Module 7: The Cerebral Cortex and our Divided Brain Flashcards
cerebrum
80% of brain, two hemispheres
cerebral cortex
gray outer lining that is wrinkled for more surface area
inner white matter myelin axons linking parts of brain
glial cells
support neurons and their connections
4 lobes of cerebrum
frontal, parietal, occiptal, temporal
frontal lobe
behind forehead
involved in planning, judgement, impulse control
contains motor cortex
motor cortex
controls voluntary muscle movements
at rear of frontal lobe
parietal lobe
top and rear of head
controls mathematical and spatial reasoning
contains somatosensory cortex
somatosensory cortex
skin senses, warmth, cold, touch, pain
area at front of parietal lobe
occipital lobe
contains visual cortex
back of head
visual cortex
area in occipital lobe that processes visual info
temporal lobe
hearing, language, memory, facial recognition
side of head
contains auditory cortex
auditory cortex
area in temporal lobe that processes auditory info
association areas
areas of cerebral cortex not involved in primary motor or sensory functions
involved in higher mental functions - learning, memory, thinking, speaking
prefrontal cortex
in frontal lobe
enables judgement, planning, process of new memories
plasticity
ability for brain to modify itself if damaged
neurogenesis
formation of new neurons
laterilization
specialization to a hemisphere
left hemisphere
language, logic, problem solving
right hemisphere
nonverbal imagery, spatial reasoning, emotions
corpus callosum
structure that connects the hemispheres and carries messages between them
split brain
condition of severed corpus callosum; can describe objects held in right hand but not their left
alien hand syndrome
in split brain patients, left hand is not always consciously controlled by the person
language in right handed people
nearly all control in left hemisphere
language in left handed people
2/3 in left hemisphere
some may have control in both, rare to have control in only left hemisphere