Chapter 12 (Module 12.2) Flashcards
the structure of the brain responsible for higher mental functions
the cerebrum
shallow grooves on surface of cerebrum
sulci
elevated ridges found between sulci
gyri
deep grooves found on surface of cerebrum
fissures
long deep groove that separates left and right cerebral hemispheres
longitudinal fissure
the two anterior lobes of the cerebral hemispheres;responsible for planning and executing movement and complex mental functions
frontal lobe
a sulcus of each cerebral hemisphere that separates the frontal lobes from the parietal lobes
central sulcus
located anterior to the central sulcus of each cerebral hemisphere in the frontal lobes; contains the primary motor cortex
precentral gyrus
what are the neurons in the frontal lobe responsible?
planning and executing movement and complex mental functions such as behavior, conscience, and personality
lobes of the cerebral hemispheres located posterior to the frontal lobes
parietal lobe
responsible for processing and integrating sensory information,and also function in attention
parietal lobe
located posterior to the central sulcus of each cerebral hemisphere in the parietal lobes; contains the primary somatosensory cortex
postcentral gyrus
cerebral lobes located on the lateral surface of the cerebrum; performs functions related to hearing, language, memory, and emotions
temporal lobes
a fissure on the lateral side of each cerebral hemisphere that separates the temporal lobes from the frontal and parietal lobes
lateral fissure
the posterior lobes of the cerebrum; process all information relating to vision
occipital lobe
deep underneath lateral fissures; neurons in these lobes are currently thought to be involved in functions related to taste and viscera (internal organs)
insulas
functionally most complex part of cortex; covers underlying cerebral hemispheres
cerebral cortex
functions in conscious processes
cerebral cortex
the most recent part of our brains to evolve; makes up majority of the cerebral cortex
neocortex
the neocortex is divided into what three areas?
- primary motor cortex
- primary sensory cortices
- association areas
What is the function of the primary motor cortex?
plans and executes movement
what are the functions of the primary sensory cortices at the first regions?
first regions to receive and process sensory input
what is the function of the association areas?
integrate different types of information
integrate one specific type of information
unimodal areas
integrate information from multiple different sources and carry out many higher mental functions
multimodal areas
involved in conscious planning of movement; located in precentral gyrus of frontal lobe
primary motor cortex
unimodal areas involved in planning, guidance, coordination, and execution of movement
motor association areas
paired motor association areas; one on each side of brain anterior to premotor cortex; involved in back and forth eye movements as in reading
frontal eye fields
what type of somatic sensory information do the two main somatosensory areas, located in the cerebral cortex deal with??
information about temperature, touch, vibration, pressure, stretch, and joint position
where is the primary somatosensory area (S1) located?
in the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe
Where is the somatosensory association cortex (S2) located?
Posterior to (S1)
Where is the primary visual cortex located?
At posterior end of occipital lobe
What is the function of the primary visual cortex?
To receive visual input
What is the function of the visual association area?
Processes color, object movement, and depth
Where is the primary auditory cortex located?
Superior temporal lobe
What type of information is received by the primary auditory cortex?
Auditory information
Where is the information received by the primary auditory cortex transferred?
To nearby auditory association cortex, and other multimodal association areas for further processing
Where is taste information processed?
Gustatory cortex (in both the insula and parietal lobes)
Where are the vestibular areas located?
Parietal and temporal lobes
What information do these vestibular areas deal with?
Equilibrium and positional sensations
touch, vision, hearing, smell, and taste each have a primary and a unimodal association area as does sense of equilibrium (balance); found in all lobes of cortex except frontal lobe
special senses
at posterior end of occipital lobe; first area to receive visual input
primary visual cortex
processes color, object movement, and depth
visual area association
in superior temporal lobe; first to receive auditory information
primary auditory cortex
where is the primary auditory cortex transferred to?
