3B- The Brain Flashcards
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Tissue destruction
Lesion
A series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body
CT (computed tomography) (CAT Scan)
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task (structures and activities are seen)
Positron emission tomography (PET)
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue (shows brain anatomy)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A technique for revealing blood flow, and therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans (shows brain function)
fMRI (functional MRI)
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatics survival functions
Brainstem
The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Medulla
A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
Reticular formation
The brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla (all senses except smell)
Thalamus
“Little brain”; at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance; helps judge time, modulate emotions, and discriminate sounds and textures; coordinates voluntary movement
Cerebellum
Doughnut-shaped neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives (endocrine system); contains the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus
Limbic system
Two Lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion (fear, anger, and aggression)
Amygdala
Processes memories; part of the limbic system
Hippocampus
A neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintenience activities (eating, drinking, and body temp); helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary glands; linked to emotion and reward; reward center; additive disorders- reward deficiency syndrome: a genetically disposed deficiency in the natural brain systems
Hypothalamus
Above the medulla on the brainstem; helps coordinate movement
Pons
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemisphere; the body’s ultimate control and information processing center
Cerebral cortex
Part of the cerebral cortex; cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
Glial cells (glia)
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
Frontal lobe
Lies at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
Parietal lobes
Lies at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
Occipital lobes
Lies roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
Temporal lobes
An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement
Motor cortex
Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations; the more sensitive the body region, the larger the sensory cortex area devoted to it
Sensory cortex
Not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; involved on higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking; frontal lobe damage- have intact memories, but can’t plan ahead, and also alters personality (Phineas Gage ( railroad worker))
Association areas
Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage
Aphasia
The brain operates by dividing its mental functions into sub functions
Processing language
Damage to _______ leaves a person able to speak and understand, but unable to read aloud
Angular gyrus
Controls language expression, usually in the left frontal lobe; directs the muscle movements involved in speech; damage here disrupts speaking
Broca’s area
Controls language reception; usually in the left temporal lobe; involved in language comprehension and expression; damage here disrupts understanding
Wernicke’s area
The brain’ ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based in experience
Plasticity
Aims to reduce brains by restraining a fully functioning limb and forcing use of the “bad limb”
Constraint-induced therapy
Formation of new neurons
Neurogenesis
Dominant or major hemisphere
Left hemisphere
Subordinate or minor hemisphere
Right hemisphere
Speculated that separating the corpus callosum would reduce epileptic seizures
Vogel and Bogen
The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Corpus callosum
A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them
Split brains
Researched with cats and monkeys by splitting their brains
Myers and Gazzigna and Spears
Perpetual tasks, sense of self, and special thinking are specialized in the _______
Right hemisphere
Language is specialized in the ________
Left hemisphere
Our awareness of ourselves and our environment; helps act out long-term interests
Consciousness
Interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (all mental processes)
Cognitive neuroscience
Principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks; priming, conscious left brain, and intuitive right brain
Dual processing
Enables us “to create mental furniture that allows us to think about the world”- to recognize things and to plan future actions
Visual perception track
Guides our moment-to-moment actions
Visual action track
