19. The cerebral cortex, sleep, and circadian rhythms
19. The cerebral cortex, sleep, and circadian rhythms
- Gillian Pocock, Gillian PocockSenior Lecturer in Clinical Science, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK
- Christopher D. RichardsChristopher D. RichardsEmeritus Professor of Experimental Physiology, Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- and David A. RichardsDavid A. RichardsAssociate Professor, Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Husson University School of Pharmacy, Bangor, Maine, USA
Abstract
This chapter describes the cerebral hemispheres as the largest and most obvious structures of the human brain, receiving information from the primary senses and control coordinated motor activity. It shows how the main somatosensory and motor pathways are crossed, so that the left hemisphere receives information from, and controls the motor activity of the right side of the body, while the right hemisphere is concerned with the left side. It is commonly recognized that people prefer to use one hand rather than another and most people prefer to use their right hand for writing, holding a knife or tennis racquet, and so on. The chapter emphasizes how the two halves of the brain are not equal with respect to the information to which they pay attention or with respect to the activities they control. It mentions Paul Broca and Marc Dax from the nineteenth century, who described an association between the loss of speech and paralysis of the right side of the body in patients who had suffered a stroke.
