2.05

Question 1

Medulla

Answer 1

The first large swelling at the top of the spinal cord, forming the lowest part of the brain, which is responsible for life-sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate.

Make a fist. Thumb towards you. Middle finger untucked and slightly raised.

Question 2

Pons

Answer 2

The larger swelling above the medulla that connects the top of the brain to the bottom and that plays a part in sleep, dreaming, left-right body coordination, and arousal.

Index finger above the hand. Mom pointing finger at you – better go to bed, better get up.

Question 3

Reticular formation or reticular activating system

Answer 3

An area of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and the pons and slightly beyond that is responsible for general attention, alertness, and arousal.

Lines in the hand – keep your brain awake

Question 4

Cerebellum

Answer 4

Part of the lower brain located behind the pons that controls and coordinates involuntary, rapid, fine motor movement, and may have some cognitive functions.

Thumb. Drivers seat, controls the movement.

Question 5

Limbic system

Answer 5

A group of several brain structures located primarily under the cortex and involved in learning, emotion, memory, and motivation.

Pinkie and Ring finger (thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala).

Question 6

Thalamus

Answer 6

Part of the limbic system located in the center of the brain, this structure relays sensory information from the lower part of the brain to the proper areas of the cortex and processes some sensory information before sending it to its proper area.

Knuckle of ring finger. sensory

Question 7

Hypothalamus

Answer 7

Part of the limbic system, small structure in the brain located below the thalamus and directly above the pituitary gland, responsible for motivational behavior such as sleep, hunger, thirst, and sex.

Pinkie finger. Motivation – things we like best – sleep, eat, drink, sex

Question 8

Hippocampus

Answer 8

Part of the limbic system, curved structure located within each temporal lobe, responsible for the formation of long-term declarative memories.

LONG section & Middle section of ring finger – sea horse. LONG term memory

Question 9

Amygdala

Answer 9

Part of the limbic system, located near the hippocampus, responsible for fear responses and memory fear.

Tip of ring finger. Almond shaped. Fear – run away run away. Wiggle and “run away”.

Question 10

Basal Ganglia

Answer 10

Subcortical structures responsible for planning and initiating movement.

Near thalamus.

Question 11

Brainstem

Answer 11

The oldest evolutionary part of the human brain; located at the bottom of the brain and connected to the spinal cord; responsible for basic survival functions like breathing, vomiting, and swallowing, as well as reflexes, such as gagging.

Wrist – connects bottom of brain to the brain stem – survival and reflexes