Brain Flashcards
Brainstem (aka Hindbrain)
keeps us alive. 3 components: medulla, pons, reticular formation
Medulla
part of brainstem; controls breathing/heart rate, help swallow/digest
Pons
part of brainstem; bridge b/t cerebellums
Reticular Formation
part of brainstem; neural network; arousal/alertness (*sleep cycle)
Cerebellum
(2) coordination and balance (first to be affected by alcohol)
Thalamus
takes in info and organizes/decides where in brain it should go
Limbic System
pleasure/emotion center.
3 parts: amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus
Amygdala
processes negative emotions
Hippocampus
processes everyday memories
Hypothalamus
homeostasis.
4 F’s: feeding, fighting, fleeing, fornicating
Cerebral Cortex
structurally symmetrical but not functionally symmetrical; LEFT hemisphere controls RIGHT side and vice versa.
*4 lobes (FPOT)
Frontal Lobe
executive functions (decisions, goals, etc.)
- Broca’s Area
- Motor Cortex
Parietal Lobe
somatosensory cortex; processes skin senses
Occipital Lobe
visual cortex
Temporal Lobe
auditory cortex
* Wernicke’s Area (language)
Association Areas
perception, personality
Corpus Callosum
connects 2 hemispheres of the cortex
fMRI
hemotopic response (measures changing oxygen levels in brain)
PET Scan
sensitive to glucose; drink low-level radioactive substance
CAT Scan
good for brain structural; makes 3D brain images
EEG
measures electricity in brain (*sleep studies)
Right Hemisphere
processes holistically; no language (split brain patients can draw it out but can’t communicate)
Left Hemisphere
processes sequentially; has language
Brain Plasticity
brain can rewire itself; some functions may move to undamaged parts; dendrites can grow around damage
