The brain is located in the cranial cavity inside the cranium, or skull, and makes up the central nervous system along with the spinal cord. Beneath the bony surface of the cranium, three layers of tough connective tissue called the dura mater, arachnoid mater and pia mater help to shield the surface of the brain. The Center for Neuroskills explains that the several primary structures of the brain are divided into the forebrain, the hindbrain and the midbrain. A number of these structures lay completely or partly on the two lateral or side regions of the brain.
Temporal Lobe
The temporal lobes of the brain are located at the sides of the head, slightly above ear level. These lobes are responsible for some visual ability, hearing ability and the ability to differentiate sounds and smells. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains that the temporal lobes also help to sort new information and acquire short-term memory. The right lobe is mainly responsible for visual memory or remembering faces and images, while the left lobe is primarily responsible for verbal memory or remembering names and words.
Wernicke's Area
Wernicke’s area is located at the top of the temporal lobes and is one of the parts of the brain that is involved in speech. This specific area assists in speech comprehension. The NINDS notes that injury to this area by blunt force trauma, stroke or other causes can cause difficulty in understanding spoken words. This a disorder of the brain is called Wernicke’s aphasia.
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is primarily located at the back of the head, below the occipital lobe, but it partly extends to the lateral areas below the temporal lobes. It is the second largest area of the brain after the cerebrum, on top of the brain. The cerebellum is responsible for controlling muscle reflexes, balance and specific aspects of body coordination and movement.
