdown in actions and bad speech.

In addition, the cerebellum is responsible for regulating the autonomic functions of the human body. After all, it contains a significant number of synoptic contacts. This part of the brain is also responsible for muscle memory. Therefore, it is so important that there are no violations in his work.

Cortex

The cerebral cortex is divided into several types: new, old and ancient, the latter two combine and make up the limbic system. Sometimes an interstitial crust is also distinguished, consisting of an intermediate ancient and intermediate old crust. The new cortex is represented by convolutions, nerve cells and processes. It also contains several types of neurons.

The cerebral cortex has the following functions:

  • provides a connection between inferior and superior brain cells;
  • corrects dysfunctions of systems that interact with it;
  • controls consciousness and personality traits.

Of course, the brain has many important functions. Therefore, you should monitor his health and undergo an annual examination. Indeed, many human diseases are directly related to pathologies that arise in the parts of the brain.

Read about the work and purpose of the brain in the articles: How the brain works and What the brain is for. Also, if you are interested in anatomy, check out the content of the article How are the organs located.

Parietal lobe of the brain and its defeat

In the parietal lobe, parallel to the central groove, there is a postcentral groove, which merges with the intra-parietal groove. On the upper lateral surface of the parietal lobe, there are three convolutions: one vertical (postcentral gyrus) and two horizontal (superior and inferior parietal lobules). The lower parts of the inferior parietal lobule are the supra-marginal gyrus, which bends around the lateral groove, and the angular gyrus, which closes the superior temporal groove. The pre-wedge is located on the medial surface of the parietal lobe.

Centers of the parietal lobe of the brain and their damage:

1. The center of general types of sensitivity is in the postcentral gyrus; bilateral, partially captures the superior parietal lobe. In the upper part of the postcentral gyrus, receptors of the skin of the leg are represented, in the middle - of the arms, in the lower - of the head.

Irritation of this gyrus is accompanied by the appearance of paresthesia (unpleasant sensations in the form of numbness, tingling, creeping sensations) in the opposite half of the body, which can spread and turn into a general convulsive seizure (a sensitive version of Jacksonian epilepsy). With compression or destruction of areas of the postcentral gyrus, there is a decrease or loss of sensitivity (temperature, pain, tactile, joint-muscular feeling) by the type of monohypesthesia or monoanesthesia on the opposite half of the body, most pronounced in the distal parts of the limbs.

2. The centers of perception of complex types of sensitivity (localization, determination of weight, discrimination, two-dimensional feeling) - in the upper parietal lobe.

3. Center for "body schema" - In the area of \u200b\u200bthe intra-parietal sulcus.

The defeat of this area leads to a disorder of the correct idea of \u200b\u200bthe spatial relationships and sizes of parts of your body in the form of a distorted idea of \u200b\u200bthe shape and size, for example, an arm or leg (autopagnosia), the appearance of a feeling of an extra limb (pseudomelia), a lack of consciousness of a defect, such as paralysis of the limbs ( anosognosia). The occurrence of digital agnosia, which is characterized by a lack of recognition of the fingers of its extremities, is possible.

4. Centers of praxia - in the supra-marginal gyri; provide the implementation of complex purposeful movements in a certain sequence, learned in the process of life.

With their lesions, there is Apraxia (violation of purposeful actions):

a) ideatorial apraxia (concept apraxia) - disorder of the sequence of movements when performing a task; the patient performs actions that are not necessary to achieve the goal

B) motor apraxia (execution apraxia) - disorder of action by order or imitation.

C) constructive apraxia - the inability to construct a whole from a part - figures from matches, cubes

5. The center of stereognosy is in the inferior parietal lobe.

Its defeat causes astereognosia (tactile agnosia), when the patient cannot recognize objects by touch.

6. The center of vocabulary is in the angular gyrus, the right-hander on the left has the ability to recognize printed characters and the ability to read.

With her defeat, alexia develops (a disorder of understanding written and printed signs).

7. Center of the Account (calculus) - above the angular gyrus.

When it is defeated, acalculia develops (violation of the count).

Semantic aphasia (violation of the ability to understand complex logical and grammatical structures) occurs when the area of \u200b\u200btransition of the inferior parietal lobule to the temporal and occipital lobules is affected. The patient cannot grasp the semantic difference between expressions like "father's brother" and "brother's father".

Parietal lobe lesion syndrome: postcentral gyrus lesion syndrome:

1. Hemianesthesia of the opposite limbs and face, possibly monoanesthesia

2. Primary astereognosia (loss of the ability to recognize objects by touch)

3. Autopagnosia (disorder of the correct idea of \u200b\u200bone's own body), anosognosia (lack of consciousness of one's defect)

4. Akalculia (disorder of counting and performing arithmetic operations)

6. Motor, ideator and constructive apraxia

7. Violation of the right-left orientation

9. Central urinary incontinence

10. Hemianopsia (damage to visual radiance)

Parietal Lobe Irritation Syndrome:

1. Sensitive Jacksonian epilepsy

2. Posterior adversive seizures

3. Opercular seizures

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How the brain works: the frontal lobes

In the last article of our cycle, we talked about the little twin brother of the brain - the cerebellum, now it's time to move on to the so-called big brain itself. Namely, to its part that makes a person a person - the frontal lobes.

