Biological Psychology

Question 1

What are the three major regions of the brain?

Answer 1

forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain

Question 2

Forebrain

Answer 2

contains cortex and subcortical structures

Question 3

Midbrain

Answer 3

above brain stem

Question 4

Hindbrain

Answer 4

back of brain

Question 5

Cerebellum main function

Answer 5

involved in motor coordination/control and balance
*one of first parts of brain impacted by alcohol

Question 6

Medulla main function

Answer 6

regulating cardiovascular and respiratory systems, such as heart rate, circulation, respiration

Question 7

Reticular Formation main function

Answer 7

involved in regulating sleep, wakefulness, and arousal

Question 8

Pons main function

Answer 8

bridge to the cerebellum and relays information from cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Question 9

Midbrain function

Answer 9

orienting in response to stimuli
e.g. towards a loud noise or flashing lights

Question 10

What parts of the brain are part of the hindbrain (4)?

Answer 10

1. Cerebellum
2. Medulla
3. Reticular Formation
4. Pons

Question 11

Thalamus main function

Answer 11

filters and transmits information from the sense to the cortex
e.g auditory stimulants go here first and then are sent to the corresponding location

Question 12

Hypothalamus main function

Answer 12

regulates the 4 Fs - fighting, fleeing, feeding, fornicating

Question 13

Amygdala main function

Answer 13

plays a role in emotional processes

Question 14

Hippocampus main function

Answer 14

creating and integrating new memories
*located on both sides of the brain

Question 15

anterograde amnesia

Answer 15

difficulty creating new memories

Question 16

retrograde amnesia

Answer 16

difficulty recalling old memories

Question 17

Basal Ganglia main function

Answer 17

directs intentional movements, plays a role in reward processing

Question 18

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 18

large surface area folded so it can be placed in the limited area of the skull

Question 19

4 lobes of the cerebral cortex

Answer 19

1. Occipital Lobe
2. Temporal Lobe
3. Parietal Lobe
4. Frontal Lobe

Question 20

Occipital Lobe main function

Answer 20

visual information is first processed here

Question 21

Temporal Lobe main function

Answer 21

processes auditory information
*located on left and right side by the temples

Question 22

Parietal Lobe main function

Answer 22

processing of sensory information (tactile sensory information)
*located on the top of the brain towards the back

Question 23

Somatosensory Cortex

Answer 23

-registers and processes touch, pain, visual, and auditory sensations
-located in the parietal lobe

Question 24

What part of the brain develops last and when?

Answer 24

prefrontal cortex, not until 20-25 years old
*problem solving and risk avoidance

Question 25

What do different colors on the brain scan indicate?

Answer 25

reds/yellows = less mature
purple/blue = fully mature

Question 26

Motor cortex

Answer 26

-located in the frontal lobe
-voluntary motor control

Question 27

Contralateral organizations

Answer 27

oppositely mapped
*right side of the body is controlled by the left part of the somatosensory and motor cortexes and vice versa

Question 28

Broca’s Area main function

Answer 28

language production
*damage here can make speech production difficult, but the speakers can still understand (known as Broca’s Aphasia)
located on left hemisphere of the brain

Question 29

Wernicke’s Area main function

Answer 29

speech comprehension
*people with Wernicke’s Aphasia can produce sentences but have difficulty understanding speech
*located on left hemisphere of the brain

Question 30

Aphasia

Answer 30

loss of ability to use or understand speech or language

Question 31

At what age is there greater brain plasticity?

Answer 31

in younger people

Question 32

split brain

Answer 32

the corpus callosum, which connect both sides of the brain, is cut in surgery

Question 33

Corpus Callosum main function

Answer 33

sends information quickly between sides of the brain
*with a split brain, information can’t be sent