Ch 4 (Brain Structures) Flashcards
Controls automatic functions like heartbeat and breathing
Medulla
Responsible for sleeping, waking, and daydreaming
Pons
Screens incoming information and controls alertness
Reticular activation system (RAS)
Controls balance and coordination, also responsible for cognitive and emotional learning
Cerebellum
Directs sensory messages (except smell) and has specialized cells in the olfactory bulb
Thalamus
Controls autonomic nervous system and tells the pituitary gland when to “talk” to other endocrine glands. Involved in emotion
Hypothalamus
Evaluates sensory information, mediates anxiety and depression, the fear center of the brain, forms and retrieves emotional memories
Amygdala
There is one on each hemisphere of the brain. It forms new and long term memories
Hippocampus
Divided into 2 central hemispheres (connected by corpus callosum) and is covered by the cerebral cortex. Each hemispheres controls the opposite side of the body
Cerebrum
Responsible for higher mental functions and has the majority of neurons in the brain. Covers the cerebrum
Cerebral cortex
Describe the 4 lobes of the cerebral cortex
Occipital: visual
Temporal: auditory and language comprehension (Wernicke’s area)
Parietal: touch, spatial awareness
Frontal: motor movement and speech production
Higher mental processes, social judgments, making and carrying out plans. Case study: Phineas Gage
Prefrontal cortex
Procedure which involves severing corpus callosum to help with epilepsy, but prevented the hemispheres from working together
Split-brain surgery
What are the responsibilities of the left and right hemispheres of the brain?
LEFT: logic, symbols, sequential tasks
RIGHT: visual spatial tasks, facial recognition, creation and appreciation of art and music
What is neural plasticity?
The brains ability to change structure and function. Involves ADULT NEUROGENESIS, which is the formation of new neurons integrated into the brain
