AOS 4 Flashcards
state the 3 components of the brain
midbrain, hindbrain, forebrain
parts and role of the hindbrain
supports bodily function and is the link between the spinal cord and brain. it’s important for movement and balance. contains the medulla, pons, cerebellum
define the medulla
a continuation of the spine. its controls breathing, heartbeat and digestion
define the pons
sits above the medulla and receives info sent from visual areas to control eye and body movements
define the cerebellum
receives information from the pons and coordinates the sequence of movement
parts and role of the midbrain
contains the reticular formation. role of the midbrain is to regulate sleep, motor movement and arousal
define reticular formation
a network of neurons that are important in the control of arousal and the sleep wake cycle
parts and role of the forebrain
contains the cerebrum, thalamus, hypothalamus. biggest of the 3 components
define cerebrum
covered by the cerebral cortex and divided into 2 hemispheres. biggest part of forebrain.
define hypothalamus
controls sleep, regulation of body temperature and expression of emotions
define thalamus
receives info from sensory organs. enables an organism to process sensory stimuli and determine which is important
define neuron
specialised cell that receives, processes and communicates information.
define neurotransmitters
released from axon terminal and cross the synaptic gap
examples of neurotransmitters
dopamine, serotonin, GABA
define sensory neurons
to the CNS from sensory organs
define motor neurons
from CNS to glands and muscles
define interneurons
connect sensory and motor neurons
define dendrites
receives info from other neurons/sensory receptors via synapse and deliver this info to cell body or soma
define soma
the cell body. controls metabolism and maintenance of cell
define axon
a nerve fibre that carries info away from soma towards other neurons
define glial cells
hold neurons together, removes dead neurons, supplies nourishment and oxygen to neurons
define myelin
fatty substance that insulates the axon from surrounding fluid and other neurons. produced In Brain and spinal cord
define afferent neurons
towards the brain
define efferent neurons
away from brain
define terminal buttons
at the end of an axon that releases neurotransmitters
define synapse
junction between 2 neurons
define neural pathway
a pathway nerve impulses take along a neuron
define hemispheric specialisation
the two brain hemispheres working together to perform most functions, although some functions are more dominant in one hemisphere
define frontal lobe
contains primary motor cortex (voluntary movement), and brocas area (speech and grammar) and is responsible for abstract thought, planning and social skills
define temporal lobe
contains wernickes area (language comprehension), and the primary auditory cortex (detecting auditory stimuli) and is responsible for hearing
define occipital lobe
contains primary visual cortex (detecting visual stimuli) and is responsible for vision and processing visual stimuli
define parietal lobe
contains primary somatosensory cortex (receives tactile info) and is responsible for integrating all sensory info
define central nervous system
contains brain and spinal cord. enables the brain to communicate with the rest of the body by conveying messages from the brain to PNS and vice versa
define peripheral nervous system
contains somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system. PNS is responsible for communicating info from organs, glands and muscles to the outside world and vice versa
define somatic nervous system
voluntary movement of skeletal muscles
autonomic nervous system
communication of info between CNS and non skeletal muscles. contains sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
define sympathetic nervous system
readies the body in times of emergency (fight, flight, freeze)
define parasympathetic nervous system
maintains automatic day to day bodily functions
define plasticity
the way in which there human brain changes in response to stimulation from the environment
state and define the 2 types of plasticity
developmental(infancy) and adaptive(throughout life)
state the 5 stages of neural development
proliferation, migration, circuit formation, synaptic pruning, myelination
define proliferation
unborn cells divide and multiply
define migration
newly formed neurons move towards their destined locations
define circuit formation
when axons of new neurons grow out to target cells and form synapses with them
define synaptic pruning
elimination of excess neurons and synapses
define myelination
axons become insulated by the myelin
define synaptogenesis
process of forming new synapses
define sensitive period
certain stages in development suited to learning particular things
brain development
cerebellum (increase in neurons and synapses), amygdala becomes more active, corpus callosum becomes thicket along with an increase of nerve fibres
