Infant Brain Development

Receives information from the senses and directs motor activities

• Cerebellum

• Cerebrum

• Cortex

• Thalamus

Part of the cerebrum—where most of the activities (speech, memory, problem solving) occur.

• Cortex

• Cerebellum

• Thalamus

• Cerebrum

Controls muscular coordination and balance

• Cortex

• Cerebrum

• Thalamus

• Cerebellum

Connects the spinal cord and cerebrum; controls expression of emotions

• Thalamus

• Cortex

• Cerebrum

• Cerebellum

Secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism and sexual development

• Brain Stem

• Spinal Cord

• Pituitary Gland

• Cortex

Controls involuntary activities such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure

• Brain stem

• Pituitary gland

• Spinal cord

• Cortex

Transmits information from the body to the brain and from the brain to the body

• Cerebrum

• Brain stem

• Cerebellum

• Spinal cord

Nerve cells

• Neurons

• Synapses

• Cortex

• Brain stems

Gaps between neurons over which messages are sent between neurons

• Neurons

• Synapses

• Spinal cord

• Cortex