The Hindbrain

• The hindbrain, or rhombencephalon, connects the brain to the spinal cord and consists of the medulla, pons and cerebellum. It is responsible for balance and muscle control as well as autonomic functions such as heart rate and respiration.
  
  

The Midbrain

• As its name suggests, the midbrain, or mesencephalon, sits between the hindbrain and the forebrain. All information passed between the higher brain and the brain stem has to traverse the midbrain, which has structures involved in the receiving and interpreting of auditory and visual signals.
  
  

The Forebrain

• Also known as the prosencephalon, the forebrain consists of the cerebrum (telencephalon) and the thalamus and hypothalamus (diencephalon). The cerebrum is instrumental in conscious behavior, learning and sensory perception.
  
  The hypothalamus plays an essential role in endocrine functions and governs various responses such as fight, flight and sexual behavior. The thalamus conveys sensory information to higher brain centers in the cortex.
  
  

Cerebral Cortex

• The tissue that makes up the outer layer of the mouse brain is referred to as the cerebral cortex. The right and left sides of the cerebral cortex are connected by the corpus callosum, a thick band of nerve fibers. Bumps and grooves on the cortex are known as gyri and sulci and while they are plentiful in higher mammals, in mice there are very few.
  
  

Fun Fact

• The genes responsible for building mouse and human brains are 90 percent identical, which is why mouse brains are being used to study mental disorders of the human kind.