What Are the Functions of the Different Areas of the Brain?

The human brain consumes more energy than any other organ in the body, which is amazing considering that the brain only makes up about 2% of our bodies' weight. The brain uses a lot of energy because each of its numerous sections plays an important role in our daily activities and lives. Below is an overview of the four major areas of the brain.

Some Brain Facts

• The human brain is actually smaller than that of many mammals, including the elephant. However, compared to our body size, we have the largest brain of any animal. Despite all that our brain does to keep us thinking and living, three-fourths of it is made up of water, which really isn't surprising given that water is an excellent conductor of electricity and electrical impulses are responsible for most of what we think, see, and do.

The Brain Stem

• This is the most basic part of our brain, according to scientists. In many non-mammals, the brain stem is basically all they have to guide their actions. However, that doesn't mean the brain stem isn't important. The three parts of the brain stem -- the pons, medulla, and midbrain -- control some of the most critical aspects of your existence, including movement, hearing, vision, breathing and the beating of your heart. If the brain stem stopped working, so would you.

Limbic System

• Another older part of the brain, the limbic system is actually found above the brain stem and within the cerebrum (discussed later). This section, which is sometimes referred to as the "emotional brain," is made up of four important parts: the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala and hippocampus. This section of the brain is involved in emotional responses, sensory information and memory.

Cerebellum

• The cerebellum is connected to the brain stem. This part of the brain helps control movement and is responsible for helping us maintain equilibrium. If it failed to function correctly, you'd be stumbling everywhere as if you were intoxicated. Additionally, the cerebellum is important in the storage of memories regarding reflexes and movements. When you first get back on a bicycle after being off of it for years and immediately know how to ride again, you can thank your cerebellum.

Cerebrum

• This is the part of the brain that makes us different from many other animals. Here is where our higher-order thinking and reasoning take place. The cerebrum allows us to solve problems, form sentences, recognize faces, remember events, process images and understand speech. The development of this part of our brain would have been important in the development of tools, the creation of agriculture and most of the changes that led to the modern society we have today.