Chapter 3 Section 2 & 3 Flashcards
cerebral cortex
outer layer of the brain. provides for better memory, more advanced social interactions, ability to experience emotions. bark-like, allows us to use language, acquire complex skills, create tools, and live in social groups
brain stem
oldest and innermost region of the brain. controls basic functions of life: breathing, attention, motor responses
medulla
base of brain stem, controls heart rate and breathing
pons
spherical shape above medulla, structure in brain stem that helps control the movements of the body, playing a particularly important role in balance and walking
reticular formation
long, narrow network of neurons running through medulla and pons. filters out some stimuli coming in and sends them along; also plays role in walking, eating, sexual activity and sleeping
thalamus
the egg-shaped structure above the brain stem that filters even more after the reticular formation, sending some incoming stimuli to higher brain. shuts off signals during sleep
cerebellum
two wrinkled ovals behind brain stem. coordinates voluntary movement. influenced by alcohol.
limbic system
a brain area, located between the brain stem and the two cerebral hemispheres, that governs emotions and memory. includes amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus
amygadala
consists of two almond-shard clusters and is primarily responsible for regulating our perceptions of and reactions to, aggression and fear
hypothalamus
a brain structure that contains a number of small areas that perform a variety of functions, including the important role of linking the nervous system to the endocrine via the pituitary gland
hippocampus
two horns that curve back from amygdala. for storing long-term memories.
corticicalization
folding of cerebral cortex, increasing surface area
glia
glial cells, surround and link to the neurons, protecting them and providing them with nutrients and absorbing unused neurotransmitters. myelin is an example
hemispheres
two main sections of brain, divided into four lobes each, each separated by folds known as fissures.
frontal lobe
frontmost lobe, behind forehead. responsible for thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
parietal lobe
behind frontal lobe, extends from middle to back of skull and is primarily responsible for processing information about touch.
occipital lobe
processes visual information, at very back of skull.
temporal lobe
between ears responsible for hearing and language`
contralateral control
brain is wired so that each hemispheres handles the opposite side of the bod
motor cortex
the part of the cortex that controls and executes movements of the body by sending signals to the cerebellum and the spinal cord
somatosensory cortex
an area just behind and parallel to the motor cortex at the back of the frontal lobe, receives information from the skin’s sensory receptors and movements of different body parts
visual cortex
the area located in the occipital lobe (very back of brain) that processes visual information
auditory cortex
responsible for hearing and language, within the temporal lobe.
association areas
rest of cortex. areas in which sensory and motor information is combined and associated with our stored knowledge