Memorize the parts of the brain once and for all! Here’s a mnemonic device to help you remember the parts of the brain. You will never forget the anatomy of the brain after you see this video. Improve your grade on your next biopsychology test and learn more about mnemonics at the same time. If you’re looking for psychology mnemonics, this is it.
Need to memorize even more parts of the brain? Click this image:
Mnemonic Devices Used in this Episode
- Cerebral Cortex: imagine a Texas cowboy hat on top of a brain. The cortex is the outer layer of the brain just under the hat where complex thinking occurs.
- Corpus Callosum: The corpus callosum is the fibers that connect the two halves of the brain. Thus, it adds the two parts together. Think of the corPLUS CalloSUM. Since the corpus callosum coordinates communication between the two hemispheres, think of corpus Call Someone.
- Thalamus: the thalamus takes sensations that come from the body and directs them to the appropriate part of the brain for processing. Thus, think of Hal and Amos – two traffic cops in the brain who direct these sensations to the right route.
- Hypothalamus: the hypothalamus regulates a number of things in the body such as body temperature, thirst, hunger, and sex drive. Think of “hypo the llamas”. Your llamas are hot, sweaty and thirsty and you use a hypo to spray water on them to cool them down and give them some water.
- Hippocampus: the hippocampus is the seat of memory. Think of a hippo with a compass. The hippo uses the compass to find his way back to the swamp because he can’t remember where it is.
- Amygdala: the amygdala controls your sense of fear. Think of either a MIG coming right at you and, of course, making you afraid, or picture a scary wig with dollars in it
- Pons: the pons helps you relax and sleep. Think of a relaxing pond.
- Cerebellum: the cerebellum helps in coordination and balance. Picture your favorite athlete with bells all over his/her body (hanging from his/her clothes, hands, feet, etc.).
- Reticular Formation: the reticular formation helps you to become alert and aroused when you need to be. Think of what would happen if you were napping and someone tickled you: your reticular formation would kick into gear to wake you up.
- Medulla: the medulla regulates the autonomic activity of your heart and lungs. Picture medals over your heart and lungs, or stick those medals into a heart.
Psych Files listener Toby sent me this link to an excellent site where you can find mnemonics for all kinds of disciplines: Mnemonics Guide from EUdesign.
If you liked the “Tickle Me Freud” doll you saw in the episode (I got it for my wife as a present), you can get it at Amazon. Click on Freud:
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Thank you, it was the first episode I watched and it was pure fun (and learning!), going to subscribe to your podcast for sure. I’ll probably remember those words forever. Especially, perhaps, the Hypothalamus… because of all the llamas
Thanks so much! Glad you liked the episode. I know – the llamas was the craziest one of them all. Crazy, but hopefully memorable.
Michael
This is really helpful! On top of that he is extremely funny! Great way to remember parts of the brain.
My favorite one was the "Tickle Me Freud". lol
your a great teacher…i memorized this easily usually i have a hard time studying things like this
Thanks so much. Michael
Thanks so much for this. I have a anatomy test on the parts of the brain next week and this episode really made it easy for me to memorize the parts! Love your podcasts, keep up the good work!
I wish I found this earlier!!! I have my psychology midterm tommorow on the brain and all that fun stuff:P! I watched this episode and I have those words memorized, but before this video it took me like a month; to attempt memorizing the brain!! Thank you SOOOOO MUCH! I really appreciate it! Good Luck to u in the future!
Nancy,
Thanks so much for your comment! Made my day. Good luck on your midterm!
Michael
Thank you thank you thank you!!! This was incredibly helpful and so funny! I have a test on the brain in my college biology class, and this helped me learn the material in an easy and fun way!
Thanks!
Fantantastic! Glad you liked it. Good luck on that test. Michael
Sooooo Helpful!!!!!! thanks
Thanks so much for this. I havent managed to retain info like this so quickly in a long time, I can’t thank you enough for how much this has helped me.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much Lara! Michael
I have my AP Psychology exam tomorrow and this is the one thing i’ve been hacing trouble with so much. so seriously wow thanks a lot this helped me so quickly=].
Carolina: glad you found this episode just in time! Good luck on the test. Michael
Thanks Michael! This is really helpful…
Dear Lifesaver,
I have a Psychology midterm in three days. For the past month I have been pouring over the parts of the brain desperately trying to learn them, but with no success. I found your site, and I have to say it was hysterical. The quirky (somewhat ridiculous) mnemonics are unforgettable. So, thank you!!
~Ken
Ken: glad you enjoyed the mnemonics. If you get a chance let me know if they were helpful on your test. Michael
Mnemonics really work and also I am very thankful for your effort to keep the process and results on camera realistic. I have just one question tho :
In your expert opinion, could mnemonics, after being practiced for some time lead to “enhancement of memory bank and greater memorizing speed of brain” ?