Frontal lobes are highlighted in blue

A little about terms

This is one of the youngest parts of the human brain, accounting for about 30%. And it is located in the front of our head, from where it takes the name "frontal" (in Latin it sounds like lobus frontalis, and lobus is a "lobe", not "frontal"). It is separated from the parietal lobe by a central sulcus (sulcus centralis). In each frontal lobe there are four convolutions: one vertical and three horizontal - the superior, middle and inferior frontal convolutions (that is, gyrus frontalis superior, medius and inferior, respectively - you can simply find these Latin terms in English texts).

The frontal lobes regulate the distribution system of voluntary movements, motor processes of speech, regulation of complex forms of behavior, thinking functions, and even controls urination.

The temples have a part of the lobes "responsible" for intellectual processes.

The left lobe forms the qualities that determine a person's personality: attention, abstract thinking, a desire for initiative, the ability to solve problems, self-control and critical self-esteem. For most people, the center of speech is located here, but there are about 2-5 inhabitants of the planet, in whom it is based in the right frontal lobe. But in reality, the ability to speak does not change depending on the location of the "control cabin".

Brains, of course, also have their own unique functions. The anterior central gyrus is responsible for the motor abilities of certain parts of the body. In fact, it turns out "an inverted person": the face is controlled by the lower third of the gyrus, which is closer to the forehead, and the legs are controlled by the upper third, which is closer to the parietal region.

In the posterior parts of the superior frontal gyrus there is an extrapyramidal center, that is, the extrapyramidal system. It is responsible for the function of voluntary movements, the "readiness" of the central motor apparatus to perform a movement for the redistribution of muscle tone when performing actions. She also takes part in maintaining a normal posture. In the posterior part of the middle frontal gyrus, the frontal oculomotor center is located, which is responsible for the simultaneous rotation of the head and eyes. Irritation of this center turns the head and eyes in the opposite direction.

The main function of the frontal lobe is “legislative”. She controls behavior. Only this part of the brain gives a command that does not allow a person to carry out socially undesirable impulses. For example, if emotions dictate to hit the boss, the frontal lobes signal: "Stop or you will lose your job." Of course, they only notify that it is not necessary to do this, but they cannot stop actions and turn off emotions. Interestingly, the frontal lobes work even when we sleep.

In addition, they are also a conductor, helping all areas of the brain work in concert.

And it was in the frontal lobes that neurons were discovered that have been called the most outstanding development in neurology in recent decades. In 1992, a native of Kiev, Italian by passport, Giacomo Rizzolati discovered and in 1996 published the so-called mirror neurons. They are excited both when performing a certain action, and when observing the implementation of this action. It is believed that it is to them that we owe the ability to learn. Later, such neurons were found in other lobes, but it was in the frontal lobes that they were found first.

Frontal lobe damage results in carelessness, useless goals, and a tendency to inappropriate, ridiculous jokes. A person loses the meaning of life, interest in the environment and can sleep all day. So if you know such a person, perhaps he is not a lazy person and a bummer, but his frontal lobe cells are dying off!

Violation of the activity of these zones of the cortex subordinates human actions to random impulses or stereotypes. At the same time, noticeable changes affect the very personality of the patient, and his mental abilities inevitably decrease. Such traumas are especially hard on individuals whose life is based on creativity. They are no longer able to create something new.

Damage to this area of \u200b\u200bthe brain can be detected using pathological reflexes that are normally absent: for example, grasping (Yanishevsky-Bekhterev reflex), when a person's hand closes when any object touches the hand. Less often, this phenomenon is manifested by the obsessive grasping of objects that appear before the eyes. There are other similar violations: closing of the lips, jaw and even eyelids.

Neurologist Alexey Yanishevsky

In 1861, the French physician Paul Broca described an interesting case. He knew an old man who only said, "Tan-tan-tan." After the death of the patient, it turned out that in the posterior third of the inferior frontal gyrus of the left hemisphere there was a softening - a trace of hemorrhage. This is how the medical and anatomical term "Broca's center" was born, and for the first time, the purpose of several cubic centimeters of the human brain, lying on its very surface, was revealed to scientists.

There are many examples when people lived with significant damage to the frontal lobe. We have even written about this more than once, for example, about the "case with a crowbar." So why don't people die when the largest and most complex area of \u200b\u200bthe brain, which forms only by the age of 18, is destroyed? They have not yet been able to explain this, but nevertheless the behavior of people "without frontal lobes" is rather strange: after a conversation with a doctor, one calmly entered the open closet, another sat down to write a letter and filled the entire page with the words "How are you?"

