Which part of the brain is responsible for higher level thinking and planning?

The cerebral cortex is the layer of the brain often referred to as gray matter. The cortex (thin layer of tissue) is gray because nerves in this area lack the insulation that makes most other parts of the brain appear to be white. The cortex covers the outer portion (1.5mm to 5mm) of the cerebrum and cerebellum.

The cerebral cortex is divided into four lobes. Each of these lobes is found in both the right and left hemispheres of the brain. The cortex encompasses about two-thirds of the brain mass and lies over and around most of the structures of the brain. It is the most highly developed part of the human brain and is responsible for thinking, perceiving, producing and understanding language. The cerebral cortex is also the most recent structure in the history of brain evolution.

Cerebral Cortex Lobes Function

Most of the actual information processing in the brain takes place in the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is located in the division of the brain known as the forebrain. It is divided into four lobes that each have a specific function. For example, there are specific areas involved in movement and sensory processes (vision, hearing, somatosensory perception (touch), and olfaction). Other areas are critical for thinking and reasoning. Although many functions, such as touch perception, are found in both the right and left cerebral hemispheres, some functions are found in only one cerebral hemisphere. For example, in most people, language processing abilities are found in the left hemisphere.

Four Cerebral Cortex Lobes

  • Parietal Lobes: These lobes are positioned posteriorly to the frontal lobes and above the occipital lobes. They are involved in receiving and processing of sensory information. The somatosensory cortex is found within the parietal lobes and is essential for processing touch sensations.
  • Frontal Lobes: These lobes are positioned at the front-most region of the cerebral cortex. They are involved with movement, decision-making, problem-solving, and planning. The right frontal lobe controls activity on the left side of the body and the left frontal lobe controls activity on the right side.
  • Occipital Lobes: Located just below the parietal lobes, the occipital lobes are the main center for visual processing. The visual information is sent to the parietal lobes and temporal lobes for further processing.
  • Temporal Lobes: These lobes are located directly below the frontal and parietal lobes. They are involved with memory, emotion, hearing, and language. Structures of the limbic system, including the olfactory cortex, amygdala, and the hippocampus are located within the temporal lobes.

In summary, the cerebral cortex is divided into four lobes that are responsible for processing and interpreting input from various sources and maintaining cognitive function. Sensory functions interpreted by the cerebral cortex include hearing, touch, and vision. Cognitive functions include thinking, perceiving, and understanding language.

Divisions of the Brain

  • Forebrain - encompasses the cerebral cortex and brain lobes.
  • Midbrain - connects the forebrain to the hindbrain.
  • Hindbrain - regulates autonomic functions and coordinates movement.

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Bailey, Regina. "The Four Cerebral Cortex Lobes of the Brain." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/cerebral-cortex-lobes-anatomy-373197 (accessed December 15, 2022).

With more than 86 billion functional neurons, the brain is the most complex organ in the human body that deals with thinking. It controls everything that your body does and thinks.

It develops the main functions of the five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and hearing. And also helps primary functions such as breathing, talking, storing memories, and thinking.

In other words, the brain is the ‘boss of your body.’

Many people wonder, which part of the brain deals with thinking?

We need to understand how our minds work so we can work our minds better.

— Jim Kwik

Let’s find out the answer to this question!

Which Part of the Brain Deals With Thinking?

The brain consists of three main parts. The outer part of the brain is called the cerebrum. The outer part located in the back of your head is the cerebellum. The third part of the brain is located beneath the cerebrum and in front of the cerebellum in the brain stem.

These three parts control processes in the body, including movement, memory, and thinking.

The cerebrum makes up more than 85% of the brain’s weight. It’s the part of the brain that controls daily activities such as reading, learning, and speech. It also assists planned muscle movements such as walking, running, and body movement.

The cerebrum is the main part of the brain that develops thinking. It helps you play chess, solve a crossword puzzle, or figure out your next move in a complex video game.

The cerebrum has two hemispheres – the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere. Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body. The two hemispheres have four sections, called lobes – frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal. Each of these lobes controls specific aspects of the thinking process.

Which part of the brain is responsible for higher level thinking and planning?

Which part of the brain is responsible for thinking and memory?

The majority of thinking-related processes happen in the frontal lobe. These include decision-making, problem-solving, and planning.

The frontal lobe also helps the development of cognition, language processing, and intelligence.

The temporal lobe controls other processes related to language understanding, perception, and recognition. It is also in charge of learning and memory.

Which part of the brain deals with thinking: the cerebellum

Although it isn’t directly involved in thinking, the cerebellum plays an important role in this process. This part of the brain takes up to 10% of its total volume, yet contains more than half of all the neurons in the brain.

Known as ‘unconscious,’ the cerebellum is in charge of balance and coordination.

Scientists have discovered that the ‘unconscious’ cerebellum interacts with the ‘conscious’ cerebrum to perform functions. The cerebellum carries out planned muscle movements such as running and jumping. That’s why sometimes scientists call it the ‘thinking cerebellum.’

Which part of the brain is responsible for higher level thinking and planning?

Which Part of the Brain Deals with Emotions?

Now, you know what parts of the brain deal with thinking and memory. Let’s have a quick look at the part that is responsible for emotions.

All positive and negative emotions and spontaneous feelings think excitement and sadness, are being processed in the limbic system.

The limbic system controls your emotions and interacts with other parts of the brain.

At the same time, another part of the brain called the amygdala handles emotional reactions such as love, hate, and sexual desire.

With centuries of research, the human brain remains the biggest mystery in the world. It is the most complex part of the body that controls movement, sight, and thinking.

What lobe of the brain is responsible for higher thinking?

The frontal lobe is generally where higher executive functions including emotional regulation, planning, reasoning and problem solving occur.

What part of the brain is responsible for thinking?

The cerebrum is the thinking part of the brain and it controls your voluntary muscles — the ones that move when you want them to.

What part of the brain works with planning?

The frontal lobes are important for voluntary movement, expressive language and for managing higher level executive functions. Executive functions refer to a collection of cognitive skills including the capacity to plan, organise, initiate, self-monitor and control one's responses in order to achieve a goal.