The Brain

Introduction

The brain controls and coordinates movements, feelings, thoughts, breathing and bodily functions. The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells which transmit messages using a combination of electrical and chemical activity. Its soft, jelly-like mass is cushioned inside the skull by cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid circulates around the brain and through a series of cavities in the brain called ventricles.

The brain is divided into a number of parts, which work together. The more these parts are coordinated and in tune with each other, the better the overall functioning of the brain.

The cerebral cortex is the largest part of the brain, and is divided into two hemispheres, the left and right. Each hemisphere is also classified into four “lobes” – each with a different set of functions.

Left and right hemispheres

The left hemisphere is mainly concerned with speech and language (talking, comprehension, reading and writing) and the right hemisphere is mainly concerned with visual perception and interpretation of nonverbal information, including drawing and spatial analysis. Each hemisphere is divided into four lobes.

Frontal lobes

Frontal lobes are involved in problem-solving, planning, making judgments, abstract thinking and regulating how people act upon their motions and impulses.

The area towards the back of the frontal lobe, called the motor strip, controls movement. In the left hemisphere the motor strip controls movement of the right side of the body while in the right hemisphere the motor strip controls movement of the left side of the body.

Temporal lobes

Temporal lobes are involved in receiving and processing auditory information like  music and speech, language comprehension, visual perception, memory and learning, organisation and categorisation of information.

The temporal lobes also contain areas which control personality, emotions and sexual behaviour.

Parietal lobes

The Parietal lobes monitor sensation and body position, as well as allowing us to understand time, recognise objects and judge the position of objects around us.

Occipital lobes

The Occipital lobes receive, integrate and interpret visual information about colour, size, shape and distance.

If you are after further information on acquired brain injury, check out our fact sheets and external web links. You may also wish to subscribe to our mailing list.

The health information in this article has been approved for publication by Dr Roger Chung. 

Brain Injury Australia Annual Reports

• Annual Report 2012 [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 2.24 MB]
  
• Annual Report 2011 [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 2.24 MB]
  
• Annual Report 2010 [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 904.22 KB]
  
• Annual Report 2009 [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 721.16 KB]
  
• Annual Report 2008 [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 2.57 MB]
• Annual Report 2007 [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 4.85 MB]
• Annual Report 2006 [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 6.47 MB]
• Annual Report 2005 [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 15.49 MB]

Training - the BISCIT Project

The aim of the Brain Injury Secondary Consultation Information & Training (BISCIT) project was to ensure that workers providing services to people with Acquired Brain Injury have access to the information, training, and secondary consulting support that they require to work effectively with people who have an acquired brain injury and with their families.

Read more: Training - the BISCIT Project

Homelessness - the statistics

The 1999 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW study) on "The definition, incidence and prevalence of Acquired Brain Injury in Australia" estimated that there were 338,700 Australians who had a disability related to Acquired Brain Injury. Of these, 160,000 were severely or profoundly affected by Acquired Brain Injury thus needing daily support.

Read more: Homelessness - the statistics