The famous Phineas Gage, who survived the defeat of the frontal lobe with a crowbar

Frontal lobe syndrome

All such patients develop a frontal lobe syndrome, which occurs with massive lesions of this part of the brain (neuropsychological syndrome or personality disorder of organic etiology, according to ICD-10). Since it is the frontal lobe that is responsible for the functions of information processing and control of mental activity, its destruction as a result of traumatic brain injury, the development of tumors, vascular and neurodegenerative diseases leads to a wide variety of disorders.

For example, during perception, the recognition of simple elements, symbols, images does not suffer much, but the ability to adequately analyze any complex situations is lost: a person reacts to standard stimuli presented with random and impulsive responses that are born under the influence of a direct impression.

The same impulse behavior manifests itself in the motor sphere: a person loses the ability to purposefully, thoughtful movements. Instead, stereotyped actions and uncontrolled motor reactions appear. Attention also suffers: it is difficult for the patient to concentrate, he is extremely distracted and easily switches from one to another, which interferes with the performance of the tasks. This also includes disorders of memory and thinking, "thanks" to which the so-called active memorization becomes impossible, the ability to see the task "as a whole" is lost, which is why it loses its semantic structure, the possibility of its complex analysis is lost, and therefore - the search for a solution program, as well as awareness their mistakes.

In patients with similar lesions, the emotional-personal sphere almost always suffers, which, in fact, was observed in the same Gage. Patients do not adequately relate to themselves, their condition and those around them, they often have a state of euphoria, which can quickly be replaced by aggression, turn into depressive moods and emotional indifference. With frontal syndrome, the spiritual sphere of a person is disturbed - interest in work is lost, preferences and tastes change or completely disappear.

By the way, one of the most terrible operations, lobotomy, breaks the connection between the frontal lobes, and the result is the same as with ordinary injuries: the person stops worrying, but receives many "side effects" (epileptic seizures, partial paralysis, urinary incontinence, weight gain , impaired motility) and actually turns into a "plant".

As a result, let's say: it is possible to live without the frontal lobe, but it is undesirable, otherwise we will lose everything human.

Rizzolatti G., Fadiga L., Gallese V., Fogassi L.

Premotor cortex and the recognition of motor actions.

Cogn. Brain Res., 3 (1996) ,.

Gallese V., Fadiga L., Fogassi L., Rizzolatti G

Action recognition in the premotor cortex.

Anastasia Sheshukova, Anna Horuzhaya

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Functions of the occipital lobe of the brain

The occipital lobe of the brain is primarily responsible for processing and redirecting visual signals. This lobe makes up one section of the cerebral cortex. It receives information from the eyes and optic nerves, and then directs the received signals to either the primary visual cortex or one of the two levels of the visual associative cortex. The result of this is what is widely known as visual signal processing data, essentially information that the brain uses to interpret and conceptualize what a person sees. In healthy people, this lobe functions flawlessly on its own, while problems with it usually lead to serious vision problems. For example, defects in the formation of this lobe can cause blindness or severe visual impairment, and injuries affecting this area can cause a number of sometimes irreversible visual disturbances.

Cortex

Although the brain looks like a homogeneous spongy mass, it is composed of a number of intricately interconnected parts. The "cerebral cortex" is the name for the outer layer of the brain, which in humans is a tissue with folds and grooves, which most people identify as the mass of the brain. The cerebral cortex is divided into two hemispheres as well as four lobes. These are the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe and occipital lobe.

The frontal lobe is involved in locomotion and planning, while the temporal lobe is involved in the processing of auditory information. The main function of the parietal lobe is to perceive the body, also known as the “somatic sensation” of the body. The occipital lobe, which is located at the back of the cerebral cortex, is associated almost exclusively with vision.

Visual processing

The processing of visual information is due to the coordinated work of the optic nerves, which connect to the eyes. They send information to the thalamus, another part of the brain, which then redirects it to the primary visual cortex. Typically, information received by the primary sensory cortex is sent directly to areas adjacent to it called the sensory associative cortex. One of the main functions of the occipital lobe is to send information from the primary visual cortex to the visual associative cortex. The visual associative cortex spans more than one lobe; this means that the occipital lobe is not the only participant in this important function. Together, these areas of the brain analyze visual information received by the primary visual cortex and retain visual memories.

Levels of the visual associative cortex

There are two levels of the visual associative cortex. The first level, located around the primary visual cortex, receives information about the movement of objects and color. In addition, it processes signals related to the perception of shapes. The second level, located in the middle of the parietal lobe, is responsible for the perception of movement and location. Such characteristics as the depth of perception are also based here. This level also covers the lower part of the temporal lobe, which is responsible for processing and transmitting information about three-dimensional shape.

Damage consequences

Malfunctions in the functioning of the occipital lobe can cause various visual impairments, for the most part quite serious. If the primary visual cortex is completely damaged, blindness is usually the result. The primary visual cortex has a visual field displayed on its surface, and its erasure or deep damage is usually irreversible. Complete damage to the visual cortex is often the result of severe trauma or as a result of a tumor or other abnormal growth on the surface of the brain. In rare cases, birth defects are the cause.

