Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for regulating autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate?

The brainstem is the part of the brain primarily responsible for regulating autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate. It consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. Within the medulla oblongata, vital centers control processes like respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure, ensuring that these essential functions operate automatically without conscious effort.

The cerebellum is mainly involved in coordinating voluntary movements and balance, while the cerebrum is associated with higher brain functions, including sensory perception, cognition, and voluntary motor actions. The limbic system, on the other hand, is primarily associated with emotions, memories, and arousal. Each of these other regions plays significant roles in brain function, but they do not directly regulate the automatic or involuntary processes critical for survival, which the brainstem does.