The brain is an amazing organ. It is responsible for everything we think, see and do. The different components interact like a precision machine, processing and sending signals with the efficiency of a powerful computer. The billions of neurons composing the brain control thousands of bodily functions each day that you probably do not notice. Functions such as breathing, heart function and digestion, accomplished without so much as a conscience thought on your part and carried out flawlessly every day, result in life.
Cerebrum
The cerebral hemispheres comprise 85 percent of the brain mass. According to the National Institute on Aging, the two hemispheres, connected by the corpus callosum, communicate by way of nerves running through the callosum. The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and vice versa. The two hemispheres have two separate functions. The left hemisphere focuses on detail, while the right, more attuned to the big picture, processes background information.
The cerebrum has four different areas performing different functions. The frontal lobe controls thinking, organizing, planning, problem solving, movement, memory and attention. The parietal lobe integrates stimuli from the senses, the occipital lobe deals with vision and the temporal lobe deals with sound, smell, taste and the formation and the storage of memories.
The outside layer of the cerebral hemispheres, called the cerebral cortex, processes the sensory information from the world around you. It also controls cognitive functions such as learning, memory, voluntary movement and decision-making.
Cerebellum
The cerebellum sits at the back of the brain and accounts for about 10 percent of the brain's mass. The cerebellum processes sensory information involved in balance. It receives sensory information from the eyes, ears, muscles and joints concerning the body’s position. After the cerebellum processes the information, it is sent to the cerebral cortex to be sent out as motor signals, causing the body to react. The cerebellum also allows for learned activities such as driving or writing and smoothness of muscle movement.
Brain Stem
The brain stem, according to The American Brain Tumor Association, located at the base of the brain has two sections, the pons and the medulla oblongata. It connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls autonomic functions such as breathing, blood pressure and heartbeat. In addition, it relays messages from the brain to spinal cord, which in turn sends them to the muscles of the body, causing movement.
