Chapter 1: Brain Basics

Question 1

What is the largest part of the human brain, and what is its function?

Answer 1

The cerebrum: Initiates coordinates movement and regulates temperature.

Question 2

The cerebrum is divided into ___ hemispheres, bridged together by a
bundle of fibres called the ______ ________

Answer 2

two, corpus callosum

Question 3

What is covering the outermost layer of the cerebrum?

Answer 3

Cerebral cortex

Question 4

What is the functions of the parietal lobe?

Answer 4

Sensory information and processing, motor information

Question 5

What parts of the brain make up the limbic system?

Answer 5

Hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala, hippocampus

Question 6

What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system (unconscious movements and actions) and their functions?

Answer 6

Parasympathetic: predominates in quiet “rest and digest” conditions.

Sympathetic: drives the “fight or flight” response in stressful situations

Question 7

The three main components of a neuron are the cell body, dendrites, and axon. What are the functions of each component?

Answer 7

Cell body: nucleus, action potential
Dendrites: receive signals
Axon: give signals

Question 8

Many axons are covered with a myelin sheath, which ________ the
transmission of electrical signals along the axon. This light-coloured sheath is made by specialized cells called Schwann cells/oligodendrocytes.

Answer 8

quickens

Question 9

What is the space through which one neuron communicates with
another?

Answer 9

Synapse

excitatory: send signal forward - depolarises (action potential)

inhibitory: hyperpolarises and stops action potential

Question 10

What is the difference between grey matter and white matter?

Answer 10

Grey matter: made of cell bodies

White matter: Composed of nerve fibre (myelinated)

Question 11

Passing on an action potential involves the opening and closing of?

Answer 11

Sodium potassium pump
Voltage-gated ion channels

Question 12

What is the charge of a neuron when it is at rest?

Answer 12

-70 millivolts

Question 13

An action potential occurs as the neuron switches from an internal ________
charge to a ________ charge, then back to negative.

Answer 13

Negative, positive

Question 14

State the function of norepinephrine

Answer 14

Secreted by the sympathetic nervous system (digest and rest or flight and fight) and adrenal gland during acute stress

Question 15

State the function of GABA

Answer 15

Inhibits the firing of neurons. Coordinates movement and is decreased in Huntington’s disease

Question 16

Dopamine

Answer 16

Involved in movement, cognition/emotion, endocrine system and reward. Decreased in patients with Parkinsons.

Question 17

Glutamate

Answer 17

Excites or turns on neurons. involved in learning and memory.

Question 18

Acetylcholine

Answer 18

Excitatory neurotransmitter involved in movement and arousal

Question 19

State the function of norepinephrine.

Answer 19

Secreted by the sympathetic nervous system (digest and rest or flight and fight) and adrenal gland during acute stress

Question 20

What is the function of the occipital lobe?

Answer 20

Visual information, recognising colour and shape

Question 21

What is the function of the temporal lobe?

Answer 21

Auditory information, recognising objects and faces

Question 22

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

Answer 22

Cognition, memory (hippocampus), emotion(amygdala), voluntary movement, personality, decision making (Prefrontal Cortex)