This story is about the biggest boss in your brain: the cerebrum!

Did you know that the brain inside your head is an amazing organ? It's like a supercomputer. So, the most important and largest part of this supercomputer is the cerebrum, or what we call the `(Cerebrum)`. This cerebrum is involved in almost everything you think and do. Today, let's talk about this amazing organ in a simple way that you can understand.

What is this big brain (Cerebrum)? To put it very simply...

Simply put, the largest part of your brain is the cerebrum. It's located at the front and top of your head. The name comes from the Latin word for "brain."

From the time you wake up in the morning until you go to bed at night, everything you do, everything you think and feel, all of this is under the control of the big brain `(Cerebrum). In fact, it is this brain that makes us "us", it is this brain that helps us deal with this world. Scientists have been researching this brain for years. They say that there is still a lot to discover. But, thanks to new technology and advances in medical science, we are learning new things about it every day.

What is the difference between the cerebrum and the cerebellum?

Now you might be thinking, "Are there other parts of the brain?" Yes, another important part is called the cerebellum .

• Cerebrum: This is the largest part of the brain. It is located above and in front of the cerebellum. It controls our conscious actions and our mental processes .
• Cerebellum: This is a small part, located at the back of the head, at the bottom. It exchanges signals with other parts of the brain and the rest of the body and controls the body's balance and fine movements. Think of things like when you walk or run.

Simply put, when you think about doing something, the idea comes from the cerebrum. The cerebellum helps you do it properly and without hesitation.

What is the function of the cerebrum?

Think of it like the head office of your body. It's where you make important decisions and control your work. Take a look at what it does:

• The control of your five senses: what you see (sight), what you hear (hearing), what you smell ( smell ), what you taste (taste), and what you feel on your skin (touch) are all managed by the cerebrum.
• Language: You can read, write, and speak because of different parts of the cerebrum.
• Working memory: This is short-term memory. For example, if you are thinking about going to a store and buying some items, this is what helps you remember things like that.
• Behavior and Personality: The front part of the cerebrum, the frontal lobe, controls your personality and behavior. It acts like a filter, helping you stop yourself from saying or doing things you might regret later.
• Movement: When you want to move an arm or leg, the necessary signals are sent to the muscles from certain parts of the cerebrum.
• Learning, reasoning, and problem solving : When you learn something new, make a plan, or try to solve a problem, different parts of the cerebrum work together.

How does the cerebrum work together with other organs?

The cerebrum doesn't work alone. It works with other parts of the brain, especially the cerebellum, to make your daily tasks easier.

Imagine you are trying to pick up a pen that is on a table. The cerebrum sends the signal to the muscles in your hand to pick up the pen. But the cerebellum helps your hand move straight to the pen and grip it precisely, without moving around. Those movements are finely controlled by the cerebellum.

Also, the cerebrum is the basis for things like your conscious thinking, planning, deciding to exercise, choosing what to eat, and making an appointment to see a doctor. Therefore, the cerebrum is very important for the health and well-being of your entire body.

Some interesting facts you didn't know about the cerebrum!

• Crossed representation: This is a very strange thing. When you do something with one side of your body, it is controlled by the other side of your brain. For example, if someone has a stroke on the left side of their brain, the effects are felt on the right side of their body.
• Your brain is very adaptable: Your brain can "reorganize," meaning change itself. This ability is useful when learning new things or recovering from an injury to the brain.
• There are specific areas of the brain : different parts of the brain are responsible for different abilities and talents. However, the idea that some people are "left-brained" or "right-brained" is a myth and has not been scientifically proven.

Where is the cerebrum located? What does it look like?

The cerebrum is located inside your skull, at the top and front of your head. As mentioned earlier, this is the largest part of the brain.

