Chapter 2: The Brain Flashcards
The part of the brain, containing some of the most evolutionarily primitive structures, that is responsible for transmitting information from the spinal cord to the brain, regulating life support functions, and helping to maintain balance
hindbrain
A structure in the hindbrain that transmits information from the spinal cord to the brain and regulates life support functions such as respiration, blood pressure, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, and heart rate
medulla
A structure in the hindbrain that acts as a neural relay center, facilitating the crossover of information between the left side of the body and the right side of the brain, and vice versa. It is also involved in balance and in the processing of both visual and auditory information
pons
Part of the brain that controls balance and muscular coordination
cerebellum
The part of the brain containing structures that are involved in relaying information between other brain regions and in regulating levels of alertness
midbrain
The part of the brain containing the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex
forebrain
A structure in the forebrain involved in relaying information, especially to the cerebral cortex
thalamus
A structure in the forebrain that controls the pituitary gland and homeostatic behavior such as eating, drinking, temperature control, sleeping, sexual behaviors and emotional reactions
hypothalamus
A structure of the brain in the medial temporal lobe involved in the formation of long-term memories
hippocampus
A structure of the brain involved in emotional learning and modulating the strength of emotional memories
amygdala
The surface of the cerebrum, the largest structure of the brain, which contains both sensory and motor nerve cell bodies
cerebral cortex
A division of the cerebral cortex located just beneath the forehead that contains the motor cortex, premotor cortex, and the prefrontal cortex
frontal lobe
A division of the cerebral cortex located at the top rear part of the head that contains the primary somatosensory cortex
parietal lobe
A division of the cerebral cortex located at the back of the head that is involved in the processing of visual information
occipital lobe
A division of the cerebral cortex located on the side of the head that is involved with the processing of auditory information and in some aspects of memory
temporal lobe