The brain is one of the most complex organs in the human body. It contains about 14-16 billion neurons that control most of the activities of the body and process the information given to them by the senses. The brain consists of a few structures:
- The cerebrum: is the largest part of the brain. It contains the cerebral cortex as well as subcortical structures like the basal ganglia, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb.
- The brainstem: is the part of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord. It consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
- The cerebellum: is a major feature of the hindbrain and is involved in motor control.
The cerebrum is divided into two hemispheres. Each hemisphere consists of an inner core of white matter and an outer layer of grey matter. The outer layer is called the cerebral cortex. Both hemispheres can be divided into four different lobes:
- Frontal lobe: is associated with executive functions like self-control, motor skills, language, and reasoning.
- Temporal lobe: plays a key role in the formation of long-term memory and it houses the primary auditory cortex.
- Parietal lobe: is involved in processing tactile information.
- Occipital lobe: is associated with interpreting visual information.