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Psychology: Brain, Behaviour and Cognition > Brain > Flashcards

Brain Flashcards

Structure and function of the brain (basic)

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1
Q

Structures of the Hind Brain

A

Medulla Oblongata, Pons, Cerebellum, part of the Reticular Formation

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2
Q

Medulla Oblongata

A

Links spinal cord to the brain and controls vital physiological functions such as heartbeat and breathing

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3
Q

Pons

A

Part of brainstem that connects Medulla and Cerebellum. Involved in movement, respiration, waking, sleep and dreaming.

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4
Q

Function of Cerebellum

A

Involved in movement, coordination, balance and posture

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5
Q

Reticular Formation

A

Diffuse network of neurons that functions to maintain consciousness, control arousal and helps screen incoming sensory information

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6
Q

Midbrain

A

Serves many functions and is involved in movement, visual and auditory process, sleep and arousal. Consists of Tectum and Tegmentum

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7
Q

What is the Tectum?

A

Structure of midbrain involved in vision and hearing

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8
Q

What is the Tegmentum?

A

Structure of the midbrain. Functions related to movement and arousal.

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9
Q

Localisation of Function

A

Different functions are localised to different parts of the brain

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10
Q

Structures and main function of forebrain

A

Involved in complex sensory, emotional, behavioural and cognitive processes.
Consists of Cerebrum, Hypothalamus, Thalamus, Basal Ganglia and Limbic System (Amygdala, Hippocampus, Septal Area)

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11
Q

Main function of the Hypothalamus

A

Regulates emotions, behaviours and drives such as hunger, thirst, sex and aggression. Maintains homeostasis

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12
Q

Main function of the Thalamus

A

Processes sensory information as it arrives and sends information to appropriate regions of the brain.

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13
Q

The Limbic System

A

Structures of the forebrain involved in emotion, memory, sex, appetite, motivation, learning, navigation and many other functions.

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14
Q

Main function of the Amygdala

A

Important in experiencing emotion, especially fear and aggression. It also prepares the body for the 3 “F’s” and activates sympathetic nervous system.

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15
Q

Main Function of the Hippocampus

A

Has an important role in memory (consolidation), navigation, sexuality and emotion.

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16
Q

What is the Basal Ganglia?

A

Set of subcortical structures (including caudate nucleus, putamen and substantia nigra)

Many functions including movement and making judgements that require minimal concious thought

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17
Q

Brief description of the Cerebral Cortex

A

Many layered surface of the cerebrum. Associated with higher mental processes and consists of mostly grey matter (cell bodies and dendrites).

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18
Q

What are the 3 main parts of the brain?

A

The Cerebrum (83% of brain volume), Cerebellum (50% of neurons) and Medulla

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19
Q

What is cortical equiopotentiality?

A

Lashley’s theory - the cortex is relatively unspecialised

if the brain is damaged, other parts of the brain may be able to compenstate and perform functions of the damaged region

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20
Q

What is Mass Action?

A

Lashley’s theory that learning and memory is distributed throughout the brain and is not localised to specific regions

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21
Q

What is Broca’s Aphasia?

A

Speech impairment due to damage to Broca’s Area of the brain.
Non-fluent

22
Q

What is Wernicke’s Aphasia?

A

Problems with comprehension (recognizing words and producing incoherent speech) resulting from damage to Wernicke’s Area of the brain.
Fluent

23
Q

Cerebral Laterality

A

Each hemisphere of the brain has specific functions

24
Q

Categorical Hemisphere (Left)

A

Specialized for language, speech, names, reasoning and problem solving - controls right side of body

25
Q

Representational Hemisphere (Right)

A

Perception of spatial relationships, patterns, music, face recognition and artistic skill

26
Q

What is an Event-related potential (ERP)?

A

Scalp recorded voltage fluctuations - helps capture neural activity related to both sensory and cognitive processes
(measured brain response)

27
Q

Corpus Collosum

A

Bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain and transferring information between them

28
Q

What is an Electroencephalogram (EEG)?

A

Test that uses electrodes on the scalp to detect electrical activity in the brain

29
Q

What is the difference between MRI and fMRI?

A

MRI studies brain anatomy and Functional MRI studies brain function by measuring the change in blood flow in actviated areas of the brain

30
Q

What are Primary Areas?

A

Primary areas process raw sensory information

31
Q

What are Association Areas?

A

They are involved in complex mental processes such as forming perceptions, ideas and plans

32
Q

Frontal Lobes

A

Involved in many functions including movement, attention, planning, social skills, abstract thinking and memory. Contains the primary motor cortex. Left lobe contain’s Broca’s area.

33
Q

Occipital Lobes

A

Specialised for vision and contain primary visual cortex

34
Q

Temporal Lobes

A

They are important in hearing and language but have many other functions. Left lobe contains Wernicke’s area.

35
Q

Parietal Lobes

A

Involved in sense of touch, percetion of movement and locating objects in space. Contains primary sensory cortex.

36
Q

Somatosensory Cortex

A

Located in parietal lobe in postcentral gyrus - responsible for receiving and processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain

37
Q

Motor Cortex

A

Located in precentral gyrus of frontal lobe - involved in the planning, control and execution of voluntary movements

38
Q

Implicit Memory

A

Acquired and used unconsciously

39
Q

Explicit (declarative) Memory

A

Conscious and intentional recollection of information, experiences and concepts such as facts, data and events

39
Q

Explicit (declarative) Memory

A

Conscious and intentional recollection of information, experiences and concepts such as facts, data and events

40
Q

Memory Consolidation

A

Converting short term memories into long term memories. The hippocampus is integral in this process.

41
Q

Anterograde Amnesia

A

Unable to create new memories after event that caused the amnesia

42
Q

Retrograde Amnesia

A

Loss of memory-access to events that occurred or information that was learned in the past

43
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

Brains ability to form new neural connections (neurogenesis)

44
Q

Prosopagnosia

A

Inabilitly to recogize familiar faces

Caused by injury to right cerebral cortex

45
Q

Phonoagnosia

A

Inability to recognize familiar voices

46
Q

Anomia

A

Inability to recall proper names

47
Q

Homunculus

A

Map of the somatosensory cortex - developed by Wilder Penfield

48
Q

Associative Agnosia

A

Failure in object recognition - damage to left hemisphere

49
Q

Category Specific Agnosia

A

Injury resulting in inability to recognise or name specific categories such as animals, fruits and vegetables or man made things such as utensils and tools

50
Q

Aphagia

A

Lack of hunger - cause by damage to lateral hypothalamus (LH)

51
Q

Hyperphagia

A

Overeating and obesity - caused by damage to ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)

Psychology: Brain, Behaviour and Cognition (7 decks)

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