Controls vital functions like blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, digestion. First part of brain to evolve. Part of brainstem - helps with body's autonomic functions and reflexes. Respiration, heart rate, swallowing, digestion. Relay station for nerve signals to and from the brain. Part of brainstem - Relays sensory information, helps control autonomic functions and has a role in levels of arousal or consciousness and sleep.
n. 1. (Philosophy) the traditional philosophical problem concerning the nature of mind, body, and the relationship between them. See dualism 2, interactionism, parallelism 3, monism 1, idealism 3, materialism 2, identity theory, behaviourism 2.
According to Descartes, these realms are forever separate such that the mind and body cannot influence one another. The mind works according to the rules of the spiritual realm and the body operates according to the mechanical world of physics. The problem is that the mind and body obviously do work together. I have a thought and if itâs a good day, my body puts that thought into action. Descartes' solution was the equivalent of putting duct tape on a leaky faucet. He suggested that the pineal gland in the brain stem was a single point of communication between the mind and body.