Chapter 2-2nd Half Flashcards
Medulla
Base of the brain stem, controls heart beat and breathing
Brainstem
Oldest part/central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull. Responsible for survival functions
Reticular formation
Nerve network in the brain stem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
Thalamus
Brains sensory switchboard, located at top of brain
Hippocampus
Neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage
Pons
Helps coordinate movement
Cerebellum
Attached to the rear of brain stem, controls balance
Limbic system
Doughnut shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brain stem and cerebral hemispheres, associated with emotions such as fear, aggression, drive for food and sex
Amygdala
Neural clusters that are components of the limbic system linked to emotion (aggression/fear)
Hypothalamus
Directs several maintenance activities (eating drink body temp)
Cerebral cortex
Ultimate control and information processing center
Glial cells
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
Frontal lobes
Behind forehead, speaking, muscle movement, making plans and judgements
Occipital lobes
Back of head, visual areas which receive visual info
Parietal lobes
Top and back of head, receives sensory input for touch and body positions
Temporal lobes
On sides of head, auditory areas which receives auditory info
Motor cortex
Area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
Sensory cortex
Receives information from skin surface and sense organs
Association areas
Involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking
Aphasia
An impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area of wernickes area
Broca’s area
Controls language expression (broken language)
Wernickes area
Controls language reception (comprehension/expression)
Plasticity
Brains compacity for modification
Corpus callosum
Large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Split brain
A condition in which the 2 hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (corpus callosum) between them
