flash cards
Natural Selection
Genes for traits that help an organism survive and reproduce (adaptive genes) will be selected and will continue in a species
Genes for traits that prevent survival and reproduction (maladaptive) won’t be selected and will continue in a species
Genetic Mutation
accidental errors in genetic instructions that lead to a change
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Induces passing non-harmful radio frequencies through the brain
Gives a detailed image of the brain used to study the structure of the brain
fMRI
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
measures the activity of specific neurons that are functioning during cognitive tasks, such as thinking, and listening
PET scan
Positron emission tomography
involves injecting of a slightly radioactive solution into the blood and then measuring the amount of radiation absorbed by the brain cells called neurons
more active neurons absorb more solution less active neurons absorb less.
Somatic Nervous System
voluntary movement, coordination, such as when a gymnast knows where their arms and legs are
autonomic nervous system
runs all automatic functions of the body, such as heart rate blood pressure, breathing, digestion, hormones etc
sympathetic division
uses excitatory neurons sets body up for fight or flight
parasympathetic nervous system
part of autonomic system
uses inhibiting neurons, calms the body down maintains body in homeostatic state
Forebrain
Most of what we see when we look at the brain
largest portion of the brain
has right and left sides called hemispheres
hemispheres are responsible for a number of functions including sensations, initiating voluntary movements, planning and making decisions
midbrain
Found in the center or “core” of the brain
has areas for visual and auditory reflexes
such as automatically turning your head toward a noise
contains the reticular formation, which arouses the forebrain so that it’s ready to process information from the senses.
Hindbrain
Lower rear of skull
the parts of the hindbrain are found in very primitive brains, such as the alligator, and have remained basically the same through millions of years of evolution
Pons
Functions as a bridge to interconnect messages between spinal cord and brain
makes chemicals involved in sleep
Medulla
Located on top of spinal cord
controls vital reflexes such as respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, hormone release.
cerebellum
Involved in coordinating motor movements but not in initiating voluntary movements
Wrinkled Cortex
A thin layer of cells that essentially covers the entire surface of forebrain
a large majority of our neurons are located in the cortex
Frontal Lobe
involved with personality, emotions, and emotional behaviors, motor behaviors, behaving normally in social situations, maintaining healthy personality, making decisions, executing plans
Larges lobe
considered as having executive functions
Phineas Gage
had an accident in 1848
After the accident he had a huge personality change.
Frontal lobotomy
started being used in 1936
a surgical procedure in which about one-third of the front part of the frontal lobe is cut away from the rest of the brain in severely agitated patients
18000 performed in the 1940s-50s
the surgeries were found to be ineffectual in treating social emotional problems as opposed to doing nothing
antipsychotic drugs were discovered and showed greater success in treating the problems
motor cortex
located on the edge of the frontal lobe
involved in the initiation of all voluntary movements
right side controls left
left controls right
Parietal lobe
main function is to process sensory information from your body parts
this lobe has a somatosensory cortex
located on the front edge of the parietal love directly beside the motor strip
Occipital Lobe
the main function is the processing our visual information
seeing colors
perceiving and recognizing objects, animals and people
The ability to see involves two steps
1. you use your primary visual cortex located at the very back of the occipital lobe receives electrical signals from receptors in the eyes and transforms these signals into meaningless basic visual sensations, such as lights, lines, shadows, colors and textures
2. visual association area
also in the back of the occipital lobe located next to primary visual cortex
transforms the basic visual sensations into complete meaningful objects, animals or people
temporal lobe
main function speech and hearing
1 located top edge of temporal lobe
precious electrical signals from receptors in the ears and transforms these signals into meaningless basic sound sensations such as vowels and consonants
2 auditory association area
located in the temporal lobe directly below the primary auditory cortex
transforms the basic auditory sensations into complete MEANINGFUL sounds such as words and music
Limbic system
Old brain-core of the forebrain
involved with motivational behaviors such as obtaining food, drink, and sex
organizing emotional behaviors, such as fear, anger, and aggression; storing memories