From the outside, the surface of the cerebrum, or cerebral cortex, is mostly smooth, but it has many wrinkles. It looks like a walnut with the shell removed. It is divided lengthwise into two halves – the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere. There is a deep groove in the middle of these two hemispheres. These two hemispheres are connected by a bundle of nerve tissue called the corpus callosum. This is where signals are sent from one side of the brain to the other.

What are the main parts (lobes) of the cerebrum?

There are five main "lobes" in both hemispheres of your brain, each with a specific function.

• Frontal lobe: This is located in the front of the head. It controls attention, behavior control (that is, understanding what is appropriate and what is inappropriate), speech , and some muscle movements.
• Parietal lobe: This is located at the top of the head. It controls sensations like touch, temperature, and pain. It also helps you see the world around you, judge the distance, and size of objects. It is also involved in things like sound processing, the languages ​​you speak, numbers and counting, organizing information, and making decisions.
• Temporal lobe: This is located on the sides of the head. It helps us understand language when others speak. It also helps us recognize people and objects. It also helps us connect emotions with memories.
• Insular lobe: This is located deep in the brain, beneath the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes. It controls the sense of taste. It is also thought to help process some emotions, such as empathy and sensitivity.
• Occipital lobe: This is located at the back of the head. It controls most of the sensations you get from your eyes, such as seeing movement and seeing colors.

Several other important structures

In addition to these segments, the cerebrum has several other structures that perform very specialized functions:

• Cerebral cortex: This is the thin layer of nervous tissue on the surface of the cerebrum, like the bark of a tree.
• Thalamus: This is like a "signal center" in the brain. It sorts out the information coming from your senses (except smell) and sends it to the appropriate parts of the cerebrum. The sense of smell goes directly to the cerebrum, not through the thalamus.
• Hypothalamus:It is located below the thalamus. It manages the functioning of your nervous system and endocrine system. Both of these systems help control other systems and processes in the body. For example, the hypothalamus helps control things like your body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
• Hippocampus: This structure is located inside the temporal lobe. It helps manage memories, store them in different parts of the cerebrum, and recall them when you need them.

Why does the brain have so many parts? Why are some tasks divided into several parts?

You might be wondering, "Why is this same piece of information being processed by multiple parts of the brain?" The reason is that this information is connected to each other in many ways.

Imagine, you're walking down the street and suddenly see a large cobra. How much information does your brain have to process at that moment, and what should you do to escape from that animal?

• Vision: Your eyes see the snake. The brain first takes that information and starts sending it to other parts of the brain. At the same time, you see things like how far away the animal is, whether it's moving, and how fast it's coming.
• Hearing: You hear the sound of the cobra purring, or some other sound.
• Memory: Your brain starts to compare what you see with something you've seen before, or something similar. For example, if you've never seen a cobra, but you've seen a snake, you remember that experience. And you know that it's a dangerous animal. Your brain stores what you're experiencing in the moment, hoping that the information will be useful in the future.
• Language: This part of the brain helps you name what you see, especially when you shout to those around you, "That's a cobra!"
• Decision-making and judgment: You decide that it's not good to be around a cobra, so you need to get away from it.
• Movement: Your brain sends signals to your leg muscles, telling you to run to a safe place.

You see, how many parts of the brain work together in one event!

How big is the cerebrum? How much does it weigh? What is it made of?

The average adult brain is about three to four times the size of a baseball. So, about 80% of the total brain is in the cerebrum. That means it's about three times the size of a baseball.

In terms of weight, the average adult brain weighs between 2.6 and 3.1 pounds (1.2 and 1.4 kilograms). The cerebrum alone weighs about 2 to 2.5 pounds (0.9 to 1.1 kilograms).

The brain tissue is made up of:

• Water (water) - about 77%
• Lipids - about 11%
• Protein - about 8%
• Other things - about 4%

What are the common diseases and conditions that affect the cerebrum?

