Brain Flashcards
Hindbrain
Includes the medulla, pons, and cerebellum
Medulla
Located at the top of the spinal column. Controls life sustaining functions such as heartbeat, swallowing, and breathing. Sensory nerves crossover at this point.
Pons
Located just above medulla and is a bridge between the upper and lower parts of the brain. Motor nerves cross over here which allows the pons to coordinate left and right side movement.
The Reticular Formation (RF)
A network of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and slightly beyond. Allows you to ignore unchanging constant things and to notice when it stops.
Reticular Activating System (RAS)
Stimulates upper part of the body keeping people awake and alert.
Cerebellum
Located at the base of the skull and behind the pons. Controls all involuntary, rapid, fine motor movements such as sitting upright.
Limbic System
Structures in the inner margin of the brain. It consists of the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and the cingulate cortex.
Thalamus
Located in the center of the brain, acts as relay station for incoming sensory information. Processes some of the information before sending it to whichever part of the brain controls that information.
Hypothalamus
Located just below and in front of the thalamus. It regulates body temperature, thirst, hunger, sleeping/waking, sexual activity, and emotions. Ultimate regulation of the hormones is located here.
Hippocampus
Located within the medial temporal lobe. It is instrumental in forming long term memories.
Amygdala
Located near the hippocampus. Involved in fear responses and memories of fear.
Cingulate Cortex
Located in the cortex right above the corpus callosum in the frontal and parietal lobe. Plays an important role in both emotional and cognitive processing.
Cortex
Outermost part of the brain.
Cerebral Hemispheres
Divided into two sections
Corpus Callosum
thick, tough band of neural fibers that connects the two hemispheres. It allow the left/right side to communicate with each other.
Occipital Lobe
Located at the base of the cortex toward the back of the brain. It has two parts.
- Primary Visual Cortex: processes visual information from the eyes
- Visual Association Cortex: Helps identify and make sense of visual information from the eyes.
Parietal Lobe
Somatosensory Cortex
Located at the top and back of the brain just under the parietal bone.
An area of neurons at the front of the parietal lobes on either side of the brain. it processes information from the skin and internal body receptors.
Temporal Lobe
Located just behind the temples of the head. It contains the primary auditory cortex and the auditory association area. It is also the area most people involve with language.
Frontal Lobe
Located at the front of the brain. All higher mental functions such as planning. personality, memory storage, complex decision making, and areas devoted to language.
Prefrontal:most foreward part
Middle: toward center
Orbitofrontal prefrontal cortex: bottom right above eye
Motor Cortex
Located in frontal lobe and is a band of neurons located at the back of each lobe. Controls movement of voluntary muscles.
Mirror Neurons
Fire when an animal preforms an action and when an animal sees that action performed.
Association Areas
Are made up of neurons in the cortex that are devoted to making connections between the sensory information coming up into the brain and stored memories, images, and knowledge.
Broca’s Area
Located in the left frontal lobe and in most cases is the area of the brain devoted to the production of speech.
Broca’s Aphasia
When a person is unable to get words out in a smooth, connected fashion.
Wernicke’s Aphasia
When a person is able to speak fluently and pronounce words correctly, but the words are entirely wrong.
Spatial Neglect
A person with damage to the right parietal and occipital lobes if the cortex will ignore everything in the left visual field.
