When it comes to man’s embryonic development, the brain stem is just about ground zero.

It’s more important than either the neo-cortex or the limbic system because it literally keeps us alive.

This least known and most primal area of the brain is the pathway between the highest parts of the brain, the spinal cord, and a myriad of peripheral nerves throughout the body.

So, just how crucial is it?

It controls our most life-sustaining functions, like breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, and digestion. This part of the brain is also important in regulating our central nervous system, sleep cycle, and even keeping us conscious.

In fact, if we had to consciously sense and control every little thing the brain stem does, we wouldn’t be able to do anything else for fear of killing ourselves by neglect or by mistake!