Damage to the midbrain can result in a wide variety of movement disorders, difficulty with vision and hearing, and trouble with memory. Because the midbrain houses the hypothalamus, it also plays a major role in automatic body functions.

What part of the brain controls automatic functions?

The brain stem sits beneath your cerebrum in front of your cerebellum. It connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls automatic functions such as breathing, digestion, heart rate and blood pressure.

What function does midbrain control?

midbrain, also called mesencephalon, region of the developing vertebrate brain that is composed of the tectum and tegmentum. The midbrain serves important functions in motor movement, particularly movements of the eye, and in auditory and visual processing.