What is Midbrain?
{{Infobox brain | Name = Midbrain | Latin = mesencephalon | Image = Human brain inferior view description.JPG | Caption = Inferior view midbrain (2), above (3) | Image2 = Human brainstem-thalamus posterior view description.JPG | Caption2 = Human brainstem midbrain (B)<br />[[thalamus]] (A) [[pons]] (C)<br />[[medulla oblongata]] (D) | IsPartOf = | Components = | Artery = | Vein = }} [[Image:Cn3nucleus-en.svg|thumb|right|250px|Horizontal section through midbrain]] The '''mesencephalon''' or '''midbrain''' is a part of the [[brain stem]].<ref>Mosby’s Medical, nursing and allied health dictionary. 4th ed, Mosby-Year Book 1994. p981</ref> It is associated with [[vision]], [[hearing]], motor control, sleep/wake, arousal ([[wikt:alertness|alertness]]), and temperature regulation.<ref>Breedlove, Watson, & Rosenzweig 2010. ''Biological psychology''. 6th ed. 45-46</ref> In the [[anatomy]] of developing animals, the [[brain]] forms from the [[neural tube]], which turns into three [[vesicle]]s. The mesencephalon (midbrain) is the middle vesicle, and becomes part of the [[brain stem]]. The mesencephalon is ancient in origin, meaning its general [[architecture]] is shared with the most ancient of [[vertebrate]]s. [[Dopamine]] produced in the ''substantia nigra'' plays a role in [[wikt:motivation|motivation]] and [[habituation]] of species from humans to [[insect]]s. == References == {{Reflist}} {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Anatomy of the brain]]