Neuro-Anatomy for Neuro-Anatomy for teachersteachersThomas B. King, M. Ed.Thomas B. King, M. Ed.

Hospital Education ProgramHospital Education Program

VCU Health Care SystemVCU Health Care System

Motor ControlMotor Control

The right side of the brain controls the left The right side of the brain controls the left side of the bodyside of the body

The left side of the brain controls the right The left side of the brain controls the right side of the bodyside of the body

The Limbic SystemThe Limbic System

James Papez (1937) proposed a hypothesis James Papez (1937) proposed a hypothesis for neural circuitry underlying emotions and for neural circuitry underlying emotions and emotional responses.emotional responses.

This was called the Papez CircuitThis was called the Papez Circuit Today, we refer to the limbic system, which Today, we refer to the limbic system, which

follows our current understandingfollows our current understanding Disorders that interfere with the limbic system Disorders that interfere with the limbic system

can affect emotions and behavior.can affect emotions and behavior.

The Basil GangliaThe Basil Ganglia

The basil ganglia may play a role in the The basil ganglia may play a role in the processing of sensory and motor processing of sensory and motor integrative functions.integrative functions.

Problems with basal ganglia functioning Problems with basal ganglia functioning could adversely affect such things as could adversely affect such things as writing and copying from both near and writing and copying from both near and far point.far point.

Motor and Sensory StripsMotor and Sensory Strips

Across the top of the brain, in a region Across the top of the brain, in a region that separates the frontal from the that separates the frontal from the parietal lobes, are the motor and sensory parietal lobes, are the motor and sensory strips.strips.

The following slides illustrate how much The following slides illustrate how much brain surface is devoted to the brain surface is devoted to the corresponding body part.corresponding body part.

HomuncolusHomuncolus

The humuncolus or “little man” on the The humuncolus or “little man” on the next slide is a representation of the next slide is a representation of the amount of brain surface dedicated to the amount of brain surface dedicated to the various parts of our bodies.various parts of our bodies.

Note how much brain surface is needed, Note how much brain surface is needed, for example, to “drive” our hands and for example, to “drive” our hands and fingers. This is one reason why fine fingers. This is one reason why fine motor development is slow, and, for motor development is slow, and, for some children, very difficult. some children, very difficult.

Auditory Processing Auditory Processing

All academic pursuit requires circuits of All academic pursuit requires circuits of interconnecting brain activity, functioning well, interconnecting brain activity, functioning well, for success.for success.

The following is one example of one small part The following is one example of one small part of brain circuitry needed for successful reading. of brain circuitry needed for successful reading. The following slide represents the auditory The following slide represents the auditory pathway. Auditory processing of phonemes pathway. Auditory processing of phonemes start with this circuit.start with this circuit.

Many other such circuits are needed for Many other such circuits are needed for successful reading. This would be an example successful reading. This would be an example of only one.of only one.