[B3] The Brain Flashcards
What is the brain made up of?
The bain consists of billions of interconnected neurons.
What is the brain’s function?
To control and coordinate everything you do.
Where is the cerebrum located?
At the front outer area of the brain.
What does the cerebrum control?
It controls consciousness, intelligence, memory, and language.
Where is the hypothalamus located?
Under the surface of the brain.
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
Maintains body temperature and produces hormones that control the pituitary gland.
What is the role of the pituitary gland?
Produces many hormones that regulate the body.
Where is the medulla?
The base of the brain.
What does the medulla do?
Controls unconscious activities in the body.
e.g breathing and heart rate.
Where is the cerebellum located?
The back of the brain.
What is the cerebellum responsible for?
Muscle coordination/voluntary movement.
How are case studies used by scientists to study the brain?
They carry out detailed studies of individuals who have abnormal brain function.
How can the effect on brain damage be used to study the brain?
They can be used to link parts of the brain to it’s function.
How can machines be used to study the brain?
Scientists use fMRI scanners that show which parts of the brain are activated when performing certain tasks inside the machine.
[Understanding] Functional magnetic resonance imaging measures the oxygen consumption in the brain and the time it takes for emitted electromagnetic waves to return back to the source. Active areas of the brain consume more oxygen and so the level of oxygenated blood correlates to the activity.
What is a challenge of scientists using the brains of people who have died to study the brain?
It relies on people donating their brains for research.
What challenge is presented when studying a patient that is severely brain damaged?
It is unethical as they may be unable to give informed consent; they may not understand the process or benefits and risks.
What challenge is there when using case studies?
Interpretation of results may be difficult. For example, fMRI scanners can only identify brain activity within the scanner, and so the brain activity may differ from when not present in the scanner.
What are the issues of treating problems in the brain?
- It is hard to repair damage to the nervous system; neurons in the CNS do not repair themselves, and scientists have not developed a way to repair neurons in the CNS.
- If a problem occurs in a part of the nervous system that is difficult to access it can be hard to treat.
- Treatment for problems in the nervous system may lead to permanent damage to surrounding tissues.
