Ch. 2 Cognitive Neuroscience-Sternberg Flashcards
Define Cognitive Neuroscience
field of study linking the brain and other aspects of the nervous system to cognitive processing and, ultimately, to behavior.
Define Brain
the organ in our bodies that most directly controls our thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
Localization of Function
refers to the specific areas of the brain that control specific skills or behaviors
Define Nervous System
the organized network of cells (neurons) through which an individual receives information from the environment, processes that information, and then interacts with the environment.
What are the three major regions of the brain?
the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain
What is the order of brain development?
hindbrain to midbrain to forebrain
What 5 parts make up the forebrain?
- Cerebral Cortex
- The basal ganglia
- The limbic system
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
What does the cerebral cortex do?
controls thinking and sensing functions, voluntary movement
What do the basal ganglia do?
These are collections of neurons crucial to motor function. dysfunction of this results in motor deficits like tremors, etc and is seen in both huntington’s and parkinson’s.
What does the LImbic system do?
important for emotion, motivation, memory, and learning
What three structures make up teh limbic system?
- The septum
- amygdala
- hippocampus
what does the septum do?
influences anger and fear
What does the amygdala do?
influences anger and aggression
too much stimulation results in fear, and its removal leads to a maladaptive LACK of fear
What does the hippocampus do?
influences learning and memory
describe Korsakoff’s syndrome
a disease where there is a loss of memory function- believed to be associated with a deterioration of the hippocampus and is caused by a lack of thiamine (vitamin B1) in brain.
What does the thalamus do?
relays incoming sensory information through groups of neurons that project to the appropriate region in the cerebral cortex
What does the hypothalamus do?
regulates behavior to related to species survival: fighting, feeding, fleeing, and mating. is is active in regulating emotions and reactions to stress. it also plays a role in sleep- where dysfunction or neural loss is seen in narcolepsy.
what does the midbrain do?
helps to control eye movement and coordination.
what 4 parts make up the midbrain?
- Reticular activating system (RAS)
- Superior Colliculi
- Inferior Colliculi
- Gray matter, red nucleus, substantia nigra, ventral region
What does the forebrain do?
it plays a vital role in our thinking and other mental processes
What is the function of the Superior colliculi?
involved in vision (and visual reflexes)
what is the function of the inferior colliculi?
involved in hearing
what is the function of the reticular activating system?
important in controlling consciousness (sleep arousal), attention, cardiorespiratory function, and movement
what do the gray matter/red nucleus/ substantia nigra, ventral region of the brain do?
important in controlling movement
What makes up the brainstem?
hypothalamus, thalamus, midbrain, and hindbrain. physicians determine brain death based on the function of the brainstem.
where is the Periaqueductual gray (PAG)
its in the brainstem, and seems essential for adaptive behaviors.
What 3 parts of the brain make up the hindbrain?
- Medulla oblongata
- the pons
- the cerebellum
what is the role of the medulla oblongata?
it controls heart activity and largely controls breathing, swallowing, and digestion.
what is the role of the Pons?
serves as a kind of relay station, or bridge, from one part of the brain to another. contains a part of the RAS, but involved in consciousness (sleep and arousal), and involved with facial nerves
What is the role of the Cerebellum?
controls balance, coordination, and muscle tone.
What are the Suci (or sulcus?)
small grooves in cerebral cortex
What are the fissures
large grooves in the cerebral cortex
what are Gyri (gyrus)
the bulges between adjacent sulci or fissures that are a part of the cerebral cortex
what is the color of the cortex and why?
its grey, aka “gray matter” because of the gray neural bodies that make it up.
what is under the gray matter, what is it called, and what is it made up of?
white matter. it is made up of white, myelinated axons
define contralateral
from one side to another aka opposite. like the right part of the brain controls the left hand.