Brain Structure and Function Flashcards
Hindbrain
life support system; contains the medulla, pons, and cerebellum.
Medulla
controls blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.
Pons
connects the hindbrain with the midbrain/forebrain; controls facial expressions
Cerebellum
coordinates habitual muscle movements
Midbrain
coordinates simple movements with sensory information; contains the reticular formation
Reticular Formation
netlike collection of cells that controls body arousal, attention focus
Forebrain
control thought and reason; contains thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus
Thalamus
receives sensory signals from the spinal cord and sends them to appropriate areas
Hypothalamus
controls metabolic functions: temperature, sexual arousal, hunger, thirst, and endocrine system; controls biological rythms
Amygdala
experiences of emotion
Hippocampus
processes memories as short term or long term
Cerebral Cortex
packed neurons that connect with other neurons; controls judgement and humor; contains frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes
Hemispheres
left and right
Left Hemisphere
processes sensory images; motor functions of the right side of the body; controls logic and sequential tasks
Right Hemisphere
processes sensory images; motor functions of the left side of the body; controls spatial and creative tasks
Corpus Callosum
nerve bundle that connects hemispheres
Frontal Lobes
controls abstract thought and emotional control; contains Broca’s Area, motor cortex
Broca’s Area
controls the muscles involved in producing speech
Motor Cortex
controls voluntary movement
Parietal Lobes
contains the sensory cortex
Sensory Cortex
receives touch sensations
Occipital Lobes
interprets messages from our eyes
Temporal Lobes
process sound; contains Wernicke’s area
Wernicke’s Area
interprets written and spoken speech
