Broca’s area is part of the brain located in the region in the front lobe of the dominant hemisphere; it is usually to the left of the brain. Its function is linked to speech production and language. Studies have shown that activation patterns occur in the Broca’s area concerning various tasks in a person. Dysfunction or disease related to this part of the brain is known as Broca’s aphasia, a condition associated with a deficit in language production. Brain tumors are among the elements that can lead to difficulties if the Broca’s area is affected.
Primary Motor Cortex
The primary motor cortex is a brain area that handles motor function. It occupies the posterior part of the precentral gyrus, the anterior bank of the central sulcus and the anterior part of the paracentral lobule. The part is always activated in relation to motion aspects of a person. Lower motor neuron syndrome is among the illnesses associated with the primary motor cortex.
Primary Somatosensory Cortex
This is a primary receptor of general bodily sensation. The sensations arise from receptors that are positioned throughout the body and function by detecting temperature, nociception, proprioception and touch. It is located on the post central gyrus. Primary somatosensory cortex lesions produce a partial sensory loss to a person in case of exposure of primary somatosensory cortex to lesions.
Primary Visual Cortex
This is the first place in the visual system in which the information from the eyes converges on single cells. It is located in the occipital lobe of the primary cerebral cortex in the most posterior region of the brain. It receives, integrates and processes the visual information relayed from the retinas. Disorder of color perception is among the defects associated with the Primary Visual Cortex.
Auditory Association Area
The auditory association area is located in the temporal lobe of the brain within Wernicke’s area near the lateral cerebral sulcus. The auditory association area performs the function of processing acoustic signals so that they can be interpreted as music, speech, or other sound. Auditory agnosia is an ailment associated with auditory association area; the causing lesion destroys the primary auditory cortex with the result the patient cannot identify speech sound.
Prefrontal Association Area
This is a cortical region located in the anterior part of the cerebrum, and its functionalities are involved in the top-down the processing of motor and sensory information. The prefrontal association area knowledge is used or has implications in treating psychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorders, major depressive disorders, and schizophrenia.
Basal Ganglia
These are a group of structures found within the cerebral hemispheres. The structures include the subthalamic nucleus in the diencephalon, the substantia nigra in the midbrain, the globus paridus, the putamen and the caudate in the cerebrum. The interconnection of these structures forms a network that is involved in movement-related, emotional, and cognitive functions. Some of the diseases that affect the Basal ganglia include Parkinson’s disease, which is associated with impacts such as slow movement in a person.
Pineal Gland
The pineal gland is a small pea-shaped endocrine gland that produces melatonin; it is mostly found in vertebrates. The gland is located in the epithalamus. The melatonin hormone produced is responsible for modulating sleep patterns in both seasonal and circadian cycles. Insomnia and abnormal thyroid dysfunction are among diseases associated with the pineal gland.
Medulla Oblongata
This is the lowest part of the brain and the smallest portion of the brainstem. It is connected by the pons to the midbrain and is continuous posteriorly with the spinal cord with which it emerges at the opening on the skull base. The medulla oblongata plays the function of transmitting signals between the higher brain parts and the spinal cord and in controlling respiration and heartbeat, among other autonomic activities. Multiple System Atrophy is a disorder that can corrupt the medulla leading to loss of autonomic functions.