Brain Flashcards
Structure and function of the brain (basic)
Structures of the Hind Brain
Medulla Oblongata, Pons, Cerebellum, part of the Reticular Formation
Medulla Oblongata
Links spinal cord to the brain and controls vital physiological functions such as heartbeat and breathing
Pons
Part of brainstem that connects Medulla and Cerebellum. Involved in movement, respiration, waking, sleep and dreaming.
Function of Cerebellum
Involved in movement, coordination, balance and posture
Reticular Formation
Diffuse network of neurons that functions to maintain consciousness, control arousal and helps screen incoming sensory information
Midbrain
Serves many functions and is involved in movement, visual and auditory process, sleep and arousal. Consists of Tectum and Tegmentum
What is the Tectum?
Structure of midbrain involved in vision and hearing
What is the Tegmentum?
Structure of the midbrain. Functions related to movement and arousal.
Localisation of Function
Different functions are localised to different parts of the brain
Structures and main function of forebrain
Involved in complex sensory, emotional, behavioural and cognitive processes.
Consists of Cerebrum, Hypothalamus, Thalamus, Basal Ganglia and Limbic System (Amygdala, Hippocampus, Septal Area)
Main function of the Hypothalamus
Regulates emotions, behaviours and drives such as hunger, thirst, sex and aggression. Maintains homeostasis
Main function of the Thalamus
Processes sensory information as it arrives and sends information to appropriate regions of the brain.
The Limbic System
Structures of the forebrain involved in emotion, memory, sex, appetite, motivation, learning, navigation and many other functions.
Main function of the Amygdala
Important in experiencing emotion, especially fear and aggression. It also prepares the body for the 3 “F’s” and activates sympathetic nervous system.
Main Function of the Hippocampus
Has an important role in memory (consolidation), navigation, sexuality and emotion.
What is the Basal Ganglia?
Set of subcortical structures (including caudate nucleus, putamen and substantia nigra)
Many functions including movement and making judgements that require minimal concious thought
Brief description of the Cerebral Cortex
Many layered surface of the cerebrum. Associated with higher mental processes and consists of mostly grey matter (cell bodies and dendrites).
What are the 3 main parts of the brain?
The Cerebrum (83% of brain volume), Cerebellum (50% of neurons) and Medulla
What is cortical equiopotentiality?
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
What is Mass Action?
Lashley’s theory that learning and memory is distributed throughout the brain and is not localised to specific regions
What is Broca’s Aphasia?
Speech impairment due to damage to Broca’s Area of the brain.
Non-fluent
What is Wernicke’s Aphasia?
Problems with comprehension (recognizing words and producing incoherent speech) resulting from damage to Wernicke’s Area of the brain.
Fluent
Cerebral Laterality
Each hemisphere of the brain has specific functions
Categorical Hemisphere (Left)
Specialized for language, speech, names, reasoning and problem solving - controls right side of body
Representational Hemisphere (Right)
Perception of spatial relationships, patterns, music, face recognition and artistic skill
What is an Event-related potential (ERP)?
Scalp recorded voltage fluctuations - helps capture neural activity related to both sensory and cognitive processes
(measured brain response)
Corpus Collosum
Bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain and transferring information between them
What is an Electroencephalogram (EEG)?
Test that uses electrodes on the scalp to detect electrical activity in the brain
What is the difference between MRI and fMRI?
MRI studies brain anatomy and Functional MRI studies brain function by measuring the change in blood flow in actviated areas of the brain
What are Primary Areas?
Primary areas process raw sensory information
What are Association Areas?
They are involved in complex mental processes such as forming perceptions, ideas and plans
Frontal Lobes
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.
Occipital Lobes
Specialised for vision and contain primary visual cortex
Temporal Lobes
They are important in hearing and language but have many other functions. Left lobe contains Wernicke’s area.
Parietal Lobes
Involved in sense of touch, percetion of movement and locating objects in space. Contains primary sensory cortex.
Somatosensory Cortex
Located in parietal lobe in postcentral gyrus - responsible for receiving and processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain
Motor Cortex
Located in precentral gyrus of frontal lobe - involved in the planning, control and execution of voluntary movements
Implicit Memory
Acquired and used unconsciously
Explicit (declarative) Memory
Conscious and intentional recollection of information, experiences and concepts such as facts, data and events
Explicit (declarative) Memory
Conscious and intentional recollection of information, experiences and concepts such as facts, data and events
Memory Consolidation
Converting short term memories into long term memories. The hippocampus is integral in this process.
Anterograde Amnesia
Unable to create new memories after event that caused the amnesia
Retrograde Amnesia
Loss of memory-access to events that occurred or information that was learned in the past
Neuroplasticity
Brains ability to form new neural connections (neurogenesis)
Prosopagnosia
Inabilitly to recogize familiar faces
Caused by injury to right cerebral cortex
Phonoagnosia
Inability to recognize familiar voices
Anomia
Inability to recall proper names
Homunculus
Map of the somatosensory cortex - developed by Wilder Penfield
Associative Agnosia
Failure in object recognition - damage to left hemisphere
Category Specific Agnosia
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
Aphagia
Lack of hunger - cause by damage to lateral hypothalamus (LH)
Hyperphagia
Overeating and obesity - caused by damage to ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)
