Neuroscience for Kids

The Brain:
Right down the Middle

Although some people may think that the brain is like a bowl of jell-O, the brain is NOT a bowl of jell-O. Unlike a bowl of jell-O, the brain is not a uniform material. Rather, the brain is made up of many different areas, each having a particular structure and function. To separate the brain into right and left hemispheres, you need to cut the brain in the "midsagittal plane".

Midsaggital Plane
Only some of the structures that are visible on a real brain have been labeled.

Brain Structures

Cerebral
Cortex
Functions:

Thought
Voluntary movement
Language
Reasoning
Perception
The word "cortex" comes from the Latin word for "bark" (of a tree). This is because the cortex is a sheet of tissue that makes up the outer layer of the brain. The thickness of the cerebral cortex varies from 2 to 6 mm. The right and left sides of the cerebral cortex are connected by a thick band of nerve fibers called the "corpus callosum". In higher mammals like humans, the cerebral cortex looks like it has many bumps and grooves. A bump or bulge on the cortex is called a gyrus (the plural of the word gyrus is "gyri") and a groove is called a sulcus (the plural of the word sulcus is "sulci"). Lower mammals like rats and mice have very few gyri and sulci.

Cerebellum
Functions:

Movement
Balance
Posture
The word "cerebellum" comes from the Latin word for "little brain". The cerebellum is located behind the brain stem. In some ways, the cerebellum is a bit like the cerebral cortex: the cerebellum is divided into hemispheres and has a cortex that surrounds these hemispheres.

Brain stem
Functions:

Breathing
Heart Rate
Blood Pressure
The brain stem is a general term for the area of the brain between the thalamus and spinal cord. Structures within the brain stem include the medulla, pons, tectum, reticular formation and tegmentum. Some of these areas are responsible for the most basic functions of life such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.

Hypothalamus
Functions:

Body Temperature
Emotions
Hunger
Thirst
Circadian Rhythms
The hypothalamus is composed of several different areas and is located at the base of the brain. It is only the size of a pea (about 1/300 of the total brain weight), but it is responsible for some very important behaviors. One important function of the hypothalamus is the control of body temperature. The hypothalamus acts as like a "thermostat" by sensing changes in body temperature and then sending out signals to adjust the temperature. For example, if you are too hot, the hypothalamus detects this and then sends out a signal to expand the capillaries in your skin. This causes blood to be cooled faster. The hypothalamus also controls the pituitary.

Thalamus
Functions:

Sensory Integration
Motor Integration
The thalamus receives sensory information and relays this information to the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex also sends information to the thalamus which then transmits this information to other areas of the brain and spinal cord.

Hear IT!	Cerebellum	Corpus Callosum	Cortex	Hypothalamus	Thalamus

Check out the glossary for definitions of other brain areas.

BACK TO: Exploring the Nervous System Table of Contents

Brain Structures
Cerebral Cortex Functions: Thought Voluntary movement Language Reasoning Perception	The word "cortex" comes from the Latin word for "bark" (of a tree). This is because the cortex is a sheet of tissue that makes up the outer layer of the brain. The thickness of the cerebral cortex varies from 2 to 6 mm. The right and left sides of the cerebral cortex are connected by a thick band of nerve fibers called the "corpus callosum". In higher mammals like humans, the cerebral cortex looks like it has many bumps and grooves. A bump or bulge on the cortex is called a gyrus (the plural of the word gyrus is "gyri") and a groove is called a sulcus (the plural of the word sulcus is "sulci"). Lower mammals like rats and mice have very few gyri and sulci.
Cerebellum Functions: Movement Balance Posture	The word "cerebellum" comes from the Latin word for "little brain". The cerebellum is located behind the brain stem. In some ways, the cerebellum is a bit like the cerebral cortex: the cerebellum is divided into hemispheres and has a cortex that surrounds these hemispheres.
Brain stem Functions: Breathing Heart Rate Blood Pressure	The brain stem is a general term for the area of the brain between the thalamus and spinal cord. Structures within the brain stem include the medulla, pons, tectum, reticular formation and tegmentum. Some of these areas are responsible for the most basic functions of life such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.
Hypothalamus Functions: Body Temperature Emotions Hunger Thirst Circadian Rhythms	The hypothalamus is composed of several different areas and is located at the base of the brain. It is only the size of a pea (about 1/300 of the total brain weight), but it is responsible for some very important behaviors. One important function of the hypothalamus is the control of body temperature. The hypothalamus acts as like a "thermostat" by sensing changes in body temperature and then sending out signals to adjust the temperature. For example, if you are too hot, the hypothalamus detects this and then sends out a signal to expand the capillaries in your skin. This causes blood to be cooled faster. The hypothalamus also controls the pituitary.
Thalamus Functions: Sensory Integration Motor Integration	The thalamus receives sensory information and relays this information to the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex also sends information to the thalamus which then transmits this information to other areas of the brain and spinal cord.