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The Body's Hard Drive
The brain is like a computer hard drive. It is where facts and information are stored and where all bodily functions are managed. The brain is vitally important, which is why it is protected inside the hard skull bone.
The brain can be divided into three parts, each part serves a different purpose, but they are interlinked.
The Cerebrum
The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. This is where emotions and thoughts develop and is where memories are stored. Other information that the senses gather go to the cerebrum, which then instructs the body what to do.
The cerebrum enables the smell of mulled wine to make you think of Christmas, a certain song arouse fond memories of a holiday, or contact with a thorny branch makes us more careful in future.
The Cerebellum
The cerebellum is responsible for all body movement, it controls balance and muscle teamwork. It makes sure the body moves as expected, without actively thinking about it.
For example, when you wave to somebody, the cerebellum makes you raise your arm and wave your hand. This happens automatically. You don't need to think ”Now I'm going to raise my arm and move my hand, maybe even bend my fingers a little…”.
The Medulla Oblongata
The medulla oblongata is the third part of the brain. A lot of the essential body functions are controlled by the medulla oblongata. This is where breathing, heartbeat and eye movement is controlled.
Information about pain, heat and cold is sent to the medulla oblongata first, before it continues on to the cerebrum.
For example, the medulla oblongata receives information from your hand about the hot cooking pot. How should the body react? This information is passed on to the cerebrum, which gives the instruction to be careful and remove the hand immediately. In an instant, your hand is gone from the hot cooking pot, before you have even had a chance to think about it being too hot.
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