The Hindbrain

Modified: 2024-08-25 6:51 PM

The medulla is the first part of the brain you would reach as you move up from the spinal cord. The medulla is responsible for keeping you alive, because it contains the centers that regulate breathing and heart rate, in other words, your basic survival systems. That is why damage to the medulla is usually fatal.

The pons (the word pons is latin for bridge) is the next brain area you would reach travelling up the brain from the spinal cord. In the pons are centers that control wakefulness and alertness. For example, by destroying the appropriate center in the pons, a cat that never sleeps again can be created. Or, similarly, by destroying another area of the pons, a hyperalert cat can be created. A hyperalert cat is one that shows a full-blown alerting response, hissing and arching its back, to nearly any stimulus.

The reticular formation is like a small tube that is inside the larger tube of the brain stem, like a core. Within that core are many, many axons. Their job is to communicate with the body. So, information and instructions are constantly flowing through the reticular formation. It is your brains information highway.

The cerebellum is the first big bump on the brain. Its main job is the control of gross motor function. Again, if a part of a cat's cerebellum is destroyed, the cat will lose the ability to control parts of its body. For example, if parts of the left cerebellum are destroyed, then the cat will lose control over parts of the right side of its body. Note, that the brain and body are connected contralaterally, meaning that the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and vice-versa.

Back to Chapter 2