Lec. 5 (cortex) Flashcards
interconnected neurons form NETWORKS in the brain; these networks are complex and _______ with growth and experience
modify
___________ + _____________ = power of the brain
number of neurons + # of connections
the more ________ of networking in the brain, the more COMPLEX processing it is capable of
layers
the darker the connection of the neurons, the _________ the connection
stronger
what determines if an action potential is sent of not?
the NUMBER of impulses (sent from lots of dif. neurons) — aka the FREQUENCY
connects the L and R brain hemispheres
corpus callosum
what does the word “hippocampus” mean?
sea horse
ultimate control and information-processing center of the brain; PINK stuff
cerebral cortex
the amygdala is in the _______ ______ in the core of the brain
limbic system
the brain can be organized by ________ + _______
structure + function
structures/lobes of the brain (4):
- frontal
- parietal
- occipital
- temporal
lobe of the brain: forehead
frontal lobe
lobe of the brain: top to near head
parietal lobe
lobe of the brain: back head
occipital lobe
lobe of the brain: side of head
temporal lobe
the 4 areas/lobes of the brain are MOSTLY ________
identical
folds of the brain
grooves
there is a deeper grove that separates the ________ and ________ lobe which is a MAJOR LANDMARK
frontal and parietal
grooves separate subparts of the _______
cortex
Sub-parts of the Cortex (2):
- motor cortex
- sensory cortex
sub-part of the cortex: the area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control VOLUNTARY MOVEMENTS; SENDS commands
motor cortex
sub-part of the cortex: RECEIVES information from skin surface and sense organs
sensory cortex
another name for sensory cortex =
parietal cortex
each portion of the motor and sensory cortex is specific to a certain ______ ______
body part
the face takes up ______ of the cortexes
1/3 (lots of brain tissue devoted to FACIAL expression – valuable for communication)
where is the MOTOR cortex located in the brain?
rear of frontal lobe
where is the SENSORY cortex located?
parietal lobe
it is typical for ________’s brains to have a lot of tissue devoted to facial expression as is it very valuable for COMMUNICATION
primates
which body part takes a LARGE portion of the cortexes?
tongue
what happens to your brain if you have a limb amputated?
re-maps that portion of the cortex to control something else
the re-mapping of the brain after something in the body/brain is altered is referred to its _________
plasticity (very flexible)
frontal lobe functions (4):
- abstract thinking / higher cognitive thinking
- planning
- social skills
- personality
parietal lobe functions (3):
- touch
- spacial orientation
- nonverbal thinking
temporal lobe functions (3):
- language
- hearing
- visual pattern recognition
occipital lobe function (1)
- vision (processing of visual info)
Broca’s area functions (2):
- speech PRODUCTION
- grammar
the Broca’s area is a sub-part of which LOBE?
frontal lobe
Wernicke’s area function (1):
speech COMPREHENSION
the Wernicke’s area is a sub-part of which LOBE?
temporal (near ears)
important components of the brain for LANGUAGE =
Broca’s (production) + Wernicke’s (comprehnsion) areas
a disorder that affects how you communicate
aphasia
if you had a stroke near the Wernicke’s area, what could happen?
aphasia – lose ability to comprehend speech
if you had a stroke near the Broca’s area, what could happen?
aphasia – lose ability to produce speech
which lobe makes humans different from every other animal?
frontal lobe
the functional MRI scan shows the _______ _______ is active as the subject looks at faces
visual cortex
the functional MRI scan shows the _____ _____ is active in patients who hallucinate sounds (shows that they’re not lying)
auditory cortex
parts of the cortex that don’t seem to have a specific function; “uncommitted”
association areas
more _______ animals have INCREASED “uncommitted” or association areas of the cortex
intelligent
association areas serve as ________ areas
storage (info. gets stored)
what kind of information is stored in association areas?
1) external stimuli
2) internal thought
T/F: memories are stored in specific parts of the brain
false (stored randomly in association areas)
specifically, the Broca’s area controls speech _________
expression
the Wernicke’es area interprets speech both _________ and ________
visually + auditory
Order in which Language is interpreted + produced in the brain (5):
- visual cortex (receives written words as visual stimulation)
- angular gyrus (transforms visual representation into auditory code)
- Wernicke’s area (interprets auditory code)
- Broca’s area (controls speech muscles via the motor cortex)
- Motor cortex (word is pronounced)
transforms visual representation into auditory code
angular gyrus
which part of the brain are active when you HEAR words?
auditory cortex + Wernicke’s area
which part of the brain are active when you SEE words?
visual cortex + angular gyrus
which part of the brain are active when you SPEAK words?
Broca’s area + motor cortex
the Broca’s area and Wernicke’s are typically dominate in WHICH hemisphere?
left
since the Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas are said to dominate the LEFT hemisphere, language is said to be ___________
lateralized (left and right sides of the brain are specialised to attend to different information)
connects the L and R hemisphere
corpus callosum
cutting the corpus callosum is still practiced today in order to reduce what?
epileptic seizures
how does cutting the corpus callosum prevent epileptic seizures?
prevents seizure signals from traveling to the other side of the brain
objects to the LEFT are processed on which side of the brain?
right side (and vice versa)
the _______ ________ shares info between the right and left hemishphere (unless it is cut)
corpus callosum
with the corpus callosum severed, objects present on the ________ visual field can be NAMED; objects on the ________ visual field CANNOT
right; left (cannot)
_______ hemisphere controls the LEFT side of the body… and vice versa
right
for language + SPEAKING, you will only report what the _____ side processed
left
when pointing + MOVING your LEFT hand to report an answer, you will only report what the _______ hemisphere processed
right
where the crossover of sight and processing in the brain occurs
optic nerve
when pointing + MOVING your RIGHT hand to report an answer, you will only report what the _______ hemisphere processed
left
