Brain U3 Flashcards
cerebral cortex
- this is the thinking portion of the brain where we are processing sensory, motor, our personality and more
** where cognition occurs** - this is a blanket of gray matter that is marked by gyri and sulci
- covers the surface of the brain
- Forms discrete internal clusters called
cerebral nuclei
sulci
these are folds that convolute the surface of the cerebral cortex
- these separate the intervening gyri
- these are basically grooves
gyri
these increase the surface of the area of cerebral hemispheres and they allow for more space for cortical neurons
median longitudinal fissure
this is divides the two hemispheres (which are divided into lobes)
central sulcus
a deep groove that extends laterally from the longitudinal fissure
- it divides the primary sensory and motor areas of the cortex
- this divides frontal and parietal lobes
lateral sulcus
- lateral sulcus is a deep fissure in each hemisphere that separates the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe
parieto-occipital sulcus
a deep fissure that separates the occipital and the parietal lobes.
frontal lobe
this is the anterior part of the cerebral hemisphere
- anterior to the central sulcus
- the lateral boarder is at the lateral sulcus
- Voluntary motor activity
- contains the prefrontal cortex
Prefrontal cortex:
anterior portion of the frontal cortex
- this is made of three different parts: Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the orbitofrontal cortex, and the anterior cingulate cortex
- this is what sets us apart from other species
- this is where we do our higher level processing and thinking
parietal lobe
- Superoposterior part of each hemisphere
- Involved with general sensory functions:
tactile sensation, proprioception, taste, language, spatial orientation, and directing attention - contains the postcentral gyrus
- this is involved in the initial processing of some sensory information
- it integrates sensory info from multiple different senses and processes that infor together
Central sulcus anteriorly
Lateral sulcus inferiorly
Parieto-occipital sulcus posteriorly
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
- in the prefrontal cortex
Executive functions
- Organization and planning
- Managing behavior
- High-level decision-making
- Multitasking
- Working memory
Orbitofrontal cortex
- in the prefrontal cortex
- Modulating emotions
- Inhibition
- Adaptive learning, rewards, and emotion
- this is important for inhibiting behavior based on emotions –> helps us not act impulsively
- this does not develop until early-late 20s (explains why teens tend to be more impulsive
- the amygdala is important for processing emotions and works with the orbitofrontal cortex (the amygdala matures early teens)
Anterior cingulate cortex
- in the prefrontal cortex
- this is on the medial aspect of each hemisphere
- Motivational behavior
(helps us to be motivated to do a task and do it at a specific time) - Reward-based learning (Error detection Outcome monitoring)
- helps us to monitor the outcome of an action to see if it matches the intended outcome we had and if we detect an error then we can learn and do it differently the next time - Pain processing
Precentral gyrus
Beginning of the corticospinal tract
- this is what the primary motor cortex is on
temporal lobe
- this is near the ear
- Inferior to the lateral sulcus
- has a Superior, middle, and inferior gyri
- Involved with hearing and smell
- Medial temporal lobe is within it
occipital lobe
the region posterior to the parieto-occipital sulcus
cerebral hemispheres
- these are two divisions that separate the brain
- each one has lateralization
- they are not identical functionally but appear to be mirror images
- they are covered by cortex
- divided into lobes
- they are connected by a few white motor pathways
- they are divided by the medial longitudinal fissure
hemispheric lateralization
the specialization of the specific functions that one hemisphere does that are not done by the other
left cerebral hemisphere
- specialized language areas (reading, writing, speaking)
- important for analytical tasks (mathematical calculations and logical decision making
- premotor cortex involved in hand movements is larger in the left side of the brain for right handed individuals
right cerebral hemisphere
analyzes sensory information
- relates the body to the sensory environment
- interpretive centers permit you to identify familiar objects by touch, smell, slight, or taste
(recognizes faces and 3D relationships) - analyzes emotional context of conversation
(differentiating between “get lost!” and “get lost?”
central white matter
this is covered by the gray matter of the cerebral cortex
- contains myelinated fibers forming bundles that connect one cortical area to another or that connect areas of the cortex to other regions in the brain
- has three types of bundles:
o Commissure fibers
o Association Fibers
o Projection Fibers
Commissure fibers
these link two cerebral hemispheres together
association fibers
these interconnect areas of cortex within a single cerebral hemisphere
projection fibers
these link the cerebrum with other regions of the brain and spinal cord