Brain Basics Flashcards
Brain cell specialized in sending electrical signals
Neuron
Neurons fire with…
Action potential
Axons are covered in…
in fat (myelin)
Dendrites
Branches from the cell body that receive signals
Bundle of axons are called…
nerves
Neurons communicate over the small gap
synapse
Inhibitory
can decrease rate of fire
Excititory
can increase rate of fire
Neurotransmitters in the synapse can trigger…
an action potential
Resting Potential
The axon is “polarized” in its resting state - a negative charge
Depolarization
- Ions channels active
- Positive + ions enter
- Creates net positive + charge
Repolarization
- Positive + ions get “kicked out”
- Begin return to negative charge
Hyperpolarization
- Temporarily too much negative charge
- Unable to fire again until returning to resting potential
Myelin - fat - helps send the signal…
faster
- Signal skips from node to node (node of raviner)
The peripheral nervous system contains…
Somatic and Autonomic Nervous Systems
Somatic Nervous System is associated with…
muscles and senses, sensory system, motor system
Autonomic Nervous system contains…
- Sympathetic “Fight or Flight”
- Parasympathetic “Rest and Digest
Thalamus (subcortical regions)
- Relay station - for sensory information
- Sensory information sorted and shipped out
Hypothalamus (subcortical regions)
- Connected to pituitary gland
- Allows brain to regulate hormones in the body
Amygdala (subcortical regions)
- Involved in processing emotional information
Hippocampus
- Involved in creating long-term memories
Occipital lobe (neocortex)
(back of the brain)
- Vision
- Visual integration
Temporal lobe
(temple, sides of head)
- Hearing
- Language comprehension
- Some visual perception
Parietal Lobe
(top back / crown)
Somatosensory cortex
- Recieves touch info from the brain
- Sensory and Spatial awareness
Frontal Lobe
(front / top)
- Decision making, planning, and reasoning
- Ability to regulate and control mental processes
Corpus callosum
Large bundle of nerves that connect
the left and right hemispheres
Broca’s Area
(Located in the left hemisphere of the frontal lobe)
- Controls ability to speak language
- Involved in producing language
- Will impact speaking and writing
Wernicke’s area
- Speaking words fluently but made no sense
- Langauge comprehension (listening and reading)
- Ability to communicate meaningful language to others
Primary Recieving Areas
- analyze “raw” sensory data
VIsion Primary receiving area
Occipital lobe
Hearing - Primary receiving areas
Temporal Lobe
Touch - Primary receiving areas
Parietal Lobe
Taste - Primary receiving areas
Temporal Lobe
Smell - Primary receiving areas
Under frontal lobe (olfactory bulb)
Association Areas…
make connections between the raw
data, so it’s understandable.
Association areas for vision interpret…
info about shape, color, and motion
to see “a green car”, “a red rose”, etc..
Prosopagnosia
an inability to recognize faces
Visual Agnosias
Ability to see, vision is intact; however, damage to association areas means that people can not make out what they see
The Patient in Ch. 1 - Dr. P
Visual perception, visual imagination and memory were damaged in how they connected to the personal and familiar
- Issues with recognition of faces
- Fail to see faces
- No signs of eye degeneration
- No obvious signs of Alzheimers
Dr. Sacks states that Dr. P has…
Visual agnosia and prosopagnosia
Dr. Sacks tests his vision by showing him…
pictures of famous individuals and loved ones, he can not recognize besides very obvious distinguishable features
Dr. Sacks gives him a rose and a glove, and he…
is unsure what they both are.
