flashcards_brain
What are the two main components of the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
The Brain & the Spinal Cord.
What are the two divisions of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
- Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) – involuntary control.
- Sympathetic: ‘Fight or Flight’
- Parasympathetic: ‘Rest & Digest’
- Somatic Nervous System (SNS) – voluntary control.
What are the key functions of the Left Hemisphere?
Receives & processes sensations from the right side.
Controls voluntary movements on the right side.
Language processing (Broca’s & Wernicke’s areas).
Logical & analytical thinking (math, reasoning, problem-solving).
What are the key functions of the Right Hemisphere?
Receives & processes sensations from the left side.
Controls voluntary movements on the left side.
Creativity & imagination (art, music, daydreaming).
Spatial & visual processing (faces, patterns, emotions, tunes).
What is the largest lobe of the brain, and where is it located?
Frontal Lobe – Located at the front of the brain.
What are the key functions of the Frontal Lobe?
Primary Motor Cortex: Controls voluntary movement.
Prefrontal Cortex: Planning, reasoning, problem-solving, personality.
Broca’s Area (Left Hemisphere): Controls speech production.
What are the key functions of the Parietal Lobe?
Processes touch & pain sensations (Primary Somatosensory Cortex).
Judges body position in space.
Involved in spatial reasoning & attention.
What is the main function of the Occipital Lobe?
Vision processing.
Primary Visual Cortex: Receives & processes visual information.
What are the key functions of the Temporal Lobe?
Memory & object recognition.
Facial recognition & emotional responses.
Primary Auditory Cortex: Processes sound.
Wernicke’s Area (Left Hemisphere): Language comprehension.
What are the key structures in the Medial Temporal Lobe?
Amygdala: Emotion processing (fear, anxiety, rage).
Hippocampus: Memory formation & learning.
What vital life functions does the Brain Stem control?
Breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, consciousness & sleep cycles.
What are the functions of the Cerebellum?
Balance & posture.
Motor coordination & smooth movement.
What are the 3 types of neurons?
- Sensory Neurons – Carry information to the CNS.
- Interneurons – Connect neurons within the CNS.
- Motor Neurons – Send signals from the CNS to muscles.
How do neurons communicate?
Electrical signals (Action Potentials) travel down the axon.
At the synapse, electrical signals are converted into chemical messages (neurotransmitters).
Neurotransmitters cross the synaptic gap to the next neuron.
Do neurons physically touch each other?
No! They communicate across the synapse using neurotransmitters.
What is an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)?
A brain injury that occurs AFTER birth due to trauma, stroke, infection, tumors, or toxins.
Name two examples of ABI.
- Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) – Brain degeneration from repeated trauma.
- Parkinson’s Disease – Affects movement & motor control.
What is a Congenital Brain Injury?
A brain injury that happens BEFORE birth while the fetus is still in the womb.
What are the possible causes of Congenital Brain Injury?
Trauma to the mother, placental issues, infections during pregnancy, toxins or drug use.
