Brain biology

Question 1

How many genes are on the largest chromosome?

Answer 1

8000 gens

Question 2

Does nature or nurture determine development?

Answer 2

Both. Genes can be influenced by the environment.

Question 3

What is a pre-disposition?

Answer 3

Multiple genes that increase the likelihood of certain characteristics.

Question 4

What do neurons do?

Answer 4

Store and transmit electrical impulses through axons

Question 5

What does the myelin sheath do?

Answer 5

Insulates and protects axons. The more an experience is repeated the more insulation leading to faster response times.

Question 6

What is white matter?

Answer 6

The myelin covering axons

Question 7

What do other glial cells do>

Answer 7

Other tasks like filtering and attacking.

Question 8

How many neurons are we born with?

Answer 8

All of them. 100-200 billion

Question 9

If we do not grow neurons throughout our life, why does our brain increase in weight?

Answer 9

White matter insulates axons through repeated experience. The brain creates more white matter as we move through life.

Question 10

Which part of the brain is well developed at birth?

Answer 10

Midbrain

Question 11

What does the midbrain control?

Answer 11

Vital reflexes like breathing and sleeping

Question 12

What is grey matter?

Answer 12

The cells in the cerebral cortex

Question 13

What does the cerebral cortex do?

Answer 13

Governs all forms of
VOLUNTARY ACTIONS
INTELLIGENCE
PERCEPTION

Question 14

Is the brain cortex solely influenced by genetics?

Answer 14

No, the environment is a strong influence

Question 15

What happens if we do not use parts of the brain?

Answer 15

They can lose their ability to function. Eg. Wearing an eyepatch can lead to loss of sight.

Question 16

Which is the last organ to reach maturation? At what age does this happen?

Answer 16

The brain. 25 to 30 years

Question 17

What age group has the most synapses? How does this impact learning?

Answer 17

Adolsescents.

More synapses leads to greater plasticity or ability to learn.

Question 18

Which is the last part of the brain to myelinate and what 4 things is it responsible for?

Answer 18

Frontal lobe connects last. Responsible for

• judgement,
• impulse control,
• decision making
• empathy

Question 19

What are the 4 lobes of the brain?

Answer 19

Frontal
Occipital
Parietal
Temporal

Question 20

What does the parietal lobe do?

Answer 20

Processing sensory information for the body. eg touch, pain, temperature and limb position

Question 21

What are the 5 functions of temporal lobe ?

Answer 21

1. Understanding language
2. Memory acquisition
3. Face recognition
4. Object recognition
5. Perception and processing auditory information

Question 22

What does the frontal lobe do?

Answer 22

1. Voluntary movement
2. Expressive language
3. High level executive functions

Question 23

What does the occipital lobe do?

Answer 23

Responsible for visual perception including colour, form and motion