Focal lesions of the visual associative cortex are usually less severe. Blindness is still possible, but the likelihood of its occurrence is not so high. Most often, patients have difficulty recognizing objects. In the language of medicine, this problem is called visual agnosia. The patient may be able to pick up the watch and recognize it by touch, but when he looks at the picture of the watch, he most often can only describe its elements, such as the circular surface of the dial or the numbers located in a circle.

Forecasts

Sometimes it is possible to restore normal vision through treatment or even surgery, but this is not always possible. Much depends on the severity and cause of the injury, as well as the age of the patient. Younger patients, in particular children, often respond better to restorative therapy than adults or those whose brains are no longer growing.

Photo: teens.drugabuse.gov, oerpub.github.io, injurycentral.com

The structure of the brain

The brain center can be said to be the most important organ that is part of the central nervous system. Regulates absolutely all vital functions. If changes have occurred in the brain, this leads to the development of serious diseases. Indeed, the substance contains about twenty-five billion nerve endings that make up the gray matter.

He himself is covered with three shells, namely: hard, soft and the so-called spider web. The liquor fluid, or, as it is also called, cerebrospinal fluid, moves through the channels of the latter. The spinal substance is a kind of shock absorber for the shock hydraulics. On average, a woman's brain weighs 1245 grams, which cannot be said about a male representative, whose weight is 1375 grams.

To understand what a lobe of the brain is, its purpose, one should start with the question of the structure of this department.

Anatomy

The human brain today is the most unrecognized and unexplored element of the human body, which world scientists have not fully explored. This organ, first of all, belongs to the group of the most important and necessary organs of the human body, but at the same time, it is considered the most complex and not fully understood.

This article is devoted to the most important departments that make up the organ of thinking, including a detailed study of its work and functioning.

The bark of the main organ of the head is that constituent part that is individual in its structure, which makes a person a unique creature in comparison with other inhabitants of the planet. All the signs and traits that only a person possesses include the unique ability to work mentally, speak, be aware, think, imagine, and so on - refer to the functional purpose of the cerebral cortex. All of these signs are the result of the course of processes in it.

The brain that we are used to seeing in textbooks and on medical stands is only its external visual part, namely the cortex itself. This component has four parts in its structure. The irregularities and folded surface that we observe when we look at it are convolutions, and the deepened areas and grooves are grooves.

Departments

The surface of the bark can be safely divided into four sections, known to all as lobes. Each of them: the frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal lobes, which are responsible for specific functions, can be divided into functions, including reasoning and listening to information.

  • The frontal lobe is located in the front of the main center. The frontal lobes are responsible for the ability to think, exercise movements, improve speech and cognition skills. The posterior part of the frontal region, located close to the main, centrally lying groove, has in its structure the motor cortex of the main organ of thinking. This area receives signals from different parts of the central organ of the head. Further, he analyzes and applies the information received in order to implement and implement the movement of parts and limbs of a person. Any violation of the structure of the lobe of the frontal part will inevitably lead to a disorder in sexual terms, the emergence of problems of social adjustment, loss of attention. The frontal lobes can be prone to pathology, which increases the likelihood that such consequences may occur in the future;
  • The parietal lobe has the function of analyzing and processing sensitive and tactile signals. These include: tactile sensations, pain sensations and pressure. The parietal lobe is located in the middle part of the brain center. The somatosensory cortex, as its component, is located in the lobe responsible for these functions. Violation of the integrity of this share will lead to irreversible consequences associated with verbal memorization, the inability to control vision, to perform the function of speech;
  • The temporal lobe is located in the lower part of the organ. The temporal lobe has in its structure the auditory cortex, which is necessary in order to interpret sounds and heard speech. The hypothalamus section is also located in the temporal part - this explains the connection of this part of the organ with the ability to form memory. The pathology of this department leads to impaired memory, ability to speak, perceive sounds;
  • The occipital lobe of the brain has its own functions. It is localized in the back, its task is the perception of information that is received by the visual organs. The visual cortex located in the occipital zone is responsible for processing and receiving data received by the retina. If the occipital lobe of the brain is damaged, as well as any violation of the integrity of this lobe will cause deformation of speech, problems will arise with the recognition of objects, text, the lack of the ability to distinguish colors;

Trunk

This element in the structure of the brain consists of two parts: the posterior and midbrain. The first has in its structure the medulla oblongata, the Varoliev bridge and the reticular formation.

Let's take a closer look at each element:

Rear axle

This element is the structure that serves as the connection between the spinal cord and the brain.

