The brain is the main Central Nervous system organ and is formed from the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brainstem. The cerebrum makes up most of the brain and is divided into two hemispheres: the right and the left. This part of the brain is responsible for extremely complex functions, including processing the stimuli that come from the sense organs (sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell), promoting language, controlling movements and emotions, reasoning, and learning. The cerebellum is located right under the brain, and its tasks include coordination of movements, balance, the ability to maintain an upright position, and attention span. Finally, the brainstem includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla and connects the brain and cerebellum with the spinal cord. It regulates many automatic functions, including breathing, heartbeat, digestion, thermoregulation, circadian rhythms of sleep-wake alternation, and involuntary stimuli including vomiting, sneezing, and yawning (Anatomy.co.uk, 2019).
The surface of the brain is covered by the cerebral cortex, which contains about 70% of the total nerve cells, and has the typical grey color that is used to define the entire organ, i.e., 'grey matter. Under the cerebral cortex, there are the axons, extensions of the neurons that make up the ‘white matter (The Human Memory, 2020).
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The two hemispheres of the brain are connected by the corpus callosum, a bundle of fibers that transmits information from one to the other. Each hemisphere controls the mirror part of the body and not all the functions of the two hemispheres are shared; in fact, the left is considered the 'rational' hemisphere because it regulates skills such as language, writing, logical reasoning, and the right is the 'artistic' one, which controls creativity, intuition, perception of space, and musical competence (Lumen Introduction to Psychology, n.d.).
Another anatomical characteristic of the brain and its hemispheres is that they are divided into four interconnected lobes, each of which is in turn responsible for controlling several specific functions. The frontal lobe is responsible for essential functions, such as the construction of personality, management of behaviors and emotions, judgment, planning and problem-solving skills, body movements, intellectual skills, self-control, and self-protection. In addition, Broca's area is dedicated to language and writing skills. The parietal lobe guides functions such as sense of touch, pain and sensory perception of temperature, visual perception of space, ability to interpret the meaning of words, language learning, and processing of signals from the sense organs. The occipital lobe has the function of interpreting visual images, and recognizing colors, proportions, and movements. Furthermore, the temporal lobe is responsible for memory, hearing skills, ability to organize and plan in sequence, and the Wernicke area takes part in understanding languages (Cherry, 2021).
Another fundamental part of the brain is the limbic system, which is located between the brainstem and the cortex. The limbic system has a specific composition that involved the hypothalamus which controls the autonomic nervous system and is responsible for regulating primary sensations such as hunger, thirst, sleep, and sex drive, but also body temperature, blood pressure, and secretion of some hormones. The thalamus instead, allows the transmission of messages between the cerebral hemispheres and the spinal cord. The hippocampus deals with the construction of memories, and the amygdala is the non-rational part of the brain that is an archive of emotions, which are linked to specific events to reactivate automatically to manage similar situations (Cherry, 2021).
In addition to the limbic system, in the inner and deep part of the brain, there are two important endocrine glands, called the pituitary gland and pineal gland or hypophysis. The pituitary gland controls the entire endocrine system in the body and the pineal gland regulates the circadian rhythms of sleep and wakefulness and the production of melatonin (DifferenceBetween.com, 2013).
The nervous system also includes the bundles of nerves enclosed in the vertebral column from which the peripheral nerves also branch off. One part connects directly through the brainstem and the limbic system. But there is also a system of cranial nerves that perform specific functions of the head and neck area, except for the very long vagus nerve, the only one that continues beyond the head and pushes up to the abdomen. Among the functions performed by these nerves are control of hearing, facial movements, and sensations, taste, and smell, eye movements, neck, tongue, and shoulders (Byjus, n.d.).
The last anatomical part of the brain is the meninges. These are three layers of tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord and protect them. From the outermost to the innermost layer, the meninges take the name of dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater (Bailey, 2019).
Some of the important methods of investigating the relationship between the brain and behavior are Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerised Axial Tomography (CAT). These Brain imaging technologies are used in psychology, particularly in neuropsychology, to study and investigate the human brain and evaluate the localization of functions in the active or inactive brain (Health Research Funding, n.d.).
Although they are both diagnostic imaging tests, in fact, CAT and MRI differ in principles of operation, indications, risks, contraindications, and several other aspects. In fact, a CAT scan of the head is a diagnostic technique that uses ionizing radiation (or X-rays) to obtain detailed and allows an accurate assessment of the state of health of the cranial bones, the brain, and the blood vessels that nourish the latter. MRI, on the other hand, is a diagnostic technique that uses magnetic fields produced by a magnet to provide detailed, three-dimensional images of the internal anatomy of the human brain (Rachna, 2017).
CAT scan of the head is fundamental for the diagnosis of benign or malignant neoplasm of the brain, hemorrhages, bone fractures, pathologies, and disorders of the encephalic vascular system such as strokes and aneurysms. Other important diagnosis can be hydrocephalus, encephalitis, encephalopathies, and congenital malformations of one or more bones of the skull or of the encephalic vascular system. Also, with CAT is possible to find the cause of recurrent headaches, dizziness, and changes in behavior, which have not been explained by any other less invasive diagnostic test (Cassoobhoy, 2020). MRI of the brain, instead, is indicated for the identification and investigation of conditions such as stroke and its consequences, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, brain aneurysm, hydrocephalus, brain cysts, encephalitis, cerebral hemorrhages, cerebral hematomas, cerebral edema, and endocrine diseases involving the pituitary or hypothalamus cranial glands. Furthermore, similarly to CAT Scan, an MRI Scan of the brain is used in those diagnostic investigations, which want to definitively clarify the exact nature of suspicious symptoms, such as dizziness, chronic headache, vision problems, epileptic seizures, sudden changes in behavior, and mood swings (Ask Any Difference, n.d.).
MRI scan has several advantages over CAT such as excellent quality images, there is no need for contrast media, and it does not emit radiation.
Also, with this method the blood vessels appear darker and therefore can be easily highlighted, can be diagnosed with brain and spinal cord diseases, and is possible to assess a stroke within hours of the event (Physics of MRI, n.d.).
However, an MRI scan appears to be more expensive than a CAT scan and the magnet of the machine can move metal objects present in the body therefore the procedure is contraindicated in patients with pacemakers, clips of intracranial aneurysms, prostheses of the inner ear, metal fragments in the eyes, or from gunshot wounds in the skull.
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