Lessons 5 and 6- Temporal Lobes and Amygdala

Question 1

What are the main functions of the temporal lobe?

Answer 1

processing auditory information (i.e. hearing, sound, recognition of speech). Also involved in memory and encoding faces and expression.

Question 2

Which number points to the Temporal lobe?

Answer 2

3

Question 3

What is the name of the primary area of the temporal lobe?

Answer 3

Primary Auditory Cortex

Question 4

What type of auditory info is the LEFT primary auditory cortex responsible for processing?

Answer 4

involved in receiving and processing verbal auditory information: linking to Language (remember- left for Language)

Question 5

What type of auditory info is the RIGHT primary auditory cortex responsible for processing?

Answer 5

involved in in receiving and processing non-verbal auditory information

Question 6

What is the name of the primary language centre in the LEFT Temporal lobe?

Answer 6

Wernicke’s Area

Question 7

What is the function of Wernicke’s area?

Answer 7

Involved in the comprehension of speech (i.e., making sense of verbal communication).

Question 8

What is Wernicke’s Aphasia?

Answer 8

Severe Wernicke’s aphasia may result in a complete absence of understanding language. Speech is, by and large, fluent, but it may appear to not make sense to listeners, as the patients themselves cannot understand what they are saying. This meaningless speech is sometimes called jargon aphasia.

Question 9

Where is the Hippocampus found?

Answer 9

deep in the temporal lobe (underneath the surface)

Question 10

what is the function of the hippocampus?

Answer 10

It plays an essential role in the formation of new memories about past experiences (episodic memories- “episodes of our life”)

Question 11

What is the Amygdala?

Answer 11

small, almond-shaped collection of neurons located deep inside the temporal lobe.

Question 12

What is the main function of the amygdala?

Answer 12

It is mainly responsible for processing fear.

Question 13

What is the Fight-Flight response?

Answer 13

human stress response- increase in physiological arousal to deal with a stressor/threat

Question 14

What are the physical changes to the body associated with the Fight-Flight response?

Answer 14

Increased heart rate
Increased blood pressure
Increased respiration rate
Increased perspiration (sweating)
Decreased digestive processes (as these are not essential in dealing with the immediate threat of the stressor)
Loss of bladder control (again, not essential in dealing with the stressor)

Question 15

What is the HPA axis?

Answer 15

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Question 16

What is the effect of the HPA axis on the body?

Answer 16

Stress results in the hypothalamus stimulating the pituitary gland to release hormones that further cause the adrenal glands to release cortisol.

Question 17

What is cortisol?

Answer 17

Cortisol is a long-term (chronic) stress hormone.

Question 18

What is the SAM pathway?

Answer 18

Sympathomedullary pathway- the route through which the brain directs the Sympathetic branch of the Autonomic nervous system (ANS) to activate in response to short-term stress.

Question 19

What happens when the SAM pathway is stimulated?

Answer 19

The end-point of activation of the SAM Pathway, is the release of Adrenaline and Noradrenaline (stress hormones) which will also stimulate the Amygdala.
This is why when we are confronted by a stressor, we often feel a fear response shortly afterwards.