Thx for awesome videos again sir!
Tito: thx for writing and glad you liked the episode. Regarding your quote: “enhancement of memory bank” – well, I’m not exactly sure what’s being referred to here, but can you remember more things using mnemonics? I’d say yes to that. As far as “greater memorizing speed of the brain” – I suppose that’s true too. You certainly can memorize things faster using mnemonics. Well, hope that helps and thanks for the comment! Michael
This was fantastic and the flashcards really heped to cement this into my brain.
I managed an A on my semester psych exam and this part of the exam was a breeze thanks to you tools.
Highly recommend the purchase to others.
Mappr is also really really useful, Thanks again.
Tamara: Fantastic. Congrats on that A. I’m glad the mnemonics worked for you. Also happy that MAPPR was helpful. Which reminds me that I have to get more chapters into it…Michael
Thanks a lot…It was really excellent..now im ready for my exam which includes parts of the brain..once again my hearty thanks to you…
No problem. Good luck on that exam (great name by the way). Michael
I really liked this video. I was not really to fond of looking up and memorizing all these parts of the brain. This makes it very easy.
Glad to hear it Jordan. Appreciate your comment – Michael
heyy Michael i really liked your video it helped me ALOTT! i learned many things from just watching your videoo
thankss(:
This was soooo helpful, thank you! You did a great job!
OH my god i love you your hilarious.
Fantastic stuff Michael. Helped greatly and now I clearly remember all of the parts of the brain you covered. Amazing how we can remember silly stuff!
I love your podcasts in general as well. They make an already interesting subject more interesting.
Thanks and keep up the fantastic work.
Matt
Thanks Randa, Laith, Trish and Matt for your kind words. Glad you liked the mnemonics! – Michael
Won’t forget them now!
thank you so much for this! I’m in AP psychology and have a huge test tomorrow on everything in your video. I know I will do great now because of the methods you taught me. I’m extremely appreciative and hope you know how much you helped =)
Fantastic! I’m glad the mnemonics helped. Now go get that test!! (and let me know how you do) – Michael
Thanks for the video! The mnemonics helped a lot. Just like the rest of the commenters, I also have a psych test.
If I may, I’d like to add that the cerebral cortex, when you connected it to Texas and higher thinking, made me think of the company Texas Instruments, which makes graphing and scientific calculators (and hence E=mc^2). Just a little something which made the connection easier for me =]
I like it! Cor-Tex and Texas Instruments. Works for me too. Go with it.
The mnemonics ROCK so hard! i already love psychology, and i actually just watched this for fun lolololol….
Glad you liked it!
thank you so much!
Just wow.
These videos are great! I was really worried about my test next week, but this is really helping. I’m going to use some of these videos to study for the AP.
Thanks for the great word tricks!
Dee: no problem! Glad you enjoyed the video and I hope it helps on your test.
Thanks so much for your help!
I was struggling to find a site like this
Now I can remember the vocabulary for my test on Thursday.
Thank you so much, you made my day!!!
I was already quite hopeless learning the brain parts on time for my exam…
but your video helped me so much, it´s incredible!! I´m just wondering why it´s not more common to teach students like that instead of just naming the functions and leave them alone with the rest…
Thanks!!!!! You are my hero for today, I wish you were my teacher!
thank you so much! i have a huge psych test tomorow, you have no idea how much this helped!
Ryan, Sandra and Lindsey: Good luck on that test!! And if the mnemonics helped you, please tell your fellow students about this site. Appreciate it. – Michael
Thanks so much for sharing that mnemonic for the parts of the brain. I, like the others that wrote, wish I had found it sooner. I’ll be sure to share it with classmates.
Thanks for telling your classmates about the video Ginger. Appreciate it!
Hey there!
Love this lesson on brain parts/functions. Helped me thru a test!
You wouldn’t happen to have any on sensory pathways? Sensory tracts, motor pathways,etc?
Sorry – I don’t have anything on that but I could look into it. Is this for an Intro Psych class or some other class?
Hey there. This is for Human Anatomy/Physiology class 1.
That video really did help me out on the test and I told all my friends and even the instructor. She thought it was hysterical and great. Also looking for anything on sympathetic/parasympatheic innervations-.
Thanks again for making it memorable and fun!
Adele
Glad your instructor and friends enjoyed the video. sympathetic/parasympathetic innervations eh? Hmm…gotta think about that one…it’s definitely not a topic that psychologists would study. Not really my strength I’m afraid. Sorry
This really helped me so much!!! I just got my test back and I got all of the parts right!
