is often described as a ‘sensory gateway’. It
routes sensory informa-
tion (with the exception of olfaction) from the sensory apparatus to
the relevant primary processing area. It contains, among other struc-
tures, the
lateral geniculate nucleus which is specialised for receiving
information from the eyes and routing it to the primary visual pro-
cessing cortex, and the
medial geniculate nucleus which
is specialised
for receiving information from the ears and routing it to the primary
auditory processing cortex.
The
pineal gland and the
pituitary gland are both
endocrine glands –
they are involved in the secretion of neurotransmitters. The pituitary
gland regulates the release of a number
of various neurotransmitters,
including human growth hormone and
oxytocin. The pineal gland is
mainly involved
with the production of melatonin. Interestingly, the
pineal gland was believed by Descartes to be the locus of interaction
with the immaterial soul.
The
hypothalamus controls the secretions of most of the
endocrine
glands and thereby regulates a
wide range of bodily functions, includ-
ing thirst and appetite, temperature, and sexual and circadian cycles.
This exhausts the structures of the brain stem. The rest of the brain
consists of the
cerebral hemispheres, the
limbic system, the
basal
ganglia and the
olfactory bulbs.
The
olfactory bulbs are responsible for primary olfactory process-
ing. As mentioned earlier olfaction, or smell, is
the only sensory
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