Any condition that affects your brain can also affect the cerebrum. This includes mental health issues. Some major examples are:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Anxiety disorders
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Stroke
• Brain damage due to head injuries (Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injuries - TBI)
• Congenital diseases (e.g. Menkes disease)
• Dementia
• Depression
• Dizziness (vertigo)
• Epilepsy
• Immune and inflammatory conditions (e.g., fibromyalgia)
• Genetic diseases (diseases inherited from parents, e.g. Wilson's disease)
• Infections (caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi)
• Parkinson's disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Schizophrenia-emotional `(Schizophrenia)`
• Vitamin deficiencies and nutritional problems (e.g., vitamin B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism)

What symptoms can arise in such a situation?

A variety of symptoms can occur when the cerebrum is affected. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Aphasia: When the speech centers of the cerebrum are damaged, it can be difficult to speak and understand what others are saying.
• Ataxia: This is a loss of coordination of body movements. This can cause stumbling, loss of balance, and difficulty performing normal tasks with the hands.
• Behavioral changes and confusion.
• Dizziness.
• Headaches and migraines.
• Memory problems.
• Paralysis: This can affect different parts of the body.
• Tremors: When muscle coordination is lost, parts of the body, especially the hands, may tremble.
• Difficulty concentrating, thinking.
• Vision problems: The cerebrum is responsible for controlling your eyes and how your brain processes what you see. Vision problems can range from blurred vision to distortion to blindness.

What tests are done to check the health of the cerebrum?

There are many tests that can help diagnose conditions that affect your brain, or cerebrum. The most common tests are:

• Blood tests: These can check for immune system problems and toxins, especially metals like copper, in the body.
• CT scan (Computerized tomography scan)
• E.E.G. `(EEG - Electroencephalogram)`
• EMG (Electromyogram)
• Evoked potentials test
• Genetic testing
• MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)
• PET scan (Positron emission tomography scan)
• Sleep studies
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)
• X-rays

What are the treatments for this?

Treatments for the cerebrum are as varied as the diseases and symptoms they cause. They range from antibiotics for bacterial infections to radiation and chemotherapy for brain tumors. A treatment that helps one condition may worsen another. Therefore, there is no "one-size-fits-all" treatment for brain problems. Your doctor will determine the treatment that is best for you.

How do I keep my cerebrum healthy? (This is something I need to remember!)

There are several things you can do to keep your brain healthy. Think of these as a "take-home message":

• Eat a balanced diet: Some vitamins, especially vitamin B12 deficiency, can affect your brain, that is, the cerebrum, and cause major problems. Therefore, it is very important to eat nutritious food.
• Be physically active and maintain a healthy weight: Problems with your circulatory system and heart can also affect your brain. Stroke is a good example of this. Strokes are often caused by heart problems. You can reduce this risk by staying active and maintaining a healthy weight.
• Don't ignore infections: Treat and cure infections, especially those in the eyes and ears, quickly. If these infections spread to the brain, they can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
• Take your prescribed medications as prescribed: Some medications can have adverse effects on your brain if taken incorrectly. Therefore, it is important to take your medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you develop any new symptoms that may be related to your brain, see a doctor immediately.
• Wear protective equipment when necessary: ​​Head injuries can cause serious damage to the brain. Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) can occur. Wearing protective equipment, especially helmets, while working or playing can help protect your brain from these types of injuries.
• Avoid smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and drug use altogether:Smoking and using tobacco products increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Excessive alcohol use is toxic to your brain. It also increases your risk of stroke, memory problems, tremors, and balance problems. Drug use can also damage your brain, increasing your risk of seizures and stroke.

Remember: Your cerebrum is the most valuable asset in your body. It is your responsibility to protect it.

So, you can see that the cerebrum is a very amazing and complex organ that helps us with everything we do on a daily basis. Although scientists have discovered a lot about it, there is still a lot to discover. But the good news is that with the advancement of technology and medicine, these mysteries are gradually being revealed. This means that this knowledge helps doctors to better diagnose and treat your medical conditions, as well as prevent future problems.

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