Biological Influences Flashcards
What is the forebrain responsible for?
Perception Coordination of behaviour patterns - emotions - Motivations - learning - memory - language - thinking
What are he major parts of the forebrain ?
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
The limbic system
The cerebrum
Thalamus function
Receives input from all senses except olfaction (smell), processes some analysis then sends certain information to particular parts of the brain. Also Involved in controlling sleep and attention in coordination Th bother brain structures, including the RAS.
Hypothalamus function
Regulates autonomic nervous system - sweating, salivating, shedding a tear, changes in blood pressure. Also plays a role in homeostasis - mate he of the body’s internal environment at optimum levels.
What is homeostatis
Controls body temperatures, concentrates fluids, storage of nutrients and various aspects of motivation and emotion. When an organism is under stress, homeotstais is distributed to fix people I.e shiver when cold.
Limbic system
Relieves input olfactory sense (smell, therefor responcible for olfactory perception ) it is interconnected with the hypothalamus there for drives hunger, sex and aggression.
3 principle structures of the limbic system
Amygdala - memory and basic emotions, if damaged can become less fearful, over cautious, hyper sexual and more exploratory
Hippocampus - special role in memory. Damage to this can cause short term memory
Septum - damage to this can cause aggressive behaviour
Cerebrum function
Left side controls everything on right side where right side controls left hand side of body
Hind Brain function and the parts
The lower part of the brainstem compromising the cerebellum , pons and medulla
Medulla - controls such vital and autonomic functions such as respiration, circulation of blood, digestion of food. Also plays a role in sleep, sneezing and coughing
Cerebellum - vital function is to control body valence and posture. Controls biological, rhythm or perception of times
Pons - transmitted information about body movement and is involved in attention, sleep and alternates. Also carries out dreams.
Mid brain functioning
- plays a role in visual reflexes
- locating visual objects
- movement of the eye from one direction to another
- the mid brain contains an extension of the reticular activating system (RAS)
What is RAS?
The vital function of the RAS is shifting attention, sleep, arousal and activity. If damaged an animal won’t die but sleep forever (Coma). Also allows important information to go to higher sorts of n while screening out less important information.
Describe the frontal lobe ?
Location - front
Function - problem solving, spontaneity, memory, language, initiation, judgement, impulse control and social and sexual behaviour
Problems after injury - personality change I.e phineas gage
Describe partial lobe
Location - mid section
Function - 2 functions : sensory and perception, sensory input and visual system
Problems after injury - can’t feel sensation and unable to localise limbs
Describe temporal lobe
Location - side
Function - auditory perception ( hearing ) and holds primary au story cortex
Problem after injury - deaf and aggressive behaviour.
Describe occipital lobe
Location - base
Function - shapes and colour
Problems after injury - loss of perception of shapes, colours and size
