Brain Area and Neurotransmitter Functions

Question 1

Amygdala

Answer 1

Limbic system; Linked to emotions

(Amy, the girl with the almond-shaped
eyes, cries when she watches sad movies)

Question 2

Glutamate

Answer 2

Major excitatory neurotransmitter that increases brain activity; learning & memory

Alzheimer’s disease; Migraines or Seizures

Question 3

Norepinephrine

Answer 3

Helps control wakefulness, alertness & arousal(energy); fight or flight stress response system

Bipolar disorder

Question 4

Occipital Lobe

Answer 4

Lies at the back of the head; conscious visual information

(Hit the back of your head, you see stars)

Question 5

Substance P

Answer 5

Perception of pain - transmits pain signals from skin and muscles to CNS. Onset of experiencing a pain signal.

Inflammation response to injury

Question 6

Acetylcholine

Answer 6

Enables muscle action; learning; memory functions

Alzheimer’s and Myasthenia Gravis

Question 7

Endorphins

Answer 7

Pain-inhibiting neurotransmitter that triggers the release of dopamine and pleasure signaling to block pain sensations, especially when the sympathetic nervous system is activated

Natural opiate-like painkiller

Question 8

Serotonin

Answer 8

Affects mood regulation, hunger, sleep and arousal. It is your everyday things and like motivation to do those things.

Depression, serotonin syndrome, insomnia( and other sleep disorders), anxiety

Question 9

Thalamus

Answer 9

Switchboard for sensory info. It passes along incoming info from the eyes, ears, skin, mouth and nose

(Thelma, the switchboard operator,
directs incoming calls to the appropriate dept.)

Question 10

Cerebellum

Answer 10

Near brainstem and at the base of the head; Coordinates voluntary and automatic movements such as posture, balance, coordination, and speech, resulting in smooth muscular activity; communicates with motor cortex

(Little Sara (“cere” sounds like Sara) was a
ballerina (“bellum”), full of poise, grace
and balance moving across the stage)

Question 11

Dopamine

Answer 11

Influences body movement, motivation, learning, pleasure experiences (food, drugs, sex) & emotions.

Executive functions like attention, cognition, organization, emotional control, goal-directed behavior

Schizophrenia, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, addiction

Question 12

Hippocampus

Answer 12

Limbic system; linked to memory

(You’d remember if a hippo walked across campus)

Question 13

Frontal Lobe

Answer 13

Lies behind the forehead. Involved in speaking and executive functions: planning, focused attention, organization, impulse control, emotional control

(If you play follow the leader (executive),,
the leader is in the front of the line. They
get to make the plans & everyone moves
the way they move. Once you’re out, “No
crying!” Also consider Freud’s reality
principle (responsible adult of the brain)

Question 14

Corpus Callosum

Answer 14

Connects the two cerebral hemispheres

(Alliterate: Cut the corpus callosum, cut
central communication)

Question 15

Reticular Activating System

Answer 15

In the brainstem; Controls alertness and arousal

(Ret sounds like “net”, and you can fall
asleep in a net style hammock. When
flipped over, you wake up.)

Question 16

Hypothalamus

Answer 16

Controls maintenance and survival functions like eating, thirst, body temperature and sexual behavior

(If you were stranded in the Arctic, you
could get “hypo-thermia”; you’d likely be
hungry, thirsty & need body heat)

Question 17

Temporal Lobe

Answer 17

Lies above the ears, auditory areas

(Temporal is by your temples, where your ears are)

Question 18

GABA

Answer 18

Major inhibitory neurotransmitter; decreased neural firing; motor control; anxiety regulation

Insomnia, seizures

Question 19

Parietal Lobe

Answer 19

Located on the top of the head; Spatial awareness, motor cortex: voluntary movement and body positioning; somatosensory cortex: skin sensation across entire body

(This is the place where someone would
pat your head; Pat starts with a P, like
parietal – you would feel if someone
patted your head.)

Question 20

Broca’s Area

Answer 20

Frontal lobe; with speech production; dysfunction leads to aphasia(issues with language comprehension)

(Broke a tooth? Best to say nothing.)

Question 21

Wernicke’s Area

Answer 21

Speech interpretation(hearing); dysfunction leads to aphasia(issues with language comprehension)

(When Nicky talks, you listen)

Question 22

Medulla Oblongata

Answer 22

Base of brain stem that controls breathing and heartbeat(vital functions)

(Seeing Medusa caused their hearts to
stop beating and lungs to stop breathing)