  • The medulla oblongata is localized, pressing as much as possible to the spinal cord. Its main function is to control vital processes that occur due to the work of the autonomic nervous system. This includes heartbeats, the function of breathing and maintaining pressure in the vessels;
  • The Varoliev bridge serves as a single periphery for the medulla oblongata with the cerebellum. It helps to control the coordination of the motor system of any part of the human body;
  • The neural network is represented by the reticular formation, which is located in the medulla oblongata. It promotes sleep coordination and focus;

Average

This division is the smallest part of the brain center, acting as a relay station of its kind that displays auditory and visual information.

This site is responsible for many major functions, which include the visual and auditory systems. This also includes the motor ability of the eyeballs. In the anatomical component of this organ, the so-called components of this system are distinguished - the “red nucleus” and “black matter”, which are responsible for the control and coordination of movements. Dopamine-producing neurons, which are found in the substantia nigra, are abundant. If there are changes in these neurons, this promises the onset of the development of a disease such as Parkinson's disease.

Coordination

The cerebellum, sometimes its other name is found - the small brain. Its location is the upper half of the Varoliev bridge, just behind the brain stem. It consists of small lobes and receives signals from the vestibular system, sensory nerves, hearing and vision systems. It takes part in sending impulses to perform any movements, while also controlling memory and the ability to memorize information.

Relay station

Located above the brain stem, it is able to process and transmit motor signals. In its essence, the thalamus is usually called a relay station, since it receives sensory signals and transmits them to the cortex of the head center. The cortex sends back signals to the thalamus, and then sends them to other systems.

Nuclear group - hypothalamus

This section is represented by an accumulation of nuclei scattered along the border of the base, adjacent to the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus also connects with other parts of the brain, is responsible for hunger, emotions, need for water, body temperature and circadian rhythms. Control is a way of secreting hormones that enable the hypothalamus to control multiple functions of the human body.

Limbic complex

The system, which is called limbic, consists of four important parts: tonsils, hippocampus, zones of the limbic cortex, septal zone of the site. All these parts together represent the hypothalamus and limbic system, thalamus and cerebral cortex. An important function is performed by the hippocampus, which is entrusted with the function of memory and the ability to learn, while the limbic complex is represented by the central segment that controls the emotional component of the body.

Adjacent to the thalamus

The basal ganglia are a whole group of large nuclei that in places surround the thalamus. These nuclei are very important for the coordination of the motor system. The already known black substance with a red nucleus, in some way comes into contact with the basal ganglia adjacent to the thalamus.

Having studied the structure of the most important human thinking center, having dealt with its anatomical features, having found out what the frontal part is responsible for, what the lobes as a whole are responsible for, their functions, we can conclude that the human body is unique and resembles a geographic grid in structure. Each area of \u200b\u200bthis grid is responsible for its direct functions, but at the same time is a connected part between other departments, and serves as a connection of the brain with other systems of the body.

The brain is the main regulator of all body functions. It belongs to one of the elements of the central nervous system. Its structure and functions have been the main subject of medical study for a long time. Thanks to their research, it became known what the brain is responsible for and what departments it consists of. Let's dwell on all this in more detail.

The structure of the brain

Before you know what the brain is doing, you should familiarize yourself with its structure. It consists of the cerebellum, trunk and cortex, the latter being formed by the left and right hemispheres. They, in turn, are subdivided into the following lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal and parietal.

Brain functions

Now let's dwell on the functions of the brain. Each of its departments is responsible for certain actions and reactions of the body.

Parietal lobe

The parietal lobe allows a person to determine their spatial position. Its main task is to process sensory sensations. It is the parietal lobe that helps a person understand which part of his body has been touched, where he is now, what he is experiencing in relation to space, and so on. In addition, the parietal lobe has the following functions:

  • is responsible for the ability to write, read, etc .;
  • controls human movements;
  • responsible for the perception of pain, heat and cold.

Frontal lobe

The frontal lobe of the brain has various functions. She is responsible for:

  • abstract thinking;
  • attention;
  • the ability to independently solve problems;
  • striving for initiative;
  • critical self-esteem;
  • self-control.

The frontal lobe also contains the center of speech. In addition, she controls urination and body formation. The frontal lobe is responsible for transforming memories for insertion into a person's long-term memory. At the same time, its effectiveness decreases if attention is concentrated on several objects simultaneously.

At the top of the frontal lobe is Broca's area. It helps a person find the right words during conversations. Therefore, those people who have been injured in Broca's area often have problems expressing their thoughts, but they clearly understand what others are saying to them.

The frontal lobe is directly involved in thinking about memories, helping a person to comprehend them and draw conclusions.

Temporal lobe

The main function of the temporal lobe is to process auditory sensations. It is she who is responsible for converting sounds into words that are understandable to humans. On the temporal lobe is a site called the Hippocampus. It is responsible for long-term memory and is involved in several types of epileptic seizures. Therefore, if a person has been diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy, then the Hippocampus is affected.

