Brain Structure Flashcards
Cerebrum
Coordinating sophisticated mental processes, including cognition, perception, judgment, language, and problem-solving.
Performing complex functions, including receiving and processing sensory information, and initiating voluntary motor movement.
Located: Wrinkled layer/forebrain
Hypothalamus
- Maintains optimal biological functioning
- Hormone levels
- Hunger
- Thirst
- Body temperature
- Blood pressure
- (^)Homeostasis
Emotions: fear and anger, when responding to environmental stimuli.
Location: Heart of the brain/Forebrain
Thalamus
Sensory information: vision, hearing, taste, and touch (not smell)
Location: Next to hypothalamus/Forebrain
Amygdala
Long-term memories of specific (often emotional) events
Links fear, aggression, and anxiety to the knowledge of people and places
Emotions basically
Location: Under the hypothalamus
Hippocampus
Long term memory
Memory consolidation (helps store memories long term)
Spatial memories (directions)
Locations: Connected to the amygdala
Reticular formation
Helps messages to be sent throughout the brain and get to the right place.
Location: Middle of brain/Midbrain
Cerebellum
Hones our most practiced talents
Improves motor skills by detecting errors in movement and making tiny adjustments to correct it.
Maintaining balance and posture
Consolidates memories about the procedure and sequence movements: tying a shoelace, playing an instrument, etc.
Location:
Medulla
- Regulates autonomic processes:
- Respiration
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Digestion
- Initiates reflex actions:
- Coughing, sneezing, vomiting.
Connects the brain to the spine
Location: bottom of brain stem/Hindbrain
Pons
- Relays information between different parts of the brain
- Involved in:
- Respiratory system
- Controlling sleep, dreams, and waking
Involuntary behaviors, eg: blinking.
Location: Near brain stem/Hindbrain
