The hindbrain controls bodily functions like breathing and heart rate, with the brainstem controlling life-critical functions. The medulla controls heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and swallowing. The reticular formation helps with attention and blocking out stimuli, while the pons acts as a bridge between the medulla and cerebellum. The cerebellum affects muscle tone, motor control, and coordinated movements.
The hindbrain is located towards the back and bottom of a person’s brain. It is responsible for controlling a number of important bodily functions and processes, including breathing and heart rate. The brainstem is an important part of the hindbrain and controls life-critical functions, such as breathing and swallowing. The cerebellum is also located here, playing a role in physical prowess.
The brainstem is a structure that connects the brain to the spinal cord. Damage to this structure can be catastrophic, as it controls things like blood pressure, heart rate, and swallowing. It is made up of three parts: the medulla, the reticular formation and the pons.
The medulla controls how and when a person’s heart beats, as well as their blood pressure, breathing, and even their ability to swallow or cough. This part of a person’s brain stem works on its own, without relying on the person’s intentions, which is why a person’s heart beats without them doing it. It’s also why people breathe even when they’re focused on other things.
The reticular formation is a network of nerves important to a person’s attention or focus, as well as their response to stimuli. This part of the brain helps an individual pay attention to just one important thing, even when faced with several types of stimuli at the same time. It blocks those less important stimuli, allowing the person to concentrate. For example, if a person is in a potentially dangerous situation, reticular formation blocks other stimuli, allowing them to focus solely on doing what is necessary to help them survive.
Interestingly, reticular formation slows down when a person goes to sleep. However, it doesn’t stop working to block some sensory messages while allowing others to pass. This area of the brain is the reason many people can stay asleep to the sounds of passing cars or the creaks and groans of a house settling down, but wake up to the sound of a smoke detector.
The pons is the part of the hindbrain that sits above the medulla. It forms a sort of bridge between the medulla and the cerebellum. This structure transmits messages between the cerebellum and the cerebrum, which is part of the forebrain. It also helps control movement and plays a role in sleep.
The cerebellum is located at the back of the brainstem. Its role affects muscle tone and posture, affects motor control, and helps a person perform smooth, controlled movements. The cerebellum is also important in coordinating movements that people make without thinking or focusing first, such as walking forward.
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