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Brain Map
Cross Section
The brain is made up of many smaller parts, each designed to control and regulate different aspects of a person’s behavior. Below you will find a list of the primary brain functions and some frequent problems that occur because of a brain injury.
Cerebral Cortex
Functions: Often called the thinking cap, this is the wrinkled outer covering of the cerebrum. The cortex wraps over and around the rest of the brain. Up to 70% of the neurons in the human nervous system are found in the cortex. The four lobes of the brain: frontal, temoral, parietal and occipital mark the boundaries of each region of the cortex.
The cortex’s main functions include: problem solving, planning for the future, learning from experience, anticipating, reward and punishment.
Problems caused by head injury: Severe damage to the cortex can cause a vegetative-like state. Mild to moderate damage to the cortex can cause problems with speech, sight, and senses.
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is attached to the brain stem at the base of the skull and processes inputs from muscles, joints and tendons. The cerebellum (also referred to as the little brain) controls posture, equilibrium and coordinates skilled muscular movement and balance.
Its main functions include: regulating fine motor coordination and prevents limbs from flailing about out of control as well as coordination of voluntary movement, balance and equilibrium, some memory for reflex motor movements, perception, discrimination and emotional response.
Problems caused by head injury: Loss of ability to coordinate movements, loss of ability to walk, the inability to reach out and grab objects, tremors, dizziness, slurred speech and the inability to make rapid movements.
Brain Stem
The brain stem is located deep in the brain and leads to the spinal cord.
Functions: Involved with breathing, heart rate, swallowing, startle response reflexes of seeing and hearing, controls sweating, blood pressure, digestion, temperature of the autonomic nervous system, affects a person’s level of alertness, their ability to sleep and their sense of balance.
Problems caused by head injury: Decreased vital capacity in breathing and speaking, swallowing food and water (Dysphagia), difficulty with organization and perception of the surrounding environment, problems with balance and movement, dizziness, sleep apnea and insomnia.
Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is the continuation of the lower part of the brain stem.
Functions: Coordination of voluntary movement, balance and equilibrium as well as some memory for reflex motor movements.
Problems caused by head injury: Loss of the ability to coordinate fine movements, loss of the ability to walk, inability to reach out and grab objects, causes of tremors, dizziness, slurred speech and the inability to make rapid movements.
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is beneath the thalamus and laterally is continuous with the subthalamic region of the brain.
Functions: Controls certain metabolic activities like water balance, sugar and fat metabolism, regulates the body’s temperature and secretion of releasing and inhibiting hormones.
Impairments caused by head injury: water balance, sugar and fat metabolism, regulation of body temperature, hormonal regulation and excitability.
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