Examples of Activities and
Brain Areas probably used


"Anne the landscape artist is standing at her easel,
painting with her right hand as she looks out the window at
her garden. She's listening to classical music as she paints."

Structure Function
left motor cortex controls right hand
visual cortex used for vision
auditory cortexes used for hearing music
right hemisphere (association areas?) spatial ability for painting
thalamus relays sensory information
left sensory cortex feeling the paintbrush
cerebellum coordinates moving arm

Q&A

using motor cortex

left, right or both?


"Crazy Eddie, the professional wrestler, is in the ring wrestling.
The crowd is yelling and his opponent is taunting him.
Eddie yells back at his opponent. The two of them are
out of breath and sweating profusely. They continue their
well-orchestrated series of wrestling moves."

Structure Function
both motor cortexes move
both sensory cortexes touch
visual cortexes
right hemisphere (association areas?) spatial ability for wrestling
Wernicke's area understanding taunts and yells
Broca's area yells
frontal areas (association) planning moves
thalamus sensory relay
medulla regulates heart and breathing
amygdala aggression and ear
reticular formation controls arousal
cerebellum balance and coordination
hypothalamus regulates temperature
hippocampus memory for moves

Q&A

students state that Crazy Eddie, the wrestler, is using his sensory cortex because he is relying on his sense of touch to wrestle his opponents.

When asked whether he is using the sensory cortex in his right or his left hemisphere, many students choose only one rather than both must be operating.


"Jill is a law student studying for her exam.
She is reading about violent rape and murder cases.
She is snacking on popcorn and drinking coffee."

Structure Function
hippocampus remembering and learning
Wernicke's area understanding taunts and yells
amygdala aggression and ear
right hemisphere (association areas?) spatial ability for wrestling
hypothalamus regulates hunger and thirst
angular gyrus reading