middle of ch 3, psych brain structure

Question 1

Functional Specialization

Answer 1

Identifying brain areas according to cognitive or behavioral functions they perform.

Question 2

Reticular Formation

Answer 2

A network of neurons along the spinal column and brainstem responsible for maintaining tone and arousal in the central nervous system.

Question 3

Neural Communication

Answer 3

Process of transmitting signals between neurons by blocking and building walls terminals of axons.

Question 4

Basal ganglia

Answer 4

Subcortical structures important for movement, shaped like a ram’s horn, and located adjacent to the lateral ventricles; crucial for coordinating motor functions.

Question 5

REM sleep

Answer 5

A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements and dreaming, often associated with somewhat synchronic neural activity.

Question 6

Amygdala

Answer 6

A structure involved in threat detection, triggering emotional responses and memory formation in response to strong sensory inputs that signal danger.

Question 7

Hemispheric level

Answer 7

The basic organizational level of the brain involving the left and right hemispheres, each processing information differently.

Question 8

Sleepwalking
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Answer 8

A phenomenon where individuals walk or perform actions while technically in deep sleep, distinct from REM sleep and often leading to disorientation upon waking

Question 9

Midbrain

Answer 9

A region of the brain above the hindbrain that houses descending motor pathways and includes structures like the pegmentum and tectum.

Question 10

Cerebellum

Answer 10

A brain structure located under the cerebral cortex responsible for smoothing and sequencing voluntary movements and cognitive processes like attention and working memory.

Question 11

Pons

Answer 11

A part of the brain involved in interrupting motor commands during REM sleep to prevent acting out dreams, causing REM paralysis.

Question 12

Thalamus

Answer 12

A bilateral subcortical structure that acts as a sensory routing system, directing sensory inputs like vision, audition, and somatosensation to the appropriate areas of the cortex.

Question 13

Corpus callosum

Answer 13

A thick bundle of nerve fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres, allowing communication between them.

Question 14

Spinal Reflexes

Answer 14

Automatic behavioral responses to sensory stimuli that bypass cortical input, often involving the spinal column.

Question 15

The Medulla

Answer 15

Also known as the brainstem, it controls vital functions like breathing and cardiovascular activity, located medially atop the spinal cord.

Question 16

Brain Location Terminology

Answer 16

Using terms like lateral (outside), medial (inside), anterior (front), and posterior (back) to describe brain structures in relation to each other.

Question 17

Lobe

Answer 17

Cortex where certain functions are localized in the brain.

Question 18

Temporal Lobe

Answer 18

involved in auditory and verbal perception, learning, and memory consolidation.

Question 19

Levels of Brain Organization

Answer 19

The brain is organized into hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, which have both structural and functional divisions.

Question 20

Neuroplasticity

Answer 20

The brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections in response to learning or experience.

Question 21

Structure Reflects Function

Answer 21

The concept that the structure of brain areas is related to their functions, with efficient areas possibly enlarging with use.

Question 22

Anatomical Divisions of the Brain

Answer 22

Major divisions like forebrain, hindbrain, and midbrain that are crucial for understanding the brain’s different functions.

Question 23

Occipital Lobe

Answer 23

Specialized for vision; basic visual processing occurs at the most posterior aspect.

Question 24

Seizure

Answer 24

An intense and unusually synchronized neural activity that may evolve from the neural patterns seen during dreaming.

Question 25

Frontal Lobe

Answer 25

Important for cognitive processes like working memory, planning, emotion regulation, and have a protracted developmental timeline.

Question 26

Phantom limb

Answer 26

Phantom limb is a condition where an individual who has lost a limb still experiences sensations and sometimes pain originating from the non-existent limb, showcasing the concept of neuroplasticity in the brain.

Question 27

Sleep paralysis

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Answer 27

A state where the body is temporarily immobilized during sleep, which could lead to a transition into a neurological seizure in individuals prone to seizures

Question 28

Hippocampal formation

Answer 28

Bilateral structures essential for consolidating information into memory, promoting neurogenesis in adulthood, and critical for the formation of new memories.

Question 29

Fight or flight response

Answer 29

A physiological reaction triggered by the amygdala in response to perceived threat, involving the release of stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine.

Question 30

Cortical structures

Answer 30

Regions in the brain that play a significant role in various functions, such as emotion and motivation.

Question 31

Left hemisphere

Answer 31

Usually involved in sequential and logical processing, suited for tasks like language and symbolic meaning

Question 32

Brain lobes

Answer 32

Four main areas in each hemisphere that are specialized for different functions, such as occipital lobe for vision

Question 33

Mirror Therapy

Answer 33

Treatment involving the use of a mirror to help reinterpret phantom pain as movement.

Question 34

Neuroplasticity

Answer 34

The ability of the brain to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

Question 35

Hormonal pathways

Answer 35

Routes through which hormones are released in response to certain triggers, like the fight or flight response.

Question 36

Cerebral cortex

Answer 36

The outer layer of the brain responsible for complex brain functions, containing a large number of neurons and folded structure for efficiency.

Question 37

Function of Temporoparietal Occipital Junction

Answer 37

Region where the three lobes meet; injury here can lead to Guzman syndrome affecting number processing and writing.

Question 38

Synaptogenesis

Answer 38

Synaptogenesis is the formation of new synapses, enabling neurons to establish new connections and eliminate existing ones based on signaling needs.

Question 39

Right hemisphere

Answer 39

Processes information in a holistic way, focusing on integration rather than sequential processing.

Question 40

Restraint therapy

A technique used in stroke rehabilitation where the strong limb is restrained to encourage the use and rehabilitation of the weaker limb.

Question 41

Phantom Pain

Answer 41

Perception of pain in a non-existent limb due to reorganization of somatosensory cortex.

Question 42

Parietal Lobe

Answer 42

Responsible for somatosensory information and receives tactile and positional inputs, contralateral organization.

Question 43

Neuroplasticity

Answer 43

Neuroplasticity refers to the inherent flexibility in neural communication, allowing neurons to change how they communicate and respond to signals.

Question 44

Somatosensory Cortex

Answer 44

Band of cortex dedicated to inputs from sensory receptors in various parts of the body

Question 45

Homunculus

Answer 45

Representation of human body showing the amount of somatosensory cortex allocated to different body parts.