Chapter 2b The Brain and It's Parts

Question 1

What is Localization?

Answer 1

The idea that specific parts of the brain do specific things.

Question 2

1. Describe what the Brainstem does

The brainstem contains these important structures. What do they do?

2. Reticular activating system:
3. Pons
4. Medulla

Answer 2

1. These functions include not only 24/7 behaviors like breathing and a heartbeat, but also other bodily functions that take place only at certain times, like sexual reproduction, swallowing, sneezing, and even vomiting.
2. A collection of neurons in the brainstem involved in arousal. Also involved in related functions like alertness and attention
3. A part of the brainstem involved in transmitting information, sleep, breathing, and equilibrium. Because of its position near the top of the brainstem, the pons conveys messages between the brainstem and higher regions of the brain.
4. The part of the brainstem most specifically involved in heartbeat and breathing. Together, the pons and medulla also control swallowing. Basic life function.

Question 3

What does the Cerebellum do?

Answer 3

The part of the brain near the bottom and the back primarily involved in balance and the coordination of movement.

The main role of the cerebellum involves motion, though it may also be involved in other functions, including attention and memory

Question 4

What does the Thalamus do?

Answer 4

The brain’s main sensory processing center

The Thalamus, which is shaped like a small egg, receives the information you take in through your eyes, ears, mouth, and skin, then directs this information to the parts of your brain that need to process it.

it is also involved in arousal and movement in a limited way

Question 5

What does the Limbic System do?

Answer 5

A cluster of brain areas involved primarily in emotion.

“four f’s”: fleeing, fighting, feeding, and, um, sexual intercourse

Question 6

What does the Hypothalamus do?

Answer 6

Hunger and Thirst

The hypothalamus is the part of the limbic system involved in maintaining steadiness in bodily functions. One way the hypothalamus achieves this steadiness is by exerting control over the pituitary gland

The hypothalamus also has significant influence over the autonomic nervous system, which means that it affects your heartbeat, breathing, and other involuntary functions

The hypothalamus also influences the triggers you feel to eat or drink. In this way, your hypothalamus helps you maintain homeostasis, or a relatively constant internal environment

Question 7

What does the Hippocampus do?

Answer 7

The hippocampus is the part of the limbic system involved in memory, especially spatial memory and long-term memory. Spatial memory is your memory for physical spaces, such as the layout of the house you grew up in, or the hallways of your high school.

Question 8

What is the Amygdala

Answer 8

The amygdala is the part of the limbic system involved most directly in emotion, especially fear.

Question 9

What is the Cerebrum and the Cerebral Cortex?

Answer 9

The cerebrum (also known as the forebrain ) is the upper front part of the brain, which consists of two hemispheres. The cerebrum gives us many distinctly human abilities, including thinking, reasoning, planning, creating, communicating, computing, multitasking, and so much more

Cerebral Cortex: the outer layer of the cerebrum, where sensory information is processed.

Question 10

What are the Cerebral hemispheres

What is the Corpus callosum

Answer 10

The left and right halves of the cerebrum.

The link between the two hemispheres is the corpus callosum: the bundle of neurons that connects and allows communication between the two cerebral hemispheres.

Question 11

What are the 4 Lobes of the Cerebrum?

Answer 11

1. Occipital Lobe: If we begin at the back of the brain and move forward, we start with the occipital lobe: the lower back part of the brain involved in vision.
2. Temporal Lobe: the lower middle part of the brain, involved in hearing and speech production. The temporal lobe contains Wernicke’s area: part of the temporal lobe specifically involved in understanding speech
3. Parietal Lobe: The part of the brain near the top and back of the head involved in touch and perception
4. Frontal Lobe: The remaining lobe, and the one located in the front of the brain, is appropriately named the frontal lobe: the part of the cerebral cortex right behind the forehead, which is involved in complex thinking tasks, planning, purposeful actions, and other advanced functions

Question 12

What is the Prefrontal Region?

Answer 12

The prefrontal region of the frontal lobe performs tasks similar to those of an executive. It oversees the routine and automatic tasks that the other parts of the brain are doing, evaluates and integrates unusual situations on a case-by-case basis, and decides what to do about them.

Question 13

What is the motor cortex?

Answer 13

The strip of brain matter near the back of the frontal lobe involved in voluntary movement. The motor cortex lies just in front of the somatosensory cortex. Like the somatosensory cortex, it connects to parts throughout the body, but rather than taking information from them (in the form of sensations), the motor cortex sends information to specific parts of the body

Question 14

What is the Somatosensory cortex

Answer 14

A strip of brain matter near the front of the parietal lobe involved in receiving information from the senses

Question 15

What is Broca’s area?

Answer 15

A part of the left side of the frontal lobe heavily involved in speaking

Question 16

What is Neurogenesis?

Answer 16

The creation of new neurons.

Question 17

What are Stem Cells?

Answer 17

Cells that have not yet specialized, and therefore can become a variety of different cells as the need arises. As the word stem implies, stem cells have begun to grow but have not finished.