Reptilian Brain: Better known as the Brainstem
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The brainstem is the oldest part of the brain as it’s the first to develop. That's why we call it the “reptilian brain”. Well, this oldie is responsible for all the vital respiratory and cardiac functions. It also acts as the information vehicle to the spinal cord. Basically, if our brainstem is removed, we cease to exist in a snap. It’s wired for our survival. THAT'S CRAZY! Also, crazy important!
Take a look at the plant world. Flowers and leaves are connected to the tree through a stem. In a similar manner, the brainstem has a stalk-like component that extends from the cerebrum base (basically, the outer part of your brain) via the cerebellum (tiny oval-like thing at the base of the back of your brain) to the spinal cord. It is small, but extremely important as it connects the spinal cord to the rest of the brain.
A lot of science, I know. Just close your eyes for a second and visualize this…
Brainstem: stem-like structure that connects your thinking area with your motor area.
It’s that part of the brain that is impulsive. Makes us do things without even thinking about them. We just react. I call it the fight, flight, freeze or fawn brain.
Source: Wikipedia
Why? Because it was developed around our survival, so it acts without thinking. It’s made up of three important parts:
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata
Sounds like another language, right? Stay with me here!
Midbrain
It is the widest and most superior segment of the brain stem.
The midbrain starts developing when the baby is still in the embryonic stage. Whoa…..that means exposure to stress when a child is in utero impacts the development of the brain stem.
High stress levels of mom can = impulsive brain of child.
For Grey’s Anatomy fans who follow Dr. Grey’s brain scans, its key distinctiveness is the presence of the gray and white mass between the third and fourth brain chambers.
Fun Fact: The midbrain is also a key component in hearing, alertness, and sleep/wake cycles.
But hey, we’re not studying for a neurosurgery exam, so we’ll stop here.
Pons
I like to call it the relay station.
It’s responsible for passing sensory information between the front brain and cerebellum, hence the name pons (Latin for “bridge”).
It is the sensory hub, therefore, essential in hearing, taste, touch, pain, and facial sensations. The main responsibility of the pons is the balance and positioning of the head and body. It is so important for chewing and sucking as it receives stimuli from teeth and face. This is why incorporating chewing and sucking activities into kids sensory diets can grow the brain stem and reduce impulse control issues.
Fun fact: The pons hold the sleep center of the brain and guess what? That’s where your wild or subtle dreams are generated.
Things you never knew you never knew.
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Medulla Oblongata
Say that three times fast! (Go ahead. I’ll wait. 😉)
This is the lower half of the brainstem. It controls the involuntary functions of the body, like breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, etc. It connects the spinal cord to the higher levels of the brain. This is important!
Fun fact: The medulla is where the coughing, vomiting, sneezing, and swallowing reflex come from. #interesting
Okay, okay, enough brain stuff. Now…..let's talk behavior!
How is the brainstem involved in processing emotions and behavior?
Emotions are highly dependent on the networks that regulate alertness, involuntary body functions, motor and sensory controls. The nodes in the brainstem play a critical role in the four networks. Therefore, the brainstem plays a critical role in emotional regulation.
It’s the part of the brain that will make your kiddos more alert, conscious, and aware of their surroundings based on the sensory signals the body sends to the brainstem. The brainstem automatically responds to various biological needs without even thinking.
So..…if your kiddos think they're in danger (even if it's psychological danger or fear), their brainstem kicks into gear to "save" them. Hellooo unpleasant behaviors.
The interesting thing is that we can't fully control these behaviors, because they are sometimes involuntary acts. The good news is….. if you train the brainstem and limbic areas how to self-regulate, then there's a far better chance that your kids will be able to stay neutral longer or better control their emotions.
All this said, the big takeaway here is to practice and model strategies that strengthen this area of the brain. Embed things like touch, exercise, and breathing into your daily lives.
Need more ideas? Check out my suggestions for children's exercise or breathing. As always, if you ever have questions, please contact me. I’m here to help!
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