Adylaid – fantastic! Very glad to hear it! Thx for letting me know.
you helped me so much for my test tomorrow. your brilliant:)
Hey there, we are now learning the nervous system in class and I am so glad my teacher mentioned this video to us, this was a very funny and interesting video. These little tricks are going to help me so much, especially considering I am a visual person and I will be thinking of this video during my exam, thank you very much!
andrea
Loved it.. you made it fun, and impossible to forget the brain. Thank you so much Michael, Will definately be back for more! -Melissa
This is an echo of all the posts above but thank you!!! This video helped my sister and I get A’s on our tests! I’ll never forget the parts of the brain. and from the comments above I can tell this has helped many students. I dont know if you have kids but theyre going to be very lucky!
Thanks so much for these comments! Really appreciate you taking the time. And as for kids: yes, I have twin 10 year olds and right now I’m lucky if I can get them to sit down and do their homework! Again thanks. Michael
Oh, you are fantastic! Great video! I posted it in my blog, thank you.
Greeting from Italy
Wow!! I wish I had found this site months ago. I take the EPPP in three days and the parts of the brain are one of the few things I’m still trying to remember. I’m going to scour the rest of your site to see if I can find mnemonics for the other handful of things I’m trying to memorize!
Hi Michael
I just wanted to say along with all the other comments how helpful this video is.
If only there were one of these videos for every subject and area I am studying.
It is quite surprising the things that will help you remember. Even while watching I was doubtful I could remember once the video was over. I was wrong, as soon as I hear the names of the area’s of the brain the video and words come straight back to me as if I were watching it again. It must be nice to know you are helping students all around the world (I am from New Zealand).
So thank you.
Kind regards
Samantha
Hi Michael!
While studying neuropsychology for my exam, I got an email with this link in it. It’s incredible! I can remember those things that were very hard to remember for me! Thanks a lot. Maybe now I will pass my exam.
Kind regards,
Nienke (from the Netherlands!)
This is wicked! Tomorrow I have a neuropsychology exam and this is helping me so much! Thanks a lot from the Netherlands
Wow, that was a wonderful video! I am just now studying for my AP Exams, and for my psychology one I knew that the first thing I need to study is the neuroscience section. This video was great, I’m bound to remember all the brain parts and their functions for my exam on Tuesday! I’m going to pass this on to my psych teacher! Thanks again for the video
P.S. my favorite part was when you said the “Medulloo” by accident
Looks like everybody is taking exams. Glad to hear that the mnemonics are helping. Once of my teachers once said that you should go into every test with a “fighting attitude”. So go get ‘em!
Your teacher gives good advice
Thanks again!
This was awesome, too bad I didn’t find this when I was taking A&P. I will keep this in my database…
Thanks so much for this video! The AP exam is tomorrow, and I wanted to get some last minute cramming done on the brain. The brain seems pretty easy to remember now, thanks so much!
Ricky: glad the video was helpful. Break a leg on that test tomorrow!
Thank you so much for taking your time to help us in such a creative way! This will majorly help me on my AP Psych test tomorrow morning.
Thanks a lot for this great video. Helped me pass the AP test this morning and my class really enjoyed the video
Thanks soo much for that! Coming from a nonscience background that will definitely aid me in the biological component in my psych course…I was never gonna be able to remember all of that otherwise. Definitely gonna help me in my exam on monday …YAY! Keep up the awesome vids…now i shall have to go check out your podcasts to see what else I can learn in a most fun, amusing and memorable fashion
I wanted to thank you. Your mnemonics helped me write my own. I can’t remember all those different things, so I turn mine into stories. I have one for the original 13 colonies and for spelling some words. Here’s what I have so far for the hind brain.
A long time ago Corey was driving up the highway. Along the way he stopped in a small town. While he was there he saved an elderly man having a heart attack, automatically earning him a medal. Further up the road he spotted a relaxing pond and decided to pull over and take a nap. It wasn’t long before he was startled by a loud sound. He looked up and saw a very inebriated man dancing on a roof wearing bells.
Corey and highway = spinal cord
Medal, automatic, and heart = medulla (thank you for that one)
Pond, sleep, and relaxation = pons (yours too)
Inebriated, dancing, and roof (coordination & balance) = cerebellum
These are awesome! Thank you! I often use two women’s names for Amygdala and Cerebellum, Amy is always angry and “Sarah” is athletic. Also for hippocampus I point out that if a hippo showed up on our school campus that would be pretty memorable. Thanks again!
Joel: whatever works is how I look at it and if “Amy is Angry” works for you then go with it. You’ve got alliteration going there (both Amy and Angry start with A) which is always helpful. I like your hippocampus idea too. Whatever is going to stick in your head.
Thanks!