Chapter 5 - Role of the Brain in Mental Processes and Behaviour

Question 1

Ablation

Answer 1

the surgical removal or destruction of tissue (e.g. brain tissue) by lesioning or using electrodes

Question 2

Axon

Answer 2

a fibre that transmits nerve signals

Question 3

Axon terminals

Answer 3

structures at the end of the axon that store and release neurotransmitters

Question 4

Brain–heart debate

Answer 4

the question
of whether our
thoughts, feelings
and behaviours
originate from our
brain or our heart

Question 5

Broca’s area

Answer 5

an area of the frontal lobe that is responsible for clear and fluent speech

Question 6

Cerebellum

Answer 6

an area of the hindbrain involved in coordinating movements and in learning and memory

Question 7

Cerebral cortex

Answer 7

the thin layer of neurons covering the outer region of the cerebrum, characterised by extensive folding

Question 8

Cerebral hemispheres

Answer 8

located on the left and right sides of the brain, these areas control motor and sensory functions on opposite sides of the body

Question 9

Cerebrum

Answer 9

an area of the forebrain that directs conscious motor activity and receives and processes sensory information

Question 10

Computerised tomography
(CT)

Answer 10

an imaging technique that combines a series of x-ray images taken from different angles to create cross-sectional images of the body

Question 11

Dendrites

Answer 11

a projection of a neuron that typically branches from the cell body and is able to receive information from other neurons

Question 12

Electrodes

Answer 12

small wires used to electrically stimulate biological tissues or measure electrical activity in these tissues

Question 13

Equipotentiality

Answer 13

the ability of healthy areas of the cortex to take over the functions of injured parts

Question 14

Forebrain

Answer 14

the area of the brain that includes the cerebrum, thalamus, hypothalamus, pineal gland and limbic system, and which is involved in coordinating brain activity

Question 15

Frontal lobe

Answer 15

an area of the brain that plays an important role in planning, sequencing and executing voluntary movement

Question 16

Functional magnetic resonance
imaging (fMRI)

Answer 16

a type of MRI that shows brain activity by measuring oxygen
consumption in the brain, with the assumption that active areas consume more oxygen

Question 17

Hemispheric specialisation

Answer 17

when one cerebral hemisphere has a specialised function that is not possessed, or is controlled to a lesser extent, by the other

Question 18

Hindbrain

Answer 18

a region of the brain composed of the cerebellum, medulla oblongata and pons and which is involved in supporting vital bodily processes, such as breathing and sleep

Question 19

Homeostasis

Answer 19

the condition of maintaining a stable internal environment of the body that is necessary for survival

Question 20

Hypothalamus

Answer 20

an area of the forebrain that connects the hormonal and nervous systems and helps the body to maintain homeostasis

Question 21

Lesioning

Answer 21

the creation of small areas of damage (lesions) in the brain

Question 22

Limbic system

Answer 22

interconnected brain structures in the centre of the forebrain, next to the midbrain, that play a role in emotions, behaviour control and the formation of long-term memories

Question 23

Magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI)

Answer 23

an imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to activate atoms in the brain, which then allows a computer to generate an image of the brain

Question 24

Mass action

Answer 24

the involvement of large areas of the brain in functioning as a whole in order to carry out complex functions

Question 25

Medulla oblongata

Answer 25

an area of the hindbrain involved in the autonomic functions of the body, such as heart rate and breathing

Question 26

Midbrain

Answer 26

an area of the brain at the topmost part of the brainstem, involved in auditory and visual processing, motor control, pain inhibition and reward-based learning patterns

Question 27

Mind–body problem

Answer 27

the extent to which the mind and the body are the same or separate things

Question 28

Motor information

Answer 28

information that is transmitted along sensory neural pathways from the CNS to the relevant organs, glands and muscles to bring about bodily actions

Question 29

Myelin

Answer 29

a fatty substance that acts as an insulator to stop nerve signals leaking out, and which also helps speed up the flow of information

Question 30

Nerve impulse

Answer 30

an electrical message that travels along the axon of a neuron

Question 31

Neurons

Answer 31

cells that make up the brain and the nervous system and which receive and transmit information

Question 32

Neurotransmitter

Answer 32

a chemical produced by a neuron that carries a message across the synapse to another neuron; produced within the nervous system, including muscles, organs and glands

Question 33

Occipital lobe

Answer 33

An area of the brain involved in receiving and processing information related to vision

Question 34

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 34

activates the rest and digest response after a dangerous or stressful situation has passed

Question 35

Parietal lobe

Answer 35

an area of the brain involved in attention, spatial awareness and reasoning, and receiving and processing somatosensory information

Question 36

Phrenology

Answer 36

the study of the shape of the skull as an indicator of the extent of one’s mental faculties and character traits

Question 37

Pons

Answer 37

an area of the hindbrain that acts as a bridge between the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex. Also involved in sleep, arousal, facial expressions and hearing

Question 38

Positron emission tomography (PET)

Answer 38

an imaging technique that provides information not only about brain structure but also activity and function by recording the use of glucose by cells in the brain

Question 39

Reticular activating system (RAS)

Answer 39

an area in the midbrain that is responsible for alertness and awakening. Ultimately responsible for attention, arousal, control of muscles and the ability to focus. One function of the RAS is to filter out unnecessary information

Question 40

Reticular formation

Answer 40

an area of the midbrain that plays a role in maintaining arousal, consciousness and motor control

Question 41

Sensory information

Answer 41

information that is detected by sensory receptors from the internal and external environment and transmitted along sensory neural pathways to the CNS

Question 42

Substantia nigra

Answer 42

one of the largest collections of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter involved in movement and coordination. Part of the midbrain

Question 43

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 43

activates the fight-or-flight-or-freeze response in dangerous or stressful situations

Question 44

Synapse

Answer 44

the point of communication between two neurons or between a neuron and a target cell, such as a muscle or gland cell

Question 45

Temporal lobe

Answer 45

an area of the brain that plays a significant role in receiving and processing sounds from the ears, as well as in memory, emotional responses to sensory information and some visual perception, such as the ability to recognise faces and identify objects

Question 46

Thalamus

Answer 46

an area of the forebrain that processes and relays sensory information

Question 47

Wernicke’s area

Answer 47

an area of the temporal lobe that plays a critical role in understanding the sounds involved in speech