1 - brain basics

Question 1

anterior/rostral

Answer 1

towards the nose

Question 2

posterior/caudal

Answer 2

towards the tail

Question 3

dorsal

Answer 3

towards the back or top of the head

Question 4

ventral

Answer 4

towards the chest of bottom of the head

Question 5

medial

Answer 5

towards the middle

Question 6

lateral

Answer 6

away from middle (towards the sides)

Question 7

inferior

Answer 7

lower or below

Question 8

superior

Answer 8

upper or above

Question 9

planes (slices)

Answer 9

coronal =frontal
sagittal = lateral
horizontal = axial

Question 10

5 divisions

Answer 10

telencephalon
diencephalon
mesencephalon
mesencephalon
myelencephalon

Question 11

Telencephalon

Answer 11

cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system

Question 12

basal ganglia

Answer 12

regulating and initiating movement;
striatum (putamen regulates movements at different stages, caudate –> reward system)
globus pallidus (regulation of voluntary movement)

Question 13

limbic system

Answer 13

cingulate cortex: information processing, memory and learning, important connection of emotion to behavior

hippocampus: memory
fornix: bundle of nerve fibres, memory
amygdala: emotion! decision making and emotional responses

Question 14

diencephalon

Answer 14

thalamus: receives and evaluates sensory information, major relay station
hypothalamus: feeding, fleeing, fighting, fucking
pituitary gland: hormones
optic chiasm: connects eyes and brain

Question 15

mesencephalon

Answer 15

tectum: dorsal side; superior colliculi: eye movements/ basic visual stuff
inferior colliculi: basic auditory functions

tegmentum: ventral; reticular formation: stretches out through brain system; somatic motor control, cardiovascular control, pain modulation, sleep and consciousness, habituation

substantia nigra: motion planning, reward, addiction
red nucleus: motor control

Question 16

metencephalon

Answer 16

pons: message station between several areas, role in sleeping and other basic functions
cerebellum: weighs 10% of brain but contains 50% of neurons, important for coordination of movement like balance, posture and speech

Question 17

four lobes

Answer 17

frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital

Question 18

frontal lobe

Answer 18

higher cognitive functions; reasoning planning, thinking, seeing consequences, good or bad behaviour, etc

Question 19

temporal lobe

Answer 19

auditory roles, hearing, speech, also visual centers

Question 20

parietal

Answer 20

linking sensory information to action, movement, orientation

Question 21

occipital

Answer 21

vision