The Brain: Basic Systems (outline 1)
When it comes to labeling the basic systems of the brain, different people group different structures together. This is how I break down the basic brain structures, but other people will have different systems of labeling.
Level One: The Striatal System
This is the most basic level of brain structures, one that most every organism has in some way shape or form in order to perform basic survival functions. It is devoted to creating scripts and outlines for daily behavior based on the behavior of that general species. Structures included in this system are:
Level Two: The Limbic System
This is the section of the brain associated with basic and primal emotions that are key to survival. These emotions include fear and aggression, but this level also controls basic survival drives, such as the drive for food and for sex. Structures included in this system are:
Level Three: The Neurocortex
This level is the final evolutional structure, which is found in only a select amount of organisms because it is not necessary for basic survival. It varies in size depending on the organism, species, and how necessary it is for survival. It is the largest in humans. This is the part of the brain that is responsible for the more complicated behaviors including speaking, higher muscle movement and higher emotional thought. The structures in this system are:
Now, there are brain structures missing from this outline, one reason for this is that there are many small regions of the brain that fall into the general structures in this outline. However, there is one major flaw in this outline, and that is that it lacks placement of the Cerebellum. If I had to place it, it would belong to the first level, however research has discovered that the cerebellum also plays a role in higher level brain functions.
More on what the specific structures of these systems will follow, as well as another general outline for brain structural organization that is more widely accepted than this one.