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What is the Forebrain?

Devin Ruiz
Devin Ruiz

The forebrain is the largest section of the brain in humans and most animals. As its name suggests, it sits in the most forward position of any brain section, and is normally separated into two hemispheres known as the diencephalon and the telencephalon. Each serves a unique and important role in information processing and transmission. Sensory processing and emotional response are some of the biggest tasks of these regions. Associative processing, including voluntary and involuntary motor control, emotion, cognition and language are also included. This frontal part of the brain is often seen as one of the most important, and damage or injury can have a serious impact on many different functions, from communication to emotional well-being.

Brain Basics

The forebrain is the foremost part of the brain.
The forebrain is the foremost part of the brain.

The brain is one of the most complex organs of the human body. It’s made up of an intensive system of nerves and soft tissues that relay and conduct signals, and the organ as a whole serves as the main processing unit for the entire body. Looking at the brain from the outside it often looks like one uniform mass, but researchers have identified six major areas, each with its own identity that distinguishes it from surrounding regions. The forebrain, also sometimes referred to as the prosencephalon, sits at the front of the brain, usually directly behind a person’s forehead. Behind that is the parietal lobe and the occipital lobe; to the sides are the temporal lobes. All of this sits atop the cerebellum and the brain stem, which connects the organ to the spine.

Diencephalon

Voluntary and involuntary motor control functions are processed in the forebrain.
Voluntary and involuntary motor control functions are processed in the forebrain.

In terms of shape, the forebrain looks sort of like a semi-circle or cup turned on its side, and it’s usually quite large. In adults it can take up about half of the total brain space. A lot is going on in the tissues here, and it’s often easiest to identify the exact functions by taking things one hemisphere at a time.

The diencephalon sits on the bottom. This important section includes the pretectum, prethalamus, epithalamus, hypothalamus, thalamus and subthalamus, all of which are important sub-parts of brain anatomy. As a whole, this hemisphere serves as a central sensory processing area and controls the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system, in turn, regulates things like body temperature and sleep states. It also controls the hormones released to the pituitary gland that regulate metabolism as well as other autonomic functions, such as equilibrium, controlling eye movement, sensing facial movement or sensation, and controlling respiration. Salivating, swallowing, and chewing food also are controlled in this area of the brain, as are hearing and speech processing.

Telecephalon

The hippocampus is part of the forebrain and plays a big role in the formation of memories.
The hippocampus is part of the forebrain and plays a big role in the formation of memories.

Central nervous system (CNS) functioning primarily happens in the upper hemisphere, also known as the telencephalon. This portion includes the cerebrum, also known as the cerebral cortex. It mainly controls personality, memory, and cognitive function. Most researchers also think that the cerebral cortex is what affords humans the ability to think abstractly, reason, and concentrate.

The telencephalon also includes the basal ganglia, which is responsible for controlling motor functions. Defects in this area of the brain are closely connected with such conditions as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.

Emotional Controls

The forebrain controls the hormones released by the pituitary gland.
The forebrain controls the hormones released by the pituitary gland.

The forebrain also includes a number of smaller lobes, divided between the two hemispheres, that control several important intermediary functions. These include the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, amygdala, and hippocampus. The amygdala and hippocampus form the part of the brain that’s known more broadly as the limbic system. This area is often referred to as the "emotional brain" because it controls such things as the fight-or-flight response, sexual behavior, emotional expression, and long-term memory development. It has sometimes also been linked to depression, but scientists aren't exactly sure about where depression and mood disorders originate; there is a lot of controversy and disagreement on this point.

Associative Processes

Damage to the frontal part of the brain may have a serious impact on emotional well-being.
Damage to the frontal part of the brain may have a serious impact on emotional well-being.

There are also a number of associated processes associated with both hemispheres. The frontal brain tissue sends sensory signals throughout the body, for example, and as the information is received, the brain connects the new data with previously acquired memories. This is why the smell of something baking may produce a sudden memory of mom or grandma in the kitchen, for instance, or the smell of flowers might remind someone of a past bee sting.

Discussion Comments

burtabulous

@ListMeister - In some cases, such as synesthesia, one cognitive pathway can be involuntarily stimulated by another.

This happens in an overlapping sort of way and tends to make people associate things in different ways from others. (i.e. always seeing the number 3 as blue and so on).

ListMeister

It's interesting learning how the different parts of the brain work with one another to create a person's individual perception of reality. I wonder if each individual section melds into other sections when processing certain stimuli.

Has anyone heard of such things?

oasis11

@BrickBack -I was reading that frontal lobe injury really changes a person’s emotions as well as their reasoning ability. I think that this is why doctors always tell you that if bumped your head you should have it checked out my a doctor to make sure that there is no internal bleeding or further injury to the brain.

I also read that the brainstem contains the midbrain that is responsible for voluntary movement, hearing and vision so this area is also important.

BrickBack

I just have to say that neuroscience is really fascinating. It is amazing how different parts of the human brain control various feelings and emotions as well as different thought processes. I remember seeing a story about a man that developed a brain injury as a result of being mugged and he had no short term or long term memory.

He had complete amnesia, and because they had stolen his wallet he also had no memory of who he was. I couldn’t believe that something like that could happen to someone.

They also say that people that suffer brain injuries have a change in personality. A person that was extremely reserved might not have any inhibitions while a person that was happy all of the time might develop higher levels of anger.

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    • The forebrain is the foremost part of the brain.
      By: Ilenia Pagliarini
      The forebrain is the foremost part of the brain.
    • Voluntary and involuntary motor control functions are processed in the forebrain.
      By: unlim3d
      Voluntary and involuntary motor control functions are processed in the forebrain.
    • The hippocampus is part of the forebrain and plays a big role in the formation of memories.
      By: pankajstock123
      The hippocampus is part of the forebrain and plays a big role in the formation of memories.
    • The forebrain controls the hormones released by the pituitary gland.
      By: CLIPAREA.com
      The forebrain controls the hormones released by the pituitary gland.
    • Damage to the frontal part of the brain may have a serious impact on emotional well-being.
      By: slasnyi
      Damage to the frontal part of the brain may have a serious impact on emotional well-being.
    • The frontal lobe deals with task-based activities.
      By: nyul
      The frontal lobe deals with task-based activities.
    • Damage to the amygdala can affect maternal behavior.
      By: RayCan
      Damage to the amygdala can affect maternal behavior.
    • Children who have problems with sensory processing may not reflexively move away if they are burned, leading to serious injury.
      By: DURIS Guillaume
      Children who have problems with sensory processing may not reflexively move away if they are burned, leading to serious injury.
    • Damage to the hippocampus can prevent memory formation.
      By: godfer
      Damage to the hippocampus can prevent memory formation.