2.6: The Brain Flashcards
How Can the Brain Be Broken Down?
The Brainstem, Thalamus, & Cerebellum.
Brainstem
Responsible for controlling many of the body’s basic functions.
Composed of three main parts: The Midbrain, The Pons, & The Medulla Oblongata.
Midbrain
Responsible for managing some of the body’s reflexes, such as those involved in eye movement and the pupillary light reflex.
Also plays a role in the control of sleep, wakefulness, and alertness, critical functions of consciousness.
Pons
Part of the brainstem that controls movement.
Medulla Oblongata/Medulla
The lower part of the brainstem.
Responsible for regulating vital body functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.
Thalamus
Sits on top of the brainstem and receives and sorts all sensory input (except smell) to other parts of the brain.
It plays a crucial role in the processing and relay of sensory information to the appropriate areas of the brain.
Cerebellum
Processes sensory information, coordinates movement and balance, and enables implicit memories.
Limbic System
A group of brain structures that are involved in emotions, drives, and long-term memory.
Structures in the limbic system include the Amygdala, Hippocampus, & Hypothalamus.
Amygdala
Linked to emotion and emotional memories.
Hippocampus
A small, seahorse-shaped structure located in the limbic system.
Known for the role it plays in learning and memory, particularly the consolidation of long-term memories.
Also linked to processes for spatial navigation.
Hypothalamus
Deals with maintaining our body’s homeostasis and reward systems, including the “Four F’s”: Fighting, Fleeing, Feeding, and Mating.
Often referred to as the “control center” of the brain because it helps regulate a wide range of bodily functions, including body temperature, thirst, hunger, and fatigue.
With the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus is also responsible for controlling the body’s endocrine system, which produces the hormones that regulate mood and energy levels.
Cerebral Cortex
Our ultimate control and processing center.
The cerebral cortex is divided into four main lobes: The Frontal Lobe, The Parietal Lobe, The Temporal Lobe, & The Occipital Lobe.
Frontal Lobe
Deals with problem-solving, decision-making, planning, and judgment.
Parietal Lobe
Responsible for processing sensory information.
Receives input about touch, temperature, pain, and body position.
Temporal Lobe
Processes auditory information and is involved in memory formation.
Occipital Lobe
Where visual information is handled.
Association Areas
Control higher mental functions, such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
Corpus Callosum
A bundle of nerve fibers that bridge communication.
It allows the two hemispheres to exchange information and coordinate their activities.
Split Brain
For patients with severe epileptic seizures, the corpus callosum may be severed to reduce neural feedback.
In a split-brain patient, both hemispheres operate independently from one another.
Reticular Formation
Nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus.
Plays a part in controlling arousal and consciousness.
Basil Ganglia
Similar to the cerebellum—controls movement, balance, implicit memory, and a little bit of emotion.
Glial Cells
Support, nourish, and protect our neurons; help with learning and thinking.
Wernicke’s Area
Deals with understanding language.
Broca’s Area
Deals with the production of language and speaking.
Motor Cortex
Controls voluntary movements, such as raising your hand.
Somatosensory Cortex
Processes body touch and movement.
Visual Cortex
Processes visual information.
