Chapter 2 Brain structure and processes

Question 1

nervous system

Answer 1

a system of networks of specialised cells (neurone) that connect different parts of the body to each other and the brain via electrochemical signals

Question 2

neuroscientist

Answer 2

a scientist who studies the brain and the nervous system

Question 3

neuron

Answer 3

an individual nerve cell that receives, transmits and processes information

Question 4

central nervous system (CNS)

Answer 4

a major division of the nervous system consisting of all the nerves in the brain and spinal cord

Question 5

spinal cord

Answer 5

a part of the CNS that consists of a cable of nerve fibres stretching from the base of the brain to the lower back; connects the brain to the PNS and transmits sensory information from the PNS to the brain and motor messages from the brain to the PNS

Question 6

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Answer 6

a major division of the nervous system consisting of all the nerves outside of the CNS; transmits sensory information inwards to the CNS and transmits motor messages from the brain outwards to the rest of the body

Question 7

somatic nervous system

Answer 7

the division of the PNS that transmits sensory information received from sensory receptor cells inwards towards the CNS, and motor messages from the CNS to the body’s voluntary skeletal muscles; also known as the skeletal nervous system

Question 8

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Answer 8

the division of the PNS that transmits motor messages from the brain to the body’s internal organs and glands, which results in involuntary activity of internal organs and glands, and transmits messages back to the brain about the activity level of these organs and glands

Question 9

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 9

the branch of the ANS that alters the activity level of internal muscles, organs and glands to physically prepare our body for increased activity during times of high emotional or physical arousal

Question 10

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 10

a branch of the ANS that maintains an energy level appropriate for normal bodily functioning and physically calms us after high arousal by reversing the changes in bodily functioning caused by the domination of the sympathetic nervous system

Question 11

homeostasis

Answer 11

the body’s balanced and healthy state

Question 12

cognitive processes

Answer 12

brain processes that involve thinking, knowing or mentally manipulating information

Question 13

cognition

Answer 13

thinking, knowing or mentally processing information

Question 14

sensation

Answer 14

the immediate response in the brain caused by excitation of a sensory organ

Question 15

cerebrum

Answer 15

the two large hemispheres that cover the upper part of the brain

Question 16

cerebral hemispheres

Answer 16

the two halves of the cerebrum that cover the upper part of the brain

Question 17

cerebral cortex

Answer 17

the thin layer of tissue that forms the outer layer and surface of the brain’s cerebrum; responsible for basic sensory and motor functions, as well as higher mental processes

Question 18

frontal lobe

Answer 18

the upper front half of each cerebral hemisphere; associated with complex mental abilities and the control of voluntary movement

Question 19

association areas

Answer 19

all the areas of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specialised sensory or motor function; they integrate information received from different brain areas and structures to enable complex mental behaviours

Question 20

primary motor cortex

Answer 20

an area at the rear of the frontal lobe that directs the body’s skeletal muscles and controls voluntary movement

Question 21

Broca’s area

Answer 21

an area in the left frontal lobe close to the primary motor cortex that controls the muscles responsible for the production of articulate speech

Question 22

parietal lobe

Answer 22

an area of each cerebral hemisphere located behind the frontal lobe; mostly associated with processing sensations but also involved in the coordination of sense and movements

Question 23

primary somatosensory cortex

Answer 23

a strip of neurons located at the front of the parietal lobe, adjacent to the primary motor cortex, which registers and processes sensory information from receptors in the body

Question 24

temporal lobe

Answer 24

an area located on either side of each cerebral hemisphere; associated with processing auditory information; also believed to be involved in memory, facial recognition, object identification and emotion

Question 25

primary auditory cortex

Answer 25

the area of the temporal lobes that registers and processes auditory (sound) information

Question 26

Wernicke’s area

Answer 26

an area of the left temporal lobe responsible for the comprehension of language and the formulation of meaningful sentences

Question 27

occipital lobe

Answer 27

an area located at the back of each cerebral hemisphere; associated with processing visual information

Question 28

primary visual cortex

Answer 28

the area at the base of the occipital lobe that registers processes and interrupts visual information sent from each eye

Question 29

corpus callosum

Answer 29

a thick band of nerve fibres in the middle of the brain that connects the left and right hemispheres and transfers information registered in one hemisphere to the other hemisphere for processing

Question 30

aphasia

Answer 30

a language impairment, usually caused by left hemisphere damage to Broca’s area (impairing speech production) or Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding of language)

Question 31

Broca’s aphasia

Answer 31

an impairment in the ability to produce articulate speech, caused by damage to Broca’s area

Question 32

Wernicke’s aphasia

Answer 32

an impairment in the ability to understand language and formulate coherent, meaningful speech, caused by damage to Wernicke’s area

Question 33

spatial neglect

Answer 33

a tendency to ignore the left or right side of one’s body or the left or right side of visual space resulting from damage to one of the cerebral hemisphere

Question 34

split-brain operation

Answer 34

brain surgery involving the cutting of an area of the corpus callosum to interrupt the flow of information between the two cerebral hemispheres