Occipital lobe

The occipital lobe contains several neuronal nuclei, so it is responsible for:

  • vision. It is this share that is responsible for the receptivity and processing of visual information. She also controls the work of the eyeballs. Therefore, damage to the occipital lobe causes partial or complete loss of vision.
  • visual memory. Thanks to the occipital lobe, a person can easily assess the shape of objects and the distance to them. If it is damaged, the functions of binocular vision are disrupted, as a result, the ability to navigate in an unfamiliar environment is lost.

Brain stem

It should be said right away that the brain stem is formed from the medulla oblongata and midbrain, as well as the bridge. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves in it. They are responsible for:

  • swallowing;
  • eye movement;
  • ability to perceive tastes;
  • hearing;
  • vision;
  • sense of smell.

Another important function of the brain stem is the regulation of breathing. He is also responsible for the human heartbeat.

Cerebellum

Now let's dwell on what function belongs to the cerebellum. First of all, he is responsible for the balance and coordination of human movement. It also signals the central nervous system about the position of the head and body in space. With its defeat, a person's smoothness in the movement of the limbs is disturbed, there is a slowdown in actions and bad speech.

In addition, the cerebellum is responsible for regulating the autonomic functions of the human body. After all, it contains a significant number of synoptic contacts. This part of the brain is also responsible for muscle memory. Therefore, it is so important that there are no violations in his work.

Cortex

The cerebral cortex is divided into several types: new, old and ancient, the latter two combine and make up the limbic system. Sometimes an interstitial crust is also distinguished, consisting of an intermediate ancient and intermediate old crust. The new cortex is represented by convolutions, nerve cells and processes. It also contains several types of neurons.

The cerebral cortex has the following functions:

  • provides a connection between inferior and superior brain cells;
  • corrects dysfunctions of systems that interact with it;
  • controls consciousness and personality traits.

Of course, the brain has many important functions. Therefore, you should monitor his health and undergo an annual examination. Indeed, many human diseases are directly related to pathologies that arise in the parts of the brain.

Read about the work and purpose of the brain in the articles: and. Also, if you are interested in anatomy, check out the contents of the article.

Frontal lobes of the brain, lobus frontalis - the anterior part of the cerebral hemispheres containing gray and white matter (nerve cells and conductive fibers between them). Their surface is bumpy with convolutions, the lobes are endowed with certain functions and control various parts of the body. The frontal lobes of the brain are responsible for thinking, motivating actions, motor activity and building speech. When this part of the central nervous system is damaged, motor disorders and behavior are possible.

Main functions

The frontal lobes of the brain - the anterior part of the central nervous system, responsible for complex nervous activity, regulates mental activity aimed at solving urgent problems. Motivational activity is one of the most important functions.

Main goals:

  1. Thinking and integrative function.
  2. Control of urination.
  3. Motivation.
  4. Speech and handwriting.
  5. Behavior control.

What is the frontal lobe of the brain responsible for? It controls the movements of the limbs, facial muscles, the semantic construction of speech, and also for urination. Neural connections develop in the cortex under the influence of upbringing, gaining experience of motor activity, writing.

This part of the brain is separated from the parietal region by a central sulcus. They consist of four convolutions: vertical, three horizontal. In the back is an extrapyramidal system, consisting of several subcortical nuclei that regulate movement. The oculomotor center is located nearby, responsible for turning the head and eyes towards the stimulus.

Find out what, functions, symptoms in pathological conditions.

What is responsible for, functions, pathology.

The frontal lobes of the brain are responsible for:

  1. Perception of reality.
  2. The centers of memory and speech are located.
  3. Emotions and volitional sphere.

With their participation, the sequence of actions of one motor act is monitored. The manifestations of the lesions are called the frontal lobe syndrome, which occurs with various brain damage:

  1. Traumatic brain injury.
  2. Frontal-temporal dementia.
  3. Oncological diseases.
  4. Hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke.

Symptoms of damage to the frontal lobe of the brain

When the nerve cells and pathways of the lobus frontalis of the brain are damaged, a violation of motivation occurs, called abulia. People suffering from this disorder show laziness due to a subjective loss of meaning in life. These patients often sleep all day.

With the defeat of the frontal lobe, mental activity is disrupted, aimed at solving problems and problems. The syndrome also includes a violation of the perception of reality, the behavior becomes impulsive. Planning of actions occurs spontaneously, without weighing the benefits and risks, possible adverse consequences.

Concentration of attention on a specific task is impaired. A patient suffering from frontal lobe syndrome is often distracted by external stimuli, unable to concentrate.

At the same time, apathy arises, a loss of interest in those activities that the patient was previously fond of. In communication with other people, a violation of the sense of personal boundaries is manifested. Possible impulsive behavior: flat jokes, aggression associated with the satisfaction of biological needs.

The emotional sphere also suffers: a person becomes insensitive, indifferent. Euphoria is possible, which is abruptly replaced by aggressiveness. Injuries to the frontal lobes lead to personality changes, and sometimes a complete loss of its properties. Preferences in art and music may change.

