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movement) enables nonverbal and skill (or procedural) learning. With assistance from the
pons, it also coordi nates voluntary movement. When a soccer player masterfully controls
the ball, give their cerebellum some credit. Under alcohol’s influence, coordination suffers.
And if you injured your cerebellum, you would have difficulty walking, keeping your bal-
ance, or texting a friend. Your movements would be jerky and exaggerated. Gone would be
any dreams of being a dancer or guitarist.
This little brain — which actually contains more than half your brain’s neurons —
operates just outside your awareness. Quickly answer these questions: How long have you
been reading this text? Do your clothes feel loose or tight? How’s your mood? You probably
answered easily, thanks to your cerebellum.

Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Not for redistribution.
* * *

Note: The brain functions we’ve discussed so far all occur without any conscious effort.
This illustrates another of our recurring themes: Our brain processes most information outside
of our awareness. We are aware of the results of our brain’s labor — say, our current visual

Copyright © Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
experience — but not how we construct the visual image. Likewise, whether we are asleep
or awake, our brainstem manages its life-sustaining functions, freeing our conscious brain
regions to think, talk, dream, or savor a memory.

®
AP Science Practice Check Your Understanding
Examine the Concept Apply the Concept
▶ Explain some brain functions that happen without any ▶ Are you surprised to learn about all the information
conscious effort. processing that happens automatically, without your knowledge?

▶ The ____________ is a crossover point where nerves from Why or why not?

the left side of the brain are mostly linked to the right side of the ▶ In which brain region would damage be most likely to (a) disrupt
body, and vice versa. your ability to jump rope? (b) disrupt your ability to hear? (c) leave
you in a coma? (d) cut off the very breath and heartbeat of life?

Answers to the Examine the Concept questions can be found in Appendix C at the end of the book.

limbic system neural
system located mostly in the The Limbic System
forebrain — below the cerebral
hemispheres — that includes 1.4-6 What ar e the limbic system’s structur es and functions?

1.4-6 What are the limbic system’s structures and functions?

the amygdala, hypothalamus,
hippocampus, thalamus, and A skeleton walks into a café. “What would you
pituitary gland; associated with like?” asks the barista. The skeleton replies, “I’ll
emotions and drives. take a latte and a mop.”
amygdala [uh-MIG-duh-la] Thalamus
two lima-bean–sized neural We can thank our limbic system for that
clusters in the limbic system; wonderful emotion when we enjoy a joke. This
linked to emotion. system, which is associated with emotions, drives,
and memory formation, contains the amygdala,
hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and pituitary

gland ( Figure 1.4-9 ).
Figure 1.4-9
The limbic system The Amygdala
This neural system is located Hypothalamus
mostly in the forebrain. The limbic The amygdala — two lima-bean–sized neural
system’s hypothalamus controls Pituitary gland clusters — enables aggression and fear. In 1939,
the nearby pituitary gland.
Amygdala Hippocampus psychologist Heinrich Klüver and neurosurgeon

66 Unit 1 Biological Bases of Behavior

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