Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Organization of the Brain

Organization of the Brain

The brain is an integral component of the nervous system and serves as the center for processing sensory inputs, making decisions, and directing bodily actions. This complex organ is organized into three primary sections: the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, each responsible for a range of vital functions.
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...

Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation

Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation

The reticular formation is a complex network of gray and white matter located within the brainstem extending from the medulla to the midbrain.
Within the reticular formation, there are several distinct nuclei that can be classified into three broad categories. The Raphe nuclei are located along the midline of the brainstem. They are primarily known for their role in synthesizing and releasing serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, appetite, sleep, and circadian rhythms. The...

Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions

Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It consists of four main parts: the cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brainstem.
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect...

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...

Brain Imaging

Brain Imaging

Brain imaging technologies provide critical insights into both the structure and function of the human brain, enabling medical professionals and researchers to diagnose, study, and treat neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders more effectively.
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic...

Lobes of the Cerebrum

Lobes of the Cerebrum

The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements....

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Stimulation-evoked orbitofrontal activity as a biomarker for DBS personalization in depression.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026

Same author

Scaling up polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography to image the whole macaque brain.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Neural basis of successful DBS for OCD after failed capsulotomy.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026

Same author

Prefrontal cortex connectivity profiles distinguish rapid from slow responders to deep brain stimulation in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026

Same author

Author Correction: Plasticity and language in the anaesthetized human hippocampus.

Nature·2026

Same author

Mapping the structural connections between the anterior cingulate cortex and the insula/ventrolateral prefrontal cortex.

Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Published on: October 13, 2023

Rethinking the centrality of brain areas in understanding functional organization.

Benjamin Yost Hayden^1,2, Sarah R Heilbronner^1,2, Seng Bum Michael Yoo^3,4,5,6

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.

Nature Neuroscience

|December 23, 2025

Summary

Brain areas are not the sole organizers of brain function. Cognitive neuroscience should consider other principles like gradients and networks for a more complete understanding of the brain.

More Related Videos

Microdissection of Mouse Brain into Functionally and Anatomically Different Regions

Microdissection of Mouse Brain into Functionally and Anatomically Different Regions

Published on: February 15, 2021

A Standardized Pipeline for Examining Human Cerebellar Grey Matter Morphometry using Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A Standardized Pipeline for Examining Human Cerebellar Grey Matter Morphometry using Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: February 4, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Published on: October 13, 2023

Microdissection of Mouse Brain into Functionally and Anatomically Different Regions

Microdissection of Mouse Brain into Functionally and Anatomically Different Regions

Published on: February 15, 2021

A Standardized Pipeline for Examining Human Cerebellar Grey Matter Morphometry using Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A Standardized Pipeline for Examining Human Cerebellar Grey Matter Morphometry using Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: February 4, 2022

Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Systems Neuroscience
Neuroanatomy
Electrophysiology

Background:

The concept of distinct brain areas is fundamental to understanding brain function.
Current models often rely on cytoarchitecture and connectivity for brain parcellation.

Purpose of the Study:

To challenge the central role of brain areas in cognitive and systems neuroscience.
To explore alternative organizing principles of brain function.
To re-evaluate the link between brain area parcellation and cognitive functions.

Main Methods:

Neuroanatomical analysis
Electrophysiological recordings
Critical review of existing literature on brain parcellation and cognitive function

Main Results:

Neuroanatomy and electrophysiology rarely yield consistent brain area definitions.
Brain areas are only one of several organizational principles, alongside gradients, networks, layers, columns, and patches.
Evidence linking brain area parcellation to cognitive function is less robust than commonly believed.
Cognitive functions are often implemented in distributed networks or follow organizational principles unrelated to discrete brain areas.

Conclusions:

The traditional focus on brain areas (arealization) may be insufficient for a comprehensive understanding of the brain.
Alternative organizational principles like macroscale gradients and distributed networks are crucial.
Future research in cognitive and systems neuroscience should adopt a broader framework beyond arealization.