Biologicalš§ ā¢ Brain Structure & Function + Studies Flashcards
The right hemisphere controls the ________ side of our body and the left hemisphere controls the ________ side of our body
The right hemisphere controls the left side of our body and the left hemisphere controls the right side of our body
Label the 4 lobes of the brain and the 2 other additonal structures
What is the cerebral cortex and in what areas does it play an important role?
The outer layer of neural tissue that covers the brain; It plays an important role in ** memory, attention, preception, awareness, thought, language & conciousness**
What is the corpus callosum?
A wide, thick bundle of neural fibres that connect the two hemispheres of the brain allowing for the passing of information between them - this allows for optimum cognition levels
What do ventricles in the brain contain?
Cerebralspinal fluid
What is cerebralspinal fluid?
Flows around brain and spinal cord to provide nutrients
What does the thalamus do?
Passes sensory information to the cerebral cortex
What are the 4 main lobes of the brain called?
- Frontal lobe
- Parietal lobe
- Occipital lobe
- Temporal lobe
What is the frontal lobe?
The area behind the forehead, heavily involved involved in higher executive
functioning, motor skills, planning/organising, reasoning and problem solving.
What is the temporal lobe?
Nestled behind the ears on each hemisphere, holds bulk of our memories and delas with sound information coming from the opposite ear to the lobes location, therefore it deals with location/volume/pitch of sounds and consequently ultimately understanding/ using language and speech
What is the occipital lobe?
At the very back of your head are occipital lobes, they are responsible for sighte.g. his lobe is associated with interpreting visual stimuli, depth and distance.; all sight from right eyes is initially processed by the left visual cortex before being shared with the right and vice versa. Damage to this area can cause partial or complete blindness
What is the parietal lobe?
Located at the back of the brain above the ears, it involves interpreting sensory information, including touch, temperature, pain and pressure.
What is the cerebellum?
The area of the brain that controls muscle movement, balance and coordination
What is the amygdala?
Two almond-shaped structures located in the limbic system, deep within the temporal lobes, responsible for judging emotions and decision-making
What is the brain stem?
Includes the midbrain, medulla and pons; controls breathing, heart rate, conciousness & blood circulation (subconcious activities)
What is the hypothalamus?
Controls the pituitary gand in order to regulate temperature, blood pressure, appetite & sexual arousal; involved in some aspects of memory - involved in the limbic system
What is the pituitary gland?
Pea-sized structure behind the bridge of the nose, responsible for proudcing hormones such as puberty hormones, thyroid stimulating hormones and stress hormones
What is the hippocampus?
Involved in long-term memory, included in the limbic system
What areas of the brain make up the limbic system?
- hippocampus
- hypothalamus
- amygdala
What is the prefrontal cortex?
Cortex located in the frontal lobe, responsible for emotions and censoring impulses from the amygdala to keep emotions in check
What are lesions?
cuts/ damage to the brain
What can damage to the frontal lobe, more specifically the prefrontal cortex cause?
Damage to the prefrontal cortex can prevent the necessary ācensoringā of the amygdala, leading to uncontrolled, agressive behaviour in response to everyday actions that are normally handled with maturity/ normality
What is the medulla?
Specifically whilst being part of the brain stem, it manages unconscious activities such as heart circulation and breathing.
What is the midbrain?
The topmost part of the brainstem, the connection central between the brain and the spinal cord.
What is the angular gyrus?
Asociated with semantic processsing located in the parietal lobe
What is Wernickeās area?
- very important with development of language
- located left side of prain in temporal lobe
- damage can result in problems in language comprehension and even an inablility to develop language skill - condition known as Wernickeās aphasia
What is Brocaās Area?
- controls the ability to produce language
- located in the left side frontal lobe
- controls the motor aspects of language e.g. ability to move ones lips and tounge in order to utter words
- damage can result in limited ability to speak regardless of a persons language comprehension - condition known as Brocaās aphasia
What year is the case study of Phinneas Gage set in?
1848
Explain the case study of Phinneas Gage (1848)
- Was a railroad construction foreman in the US known for his excellence in the craft and efficiency
- One day he was preparing for an explosion when gunpowder ignited under an iron rod he was holding, this propelled the rod up through Gageās cranium and out the other side of his skull.
- The rod oblitterated his prefrontal cortex and therefore his ability to censor his amygdalas primal impulses ultimately leaving him unable to control his emotions, and much more aggressive
- After the event he was completly normal other than the fact he became rude and irreverent (showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously) and was described by his freinds as āno longer Gageā
- Ultimately he underwent a personality shift
- Case study acts for evidence behind the prefrontal cortexsā ability to censor amygdalas impulses and therefore control over levels of aggression - inferring that without prefrontal cortex we are mor aggressive
What year is the case study of Charles Whitman set in?
1966
Explain the case study of Charles Whitman (1966)
- Was a Texan marine
- Murdered his family and shot multiple strangers before killing himself
- Whitmanās suicide note statedl: āI donāt really understand myself these daysā āLately I have been a victim to many unusual and irrational thoughtsā
- Before shootings Whitman had visited 5 psychiatrists for help with his urges āI felt overwhelming violent impulsesā
- A psychiatrists noted once that he was āoozing with hostilityā
- Autopsy carried out after shootings, it was found that he had a brain tumour the size of a pecan nut pressing on his amygdala
- Case study acts for evidence behind the amygdalas role in aggresson and in regulating aggressive/ primal impulses - ultimately implying that interferrance or damage/ lesions to the amygdala can catalyse increased aggressive behaviour