BRAIN REGIONS/FUNCTIONS-HINDBRAIN/MIDBRAIN/SUBCORTICAL/FOREBRAIN Flashcards
- What are the three main regions of the brain, and what is their function?
- Hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain.
- The hindbrain and midbrain form the brainstem, which controls basic survival functions.
2 What are the consequences of brainstem damage?
- Symptoms depend on the location but may include:
o Respiratory problems, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech.
o Loss of balance and coordination, nausea, sleep disturbances.
o Confusion or loss of consciousness.
Hindbrain Structures
- Function: Controls involuntary functions such as swallowing, coughing, sneezing, respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure.
- Damage: Can cause respiratory failure, loss of vital functions, or death.
What is the function of the pons?
o Connects the two halves of the cerebellum and relays messages between the cerebellum and cerebral cortex.
o Plays a role in movement coordination, respiration, and REM sleep regulation.
. What is the function of the cerebellum, and what happens if it is damaged?
o Coordinates voluntary movements, posture, and balance.
o Involved in procedural memory (e.g., playing an instrument, driving).
o Contributes to attention, language processing, and visuospatial abilities
what happens if the cerebellum is damaged?
o Ataxia: Symptoms resemble alcohol intoxication (poor balance, slurred speech, jerky eye movements, double vision).
What is the function of the reticular formation?
o Regulates muscle tone, eye movement, and pain perception.
o Contains the reticular activating system (RAS), which controls wakefulness, alertness, and sleep-wake cycles
what happens if the Reticular Formation is damaged?
- Damage: Can cause coma or altered consciousness.
What is the function of the substantia nigra
o Plays a role in reward-seeking, addiction, and motor control.
o Connects to the basal ganglia, helping regulate movement.
how is Substantia Nigra linked to Parkinson’s disease?
o Degeneration of dopamine-producing cells leads to Parkinson’s disease (tremors, rigidity, slow movement).
Subcortical Forebrain Structures
Hypothalamus,
Basil Ganglia,
Amygdala,
Hippocampus
What are the key functions of the hypothalamus?
- Maintains homeostasis by regulating:
. Body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, hunger, thirst, sleep-wake cycle, stress response. - Controls the autonomic nervous system and pituitary gland.
- Involved in emotion and memory (mammillary bodies).
- Circadian rhythm regulation via the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).
How does the hypothalamus influence the pituitary gland?
- Anterior pituitary: The hypothalamus releases hormones that stimulate or inhibit the pituitary’s hormone production.
- Posterior pituitary: The hypothalamus sends oxytocin and vasopressin, which are stored and released when needed.
Oxytocin
Involved in childbirth, lactation, social bonding, and emotional regulation.
Vasopressin
Regulates water balance in the body.
What is the function of the thalamus
- Acts as a relay station for sensory information (except smell) to the cerebral cortex.
- Plays a role in motor function, language, and memory.
What happens to Damage Thalamus
o Korsakoff syndrome (due to thiamine deficiency, often from chronic alcoholism) causes anterograde and retrograde amnesia with confabulation.
What is the function of the basal ganglia,
Controls voluntary movement, habit learning, attention, and emotions.
The Limbic System Includes
Amygdala
Cingulate Cortex
Hippocampus
what disorders are linked to Basal Ganglia
ADHD, OCD, schizophrenia, Tourette’s disorder, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease
What is the function of the amygdala
o Processes and regulates fear, anger, joy, and emotional memories.
o Involved in facial emotion recognition, risk-taking, and pain perception.
What happens if the Amygdala is Damage
o Reduced fear response, emotional dysregulation, and difficulty recognizing emotions.
o Kluver-Bucy syndrome: Symptoms include hyperphagia (excessive eating), hypersexuality, reduced fear, and visual agnosia.
What is the function of the cingulate cortex
o Involved in motivation, emotion, and emotional responses to pain.
What is the function of the hippocampus
o Transfers declarative memories from short-term to long-term memory.
o Involved in spatial navigation
how does the Cingulate Cortex relate to depression?
o Reduced volume in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is associated with major depressive disorder.
o Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been shown to increase ACC volume in people with depression.
what happens if the hippocampus is damaged?
o Memory loss, spatial disorientation, and increased risk for PTSD.
o Degeneration of the hippocampus is linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
The Midbrain includes
Reticular Formation
Substantia Nigra
The Hindbrain includes
Medulla
Pons
Cerebellum
The forebrain contains
subcortical structures and the cerebral cortex, which control higher cognitive functions.