With the pathology of the right sections, hyperactivity, aggressive behavior, talkativeness are observed. Left-sided lesion is characterized by general inhibition, apathy, depression, a tendency to depression.

Damage symptoms:

  1. Grasping reflexes, oral automatism.
  2. Speech impairment: motor aphasia, dysphonia, cortical dysarthria.
  3. Abulia: loss of motivation for activity.

Neurological manifestations:

  1. The grasping reflex of Yanishevsky-Bekhterev is manifested when the skin of the hand is irritated at the base of the fingers.
  2. Schuster's reflex: grasping objects in sight.
  3. Hermann's symptom: extension of the toes with irritation of the skin of the foot.
  4. Barre's symptom: if you give the arm an uncomfortable position, the patient continues to support it.
  5. Razdolsky's symptom: when irritated with a hammer of the anterior surface of the leg or along the iliac crest, the patient involuntarily performs flexion-abduction of the thigh.
  6. Duff's symptom: constant rubbing of the nose.

Mental symptoms

Bruns-Yastrowitz syndrome manifests itself in disinhibition, swagger. The patient lacks a critical attitude towards himself and his behavior, his control, from the point of view of social norms.

Motivational disorders are manifested in ignoring obstacles to the satisfaction of biological needs. At the same time, the focus on life tasks is very weak.

Other disorders

When Broca's centers are damaged, speech becomes hoarse, disinhibited, and its control is weak. Motor aphasia is possible, manifested in impaired articulation.

Movement disorders are manifested in handwriting disorders. A sick person has impaired coordination of motor acts, which is a chain of several actions that start and stop one after another.

Loss of intelligence, complete degradation of personality is also possible. Interest in professional activity is lost. Abulic-apathetic syndrome manifests itself in lethargy, drowsiness. This department is responsible for complex nerve functions. His defeat leads to personality changes, impaired speech and behavior, the appearance of pathological reflexes.

Last updated: 30/09/2013

The human brain is still a mystery to scientists. It is not only one of the most important organs of the human body, but also the most complex and poorly understood. Find out more about the most mysterious organ of the human body by reading this article.

"Brain Introduction" - cerebral cortex

In this article, you will learn about the main components of the brain, as well as how the brain works. This is not at all some kind of in-depth review of all the studies of brain features, because such information would take up stacks of books. The main purpose of this review is your acquaintance with the main components of the brain and the functions that they perform.

The cerebral cortex is the component that makes the human being unique. The cerebral cortex is responsible for all the features inherent exclusively to humans, including improved mental development, speech, consciousness, as well as the ability to think, reason and imagine, since all these processes take place in it.

The cerebral cortex is exactly what we see when we look at the brain. It is the outer part of the brain that can be divided into four lobes. Each bulge on the surface of the brain is known as gyrus, and each notch is like furrow.

The cerebral cortex can be divided into four sections, which are known as lobes (see image above). Each of the lobes, namely the frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes, is responsible for certain functions, ranging from the ability to reason and ending with auditory perception.

  • Frontal lobe located in the front of the brain and is responsible for reasoning, motor skills, cognition and speech. In the back of the frontal lobe, next to the central furrow, lies the motor cortex of the brain. This area receives impulses from different parts of the brain and uses this information to propel parts of the body. Damage to the frontal lobe of the brain can lead to sexual dysfunction, problems with social adaptation, decreased concentration, or increase the risk of such consequences.
  • Parietal lobe located in the middle of the brain and is responsible for the processing of tactile and sensory impulses. This includes pressure, touch, and pain. The part of the brain known as the somatosensory cortex is located in this lobe and is of great importance for the perception of sensations. Damage to the parietal lobe can lead to problems with verbal memory, impaired ability to control gaze, and problems with speech.
  • Temporal lobe located at the bottom of the brain. This lobe also contains the primary auditory cortex, which is needed to interpret the sounds and speech we hear. The hippocampus is also located in the temporal lobe, which is why this part of the brain is associated with memory formation. Damage to the temporal lobe can lead to problems with memory, language skills, and speech perception.
  • Occipital lobe located in the back of the brain and is responsible for the interpretation of visual information. The primary visual cortex, which receives and processes information from the retina, is located in the occipital lobe. Damage to this lobe can cause vision problems such as difficulties in recognizing objects, texts, and the inability to distinguish colors.

The brain stem consists of the so-called hindbrain and midbrain. The hindbrain, in turn, consists of the medulla oblongata, the pons varoli and the reticular formation.

Hind brain

The hindbrain is the structure that connects the spinal cord to the brain.

  • The medulla oblongata is located just above the spinal cord and controls many vital functions of the autonomic nervous system, including heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure.
  • The pons Varoli connects the medulla oblongata to the cerebellum and helps in coordinating the movement of all parts of the body.
  • the reticular formation is a neural network located in the medulla oblongata that helps control functions such as sleep and attention.

The midbrain is the smallest area of \u200b\u200bthe brain that acts as a kind of relay station for auditory and visual information.

