What Is the Hindbrain?
The hindbrain is located toward the rear and lower portion of a person’s brain. It is responsible for controlling a number of important body functions and process, including respiration and heart rate. The brain stem is an important part of the hindbrain, controlling functions that are critical to life, such as breathing and swallowing. The cerebellum is also part of the hindbrain, playing a role in physical ability.
The brain stem is a structure that connects the brain to the spinal cord. Damage to this structure can be catastrophic, as the brain stem controls such things as blood pressure, heartbeat, and swallowing. The brain stem consists of three parts of the hindbrain, including the medulla, pons, and reticular formation.
The medulla is the part of the hindbrain that controls how and when a person’s heart beats, as well as his blood pressure, breathing, and even his ability to swallow or cough. This part of a person’s brain stem functions by itself, without relying on the person’s thoughts. It is the reason a person’s heart beats without him making it do so. It’s also the reason people breathe even when they are focused on other things.
The reticular formation is also part of the brain stem. It is a network of nerves important to a person’s attention or focus, as well as his response to stimuli. This part of the brain helps a person focus on just one important thing even if he’s faced with several types of stimuli at once. The reticular formation blocks less important stimuli when a person needs to focus on one thing. For example, if a person is almost in an accident, the reticular formation blocks other stimuli, allowing him to focus solely on preventing the accident.
Interestingly, the reticular formation slows down when a person goes to sleep. It does not, however, stop working to block some sensory messages while allowing others through. The reticular formation is the reason many people can stay asleep despite the sounds of passing cars or creaks and groans of a house settling, yet wake to the sound of a smoke detector.
The pons is the part of the hindbrain located above the medulla. This structure forms a kind of bridge between the medulla and another part of the hindbrain called the cerebellum. It relays messages between the cerebellum and the cerebrum, which is part of the forebrain. It helps control movement and plays a role in sleep.
The cerebellum is located to the rear of the brain stem. Its role involves muscle tone and posture. It influences motor control and helps a person to perform smooth, controlled movements. It’s also important in coordinating movements people make without thinking or concentrating first, such as walking forward.
Written by N. Madison
