Ch. 3: Parts of the brain

Question 1

What does the hindbrain consist of?

Answer 1

Medulla and cerebellum

Question 2

medulla

Answer 2

first structure encountered after leaving the spinal cord. Plays and important role in vital body functions such as heart rate and respiration

Question 3

cerebellum

Answer 3

part of the brain that functions to coordinate and regulate muscular activity

Question 4

midbrain

Answer 4

contains clusters of sensory and motor neurons. Located just above the hind brain.

Question 5

reticular formation

Answer 5

the brain’s gatekeeper

Question 6

forebrain/cerebrum

Answer 6

has 2 large cerebral hemisphere - left and right side

Question 7

thalamus

Answer 7

important sensory processing and relay station. Acts as the brain’s sensory input

Question 8

basal ganglia

Answer 8

5 distinct structures that surround and envelope the thalamus

Question 9

hypothalamus

Answer 9

a region of the forebrain that plays a concise role in many important functions including releasing hormones and regulating body temperature

Question 10

limbic system

Answer 10

a complex system of nerves and networks in the brain whose structures are involved in motivation, emotion, learning and memory

Question 11

cerebral cortex

Answer 11

outer layer of the cerebrum composed of folded gray matter

Question 12

4 lobes of the cerbral cortex

Answer 12

1) frontal - motor function, motivation, aggression
2) parietal - reception
3) temporal - smell, hearing, memory
4) occipital - visual processing

Question 13

motor cortex

Answer 13

controls the 600 muscles involved in voluntary movements. Severe damage to the right motor cortex would produce paralysis in the left side of the body

Question 14

sensory cortex

Answer 14

specific areas of the cortex where input from sensory receptors are received

Question 15

Wernicke’s area

Answer 15

area int he temporal lobe that is involved in language comprehension

Question 16

Broca’s area

Answer 16

area located int he frontal lobe necessary for speech production

Question 17

association cortex

Answer 17

found within all lobes of the cerebral cortex

-is critically involved in the highest level of mental functions, including perception, language and thought

Question 18

pre-frontal cortex

Answer 18

located behind the forehead and is the seat of ‘executive ‘functions.

Question 19

what are executive functions?

Answer 19

mental activities involving goal setting, strategic planning and impulse control

Question 20

Corpus callosum

Answer 20

the bridge the acts as a communication link between the left and right hemisphere and allows them to function as one unit

Question 21

lateralization

Answer 21

refers to the relatively greater localization of a function in one hemisphere or the other

Question 22

what is brain plasticity?

Answer 22

refers to the ability of neurons to change in structure and function