The midbrain controls many important functions, including the visual and auditory systems, and eye movement. Parts of the midbrain referred to as " red core"And" black matter"Participate in the control of body movement. The substantia nigra contains a large number of dopamine-producing neurons located in it. Degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra can lead to Parkinson's disease.

The cerebellum, also sometimes referred to as " small brain”, Lies on the upper part of the pons of varoli, behind the brain stem. The cerebellum consists of small lobes and receives impulses from the vestibular apparatus, afferent (sensory) nerves, auditory and visual systems. He is involved in the coordination of movement, and is also responsible for memory and learning ability.

The thalamus located above the brainstem processes and transmits motor and sensory impulses... Essentially, the thalamus is a relay station that receives sensory impulses and transmits them to the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex, in turn, also sends impulses to the thalamus, which then sends them to other systems.

The hypothalamus is a group of nuclei located along the base of the brain next to the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus connects to many other areas of the brain and is responsible for controlling hunger, thirst, emotions, regulating body temperature, and circadian (circadian) rhythms. The hypothalamus also controls the pituitary gland through secretions that allow the hypothalamus to exercise control over many bodily functions.

The limbic system consists of four main elements, namely: tonsils, hippocampus, plots limbic cortex and septal brain... These elements form connections between the limbic system and the hypothalamus, thalamus and cerebral cortex. The hippocampus plays an important role in memory and learning ability, while the limbic system itself is central to controlling emotional responses.

The basal ganglia are a group of large nuclei partially surrounding the thalamus. These nuclei play an important role in controlling movement. The red nucleus and the black matter of the midbrain are also associated with the basal ganglia.


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The parietal lobe occupies the upper lateral surfaces of the hemisphere. From the frontal parietal lobe in front and from the side it is bounded by the central groove, from the temporal below - by the lateral groove, from the occipital - by an imaginary line running from the upper edge of the parietal-occipital groove to the lower edge of the hemisphere.

On the upper lateral surface of the parietal lobe, there are three convolutions: one vertical - the posterior central and two horizontal - the superior parietal and inferior parietal. The part of the inferior parietal gyrus, enveloping the posterior part of the lateral groove, is called the supramarginal (supramarginal), and the part surrounding the superior temporal gyrus is called the nodal (angular) region.

The parietal lobe, like the frontal lobe, makes up a significant part of the cerebral hemispheres. In phylogenetic terms, an old section is distinguished in it - the posterior central gyrus, a new one - the superior parietal gyrus and a newer one - the inferior parietal gyrus. The function of the parietal lobe is associated with the perception and analysis of sensitive stimuli, spatial orientation. Several functional centers are concentrated in the convolutions of the parietal lobe.

Centers of sensitivity are projected in the posterior central gyrus with a projection of the body similar to that in the anterior central gyrus. In the lower third of the gyrus, the face is projected, in the middle third - the arm, trunk, in the upper third - the leg. In the superior parietal gyrus, there are centers in charge of complex types of deep sensitivity: muscular-articular, two-dimensional-spatial sense, a sense of weight and range of motion, a sense of recognizing objects by touch.

Thus, the cortical part of the sensitive analyzer is localized in the parietal lobe.

The centers of praxis are located in the inferior parietal lobe. Praxis means purposeful movements that have become automated in the process of repetitions and exercises, which are developed in the course of training and constant practice during an individual's life. Walking, eating, dressing, the mechanical element of writing, various types of work activities (for example, driving the driver while driving, mowing, etc.) are praxis. Praxis is the highest manifestation of human motor function. It is carried out as a result of the combined activity of various areas of the cerebral cortex.

Temporal lobe

The temporal lobe occupies the inferolateral surface of the hemispheres. The temporal lobe is delimited from the frontal and parietal lobes by a lateral groove. On the upper-lateral surface of the temporal lobe, there are three convolutions - the upper, middle and lower. The superior temporal gyrus is located between the sylvian and superior temporal grooves, the middle one is between the superior and inferior temporal grooves, and the inferior one is between the inferior temporal groove and the transverse cerebral fissure. On the lower surface of the temporal lobe, the lower temporal gyrus, the lateral occipital-temporal gyrus, the hippocampal gyrus (legs of the sea horse) are distinguished.

The function of the temporal lobe is associated with the perception of auditory, gustatory, olfactory sensations, the analysis and synthesis of speech sounds, and memory mechanisms. The main functional center of the superior lateral surface of the temporal lobe is located in the superior temporal gyrus. Here is the auditory, or gnostic, center of speech (Wernicke's center).

In the superior temporal gyrus and on the inner surface of the temporal lobe is the auditory projection area of \u200b\u200bthe cortex. The olfactory projection area is located in the hippocampal gyrus, especially in its anterior region (the so-called hook). Alongside the olfactory projection zones, there are also gustatory zones.

The temporal lobes play an important role in the organization of complex mental processes, in particular memory.