What is the primary role of the brainstem?

The primary role of the brainstem is to manage basic survival functions, which include essential processes such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure regulation. These functions are critical for sustaining life, and the brainstem acts as a conduit for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body, ensuring that these involuntary processes operate smoothly without conscious effort.

While emotional responses are primarily processed in the limbic system and complex thought processes occur in the cerebral cortex, the brainstem focuses on fundamental functions necessary for survival. Additionally, visual processing is largely attributed to the occipital lobe and associated visual pathways rather than the brainstem. Therefore, the brainstem's focus on maintaining basic bodily functions highlights its essential role in the overall functioning of both the brain and body.