Sleep is produced actively by a brainstem mechanism, and its circadian rhythmicity is controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The EEG helps in the recognition of the various forms of epilepsy. Seizures are associated with depolarization shifts in pyramidal cells. The left cerebral hemisphere is dominant for language in most individuals. Wernicke's area is responsible for the understanding of language and Broca's area for its expression.
Information is transferred between the two hemispheres through the corpus callosum.
This structure coordinates the two sides of the brain. The right hemisphere is more capable than the left in spatial tasks, facial expression, body language, and speech intonation. The hippocampal formation is important for recent memory. Changes in neural pathways may occur during development of the nervous system because of damage. These may become permanent after a critical period and result in neurological deficits in adults.