Recent advances in technology allow researchers to glean information about the structure and function of the brain by imaging it. These brain imaging techniques include computerized tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and electroencephalography (EEG).

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The expanded, front section of the central nervous system located within the skull. It is an incredibly intricate organ made up of billions of interconnected neurons and glial cells. The brain is a bilateral structure, meaning it has two sides, and can be divided into distinct lobes. Each lobe is linked to specific functions, but all parts of the brain work together to underpin our thoughts and behaviors.

Brain

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

There exists a progression of processing that starts at lower-level areas of the brain and moves to higher-level areas. These lower-level areas respond to simple stimuli and send their feedback to areas in charge of more complex tasks in pursuit of eventually forming a representation.

Hierarchical Processing

Different cognitive processes take different paths through the brain. Some notable pathways are:
- the what pathway
- the where pathway
- perception pathway
- action pathway

Pathways in the brain

Specific areas of the brain serve different specific functions

Localization of function

The interacting brain regions that are engaged when we are not working on a task or focused on the external world. The same regions are active when we think about people (so our default thoughts are often about people).

Default mode network

A group of subcortical nuclei, that is well connected with the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and brainstem. It is associated with control of voluntary motor movements, procedural learning, habit learning, eye movements, cognition, and emotion. Stores habits even when the rest of the brain is "asleep". (It is the red region in the image; blue = related structures).

Basil Ganglia (basil nuclei)

The brain is divided into three primary sections based on their relative size and position: the forebrain, the midbrain, and the hindbrain. The forebrain is the largest portion of the brain, while the midbrain is a smaller section located centrally. The hindbrain is situated in the lower back part of the brain.

Three Main Parts of the Brain

* Phineas Gage 
* Henry Molaison (H.M.)
* John Nash
* Clive Wearing
* James Wannerton

Influential Case Studies in Brain Function and Behavior

The meninges are the membrane layers that protect the surrounds the brain. They are found beneath the skull.

Meninges

A central task for psychologists is to understand the relationship between the body's internal biological processes and their external psychological expressions. For instance, a key challenge is explaining how the complex activity of millions of neurons in the brain translates into a subjective experience like a thought. This is analogous to understanding how a device's internal circuits and microchips produce the functions we observe on its user interface.

The Mind-Body Connection as a Focus of Psychology

Although distinct lobes and areas of the brain are associated with specific functions, they do not operate in isolation. All brain regions interact and communicate with one another, and this integrated activity forms the basis for our thoughts and behaviors.

Interaction of Brain Areas

The extensive study of individuals with brain damage has been a primary method for gathering information about the functional roles of different areas of the brain.

Studying Brain Damage to Understand Brain Function

Brain imaging techniques provide a non-invasive way to study the brain's functions, complementing insights gained from analyzing brain injuries. These methods can be applied to healthy individuals to obtain information about how different parts of the brain operate, often relying on radiation, magnetic fields, or electrical activity.

Brain Imaging Techniques

Individuals with brain damage have been studied extensively to provide information about the role of different areas of the brain.

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