The brain is like a computer that controls the body's functions, and the nervous system is like a network that relays messages to parts of the body. Click ...[SkiptoContent]FindcareatNemoursChildren'sHealthDoctorsLocationsKidsHealth/Kids/YourBrain&NervousSystemYourBrain&NervousSystemReviewedby:LarissaHirsch,MDListenPlayStop Volume mp3SettingsClosePlayerLargertextsizeLargetextsizeRegulartextsizePrintenespañolTucerebroytusistemanerviosoHowdoyourememberthewaytoyourfriend'shouse?Whydoyoureyesblinkwithoutyoueverthinkingaboutit?Wheredodreamscomefrom?Yourbrainisinchargeofthesethingsandalotmore.Infact,yourbrainisthebossofyourbody.Itrunstheshowandcontrolsjustabouteverythingyoudo,evenwhenyou'reasleep.Notbadforsomethingthatlookslikeabiggraywrinklysponge.Yourbrainhasmanydifferentpartsthatworktogether.We'regoingtotalkaboutthesefiveparts,whicharekeyplayersonthebrainteam:cerebrum(say:suh-REE-brum)cerebellum(say:sair-uh-BELL-um)brainstempituitary(say:puh-TOO-uh-ter-ee)glandhypothalamus(say:hy-po-THAL-uh-mus)TheBiggestPart:theCerebrumThebiggestpartofthebrainisthecerebrum.Thecerebrumisthethinkingpartofthebrainanditcontrolsyourvoluntarymuscles—theonesthatmovewhenyouwantthemto.Soyouneedyourcerebrumtodanceorkickasoccerball.Youneedyourcerebrumtosolvemathproblems,figureoutavideogame,anddrawapicture.Yourmemorylivesinthecerebrum—bothshort-termmemory(whatyouatefordinnerlastnight)andlong-termmemory(thenameofthatroller-coasteryourodeontwosummersago).Thecerebrumalsohelpsyoureason,likewhenyoufigureoutthatyou'dbetterdoyourhomeworknowbecauseyourmomistakingyoutoamovielater.Thecerebrumhastwohalves,withoneoneithersideofthehead.Scientiststhinkthattherighthalfhelpsyouthinkaboutabstractthingslikemusic,colors,andshapes.Thelefthalfissaidtobemoreanalytical,helpingyouwithmath,logic,andspeech.Scientistsdoknowforsurethattherighthalfofthecerebrumcontrolstheleftsideofyourbody,andthelefthalfcontrolstherightside.TheCerebellum'sBalancingActNextupisthecerebellum.Thecerebellumisatthebackofthebrain,belowthecerebrum.I