Module 6 Flashcards
what is the function of older brain networks
older brain networks sustain basic life functions and enable memory, emotions, and basic drives
what is the function of newer neural networks
newer neural networks within the cerebrum - the two cerebral hemispheres contributing 85% of the brain’s weight, they form specialized work teams that enable our perceiving, thinking, and speaking
what covers the two hemispheres of the cerebrum
the cerebral cortex
what is the function of the cerebral cortex
the cerebral cortex is a relative newcomer, it is your brains thinking crown, your bodies ultimate control and information processing center
what distinctively makes us human
the complex functions of our cerebral cortex
what are the brains left and right hemispheres filled with
the brains left and right hemispheres are filled mainly with axons from nerves, connecting the cortex to the brains other regions
how many nerve cells and synaptic connections does the cerebral cortex contain
some of the 20 to 23 billion nerve cells in the brain and 300 trillion synaptic connections
how is each hemisphere’s cortex subdivided
they are each subdivided into four lobes, seperated by prominent fissures or folds
where is the frontal lobe located
behind your forehead
where are the parietal lobe located
at the top and to the rear of your head
where are the occipital lobes located
at the back of your head
where are the temporal lobes located
just above your ears
what are the four lobes of the hemispheres
- frontal lobes
- parietal lobes
- occipital lobes
- temporal lobes
what are the frontal lobes involved in
involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
what is the function of the parietal lobes
the parietal lobes receive sensory input for touch and body position
what do the occipital lobes include
the occipital lobes include the areas that receive information from the visual fields
what do the temporal lobes include
the temporal lobes include the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ears
who discovered the motor cortex
German physicians Gustav Fritsch and Eduard Hitzig
when was the motor cortex discovered
1870
does the brain have sensory receptors
the brain has no sensory receptors
who was able to map the motor cortex
Otfrid Foerster and Wilder Penfield were able to map the motor cortex
how did Foerster and Penfield map the motor cortex
they stimulated different cortical areas and observed responses in hundreds of wide awake patients
what did Foerster and Penfield discover
they discovered that body areas requiring precise control, such as fingers and mouth, occupy the greatest amount of cortical space
what else did Penfield identify
he identified another cortical area at the front of the parietal lobes, it was parallel to and just behind the motor cortex - called the somatosensory cortex
what is the function of the somatosensory cortex
the somatosensory cortex receives information from the skin senses, such as touch and temperature, and from the movement of body parts
where are the association areas found
they are found in all four lobes
what is the prefrontal cortex
one of the association areas located in the forward part of the frontal lobes, which enables judgement, planning, and processing of new memories
what can frontal lobe damage result in
frontal lobe damage can result in altered personality and remove a person’s inhibitions
what do our frontal lobes help steer us away from
our frontal lobes help steer us away from violent actions
what is plasticity
plasticity is the extent a damaged brain can reorganize itself
can severed brain and spinal cord neurons regenerate
no
are brain functions preassigned
some brain functions seem preassigned to specific areas
can neural tissue reorganize itself
some neural tissue can reorganize in response to damage
what is constraint-induced therapy
a therapy that aims to rewire brains and improve the dexterity of a brain-damaged child or an adult stroke victim
what is neurogenesis
the process of producing new neurons
what are stem cells
stem cells are the body’s raw materials - cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated
what can stem cells be used for
stem cells can be used to regenerate and repair diseased or damaged tissues in people
can stem cells become new tissue
they have the potential to be grown to become new tissue for use in transplant and regenerative medicine
what are some natural promoters of neurogenesis
- exercise
- sex
- sleep
- non stressful but stimulating environments
what is the corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
what is split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers
