🌟 Cues

1. Cerebral Cortex: Function and structure.
2. Cerebral Hemispheres: Components and fluid system.
3. Lobes of the Brain: Division based on sulci and gyri.
4. Functional Areas: Brodmann areas, motor and sensory regions, and specialized functions.
5. Frontal Lobe Injuries: Case of Phineas Gage and their impact on personality and cognition.

🗒 Notes

• Cerebral Cortex:
  • Houses conscious thought.
  • Functions: awareness, voluntary movement, memory, communication.
• Cerebral Hemispheres:
  • Each hemisphere consists of the cortex (gray matter), cerebral white matter, and basal nuclei.
  • Lateral ventricles contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
• Lobes of the Brain:
  • The cerebral hemisphere is divided into four lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.
  • Major sulci: central, lateral, and parieto-occipital.
• Functional Areas:
  • Broca’s area (speech production) and Wernicke’s area (language comprehension).
  • Primary motor cortex in the precentral gyrus (area 4), sensory areas in the postcentral gyrus (areas 3, 2, 1).
  • Sensory and motor homunculi illustrate the body regions controlled by specific areas.
• Frontal Lobe Injuries (Phineas Gage):
  • Severe changes in personality and emotional regulation after a rod penetrated Gage’s frontal lobe.
  • Loss of social skills, emotional stability, and interest in personal pursuits.

📝 Summary

The cerebral cortex is crucial for higher cognitive functions such as movement, sensation, language, and emotion. The brain is divided into lobes, each responsible for specific functions. Injuries to certain areas, like the frontal lobe, can drastically alter personality and behavior, as evidenced by the famous case of Phineas Gage. Brodmann’s areas provide a functional map of the brain’s regions, each specialized for different tasks such as motor control, sensory perception, and language processing.