input is transferred to nearby auditory association cortex and other multimodal association areas for further processing
taste information processing; scattered throughout both insula and parietal lobes
gustatory cortex
deal with equilibrium and positional sensations; located in parietal and temporal lobes
vestibular areas
processes sense of smell; in evolutionarily older regions of brain; consists of several areas in limbic and medial temporal lobes
olfactory cortex
regions of cortex that allow us to perform complex mental functions
multimodal association areas
in anterolateral frontal lobe; premotor area responsible for ability to produce speech sounds
broca’s area
in temporal and parietal lobes; responsible for ability to understand language
Wernicke’s area (integrative speech area)
occupy most of their respective lobes; perform multiple functions including integration of sensory information, language, maintaining attention, recognition, and spatial awareness
parietal and temporal lobe association areas
occupies most of frontal lobe; communicates with diencephalon, other regions of cerebral gray matter, and association areas located in other lobes
prefrontal cortex
functions include modulating behavior, personality, learning, memory, and an individual’s personality state
prefrontal cortex
found deep within each cerebral hemisphere; cluster of neuron cell bodies, involved in movement
basal nuclei
separated from diencephalon by a region of white matter called internal capsule
basal nuclei
C-shaped rings of gray matter; lateral to lateral ventricle of each hemisphere with anteriorly oriented tail
caudate nuclei
posterior and inferior to caudate nucleus; connected to caudate nucleus by small bridges of gray matter;
putamen
combination of putamen and caudate are sometimes called
corpus striatum
sits medial to putamen; contains more myelinated fibers than other regions
globus pallidus
connect right and left hemispheres; corpus callosum, largest of four groups in this category, lies in middle of brain at base of longitudinal fissure
commissural fibers
allow communication from 1 side of brain to another
commissural fibers
connect cerebral cortex of one hemisphere with other areas of same hemisphere, other parts of brain, and spinal cord
projection fibers
restricted to a single hemisphere; connect gray matter of cortical gyri with one another
association fibers
allow short communication within same region
association fibers
important functional brain system, includes limbic lobe (region of medial cerebrum), hippocampus, amygdala, and pathways; connect each of these regions of gray matter with rest of brain
limbic system
Found only within mammalian brains and involved in memory, learning, emotion, and behavior
limbic system
in temporal lobe; connected to a prominent C-shaped ring of white matter (fornix) which is its main output tract; involved in memory and learning
hippocampus
anterior to hippocampus; involved in behavior and expression of emotion, especially fear
amygdala
at physical center of brain; composed of four components, each with its own nuclei that receive specific input and send output to other brain regions
diencephalon
The four components of the diencephalon include?
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
- epithalamus
- subthalamus
main entry route of sensory data into cerebral cortex Consists of two egg-shaped regions of gray matter; make up about 80% of diencephalon
Third ventricle is found between these two regions
thalamus
receive afferent fibers from many other regions of nervous system excluding information about the sense of smell
thalamic nuclei
Regulates cortical activity by controlling which input should continue to cerebral cortex
thalamic nuclei
collection of nuclei anterior and inferior to larger thalamus
hypothalamus
Neurons perform several vital functions critical to survival; include regulation of autonomic nervous system, sleep/wake cycle, thirst and hunger, and body temperature
hypothalamus
it is linked to the pituitary gland and secretes releasing and inhibiting hormones that affect the function of the pituitary gland
hypothalamus
hypothalamic hormones that do not affect pituitary gland, have their effect on water balance and stimulation of uterine contraction during childbirth, respectively
Antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin
connect hypothalamus with limbic system; receive input from hippocampus; involved in memory regulation and behavior
mammillary bodies
makes up posterior and inferior portion of brain; functionally connected with cerebral cortex, basal nuclei, brainstem, and spinal cord; interactions between these regions together coordinate movement
cerebellum
one of oldest components of brain; vital to our immediate survival as its nuclei control many basic homeostatic functions such as heart rate and breathing rhythms
brainstem
Controls many reflexes (programmed, automatic responses to stimuli); functions in movement, sensation, and maintaining alertness
brainstem
Inferior to diencephalon; surrounds cerebral aqueduct (connects third and fourth ventricles)
Also known as mesencephalon; shortest and most superior brainstem region
midbrain
protrude from posterior surface of brainstem; two paired projections that form roof of midbrain (tectum); involved in visual and auditory functions respectively; project to thalamus
superior and inferior colliculi
white matter tracts that originate in cerebrum and form anteriormost portion of midbrain
descending tracts
posterior to crus cerebri, is a darkly pigmented region whose neurons work with basal nuclei to control movement
substantia nigra
posterior to substantia nigra; communicates with cerebellum, spinal cord, and other regions involved in regulating movement; role in humans not yet understood
red nucleus
region of midbrain between cerebral aqueduct and substantia nigra; contains numerous nuclei, many of which are components of reticular formation; both ascending and descending white matter tracts are found in this region as well
Midbrain tegmentum
What is the name for superior and inferior colliculi collectively together/grouped?
corpora quadrigemina
inferior to midbrain; has a prominent anterior surface that contains descending motor tracts from crus cerebri, some of which pass through pons en route to spinal cord
pons
has many roles including: regulation of movement, breathing, reflexes, and complex functions associated with sleep and arousal
pons (pontine nuclei)
most inferior structure of brainstem; continuous with spinal cord at foramen magnum
medulla oblongata
on anterior surface of medulla, contain upper motor neuron fibers of corticospinal tract(also called the pyramidal tract), which decussate (crossover), as they travel from cerebral cortex to spinal cord
pyramids
collection of over 100 nuclei found in central core of three brainstem subdivisions making this one of most complex regions of brain
reticular formation
In the reticular formation, Input is received from multiple sources including?
cerebral cortex, limbic system, and sensory stimuli
What is the function of the central nuclei, located in the center of the reticular formation?
sleep, pain transmission, and mood
What is the function of the nuclei surrounding the central nuclei?
serves motor functions for both skeletal muscles and autonomic nervous system
