paleencephalon

/ˌpeɪliɛnˈsɛfəlɑn/
noun
  1. The older, more primitive part of the brain, especially the brainstem and basal ganglia, involved in basic functions like movement and survival instincts.
    • Damage to the paleencephalon can affect coordination and basic motor skills.
    • The paleencephalon controls automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate.
    • In evolutionary terms, the paleencephalon developed before the more complex neocortex.
Antonyms