Modules 11-13 Flashcards
lesion
tissue destruction in brain, naturally or experimentally caused (animal tested)
optogenetics
uses light to control the activity of neurons
stimulate
electrically, chemically, and magnetically to note the effect
EEG
electroencephalogram
electrodes placed on scalp, amplified redout of such wave in the brain
funcion = active
MEG
magnetoencephalography
measures magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electric activity
not as powerful as PET
function = active
CT
computed tomography
examines the brain by taking X-ray photographs that can reveal brain damage
sliced images
PET scan
positron emission tomography
visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
magnetic fields and radio waves that produce computer generated images of soft tissue, show brain anatomy
structure: how is it?
fMRI
functional MRI
reveal the brain’s function and structure using blood flow, expensive to use
MRI + PET scan abilities
brainstem
oldest and innermost region, automatic survival functions
medulla
base of the brainstem at slight swelling of spinal cord that controls heartbeat and breathing
thalamus
sensory control center, recieves info from all senses but smell
relays messages between lower brain centers and cerebral cortex
reticular formation
controls arousal, nerve network travels up brainstem and into thalamus
cerebellum
processes sensory input, motor output, and nonverbal learning/memory
voluntary movement/balance, muscle memory
limbic system
emotions and drives in neural system below cerebral hemisphere (including hippocampus, hypothalamus, and amygdala)
amygdala
emotion, fear, aggression
2 bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system
hypothalamus
maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp), helps govern endocrine system with pituitary gland, linked to emotion/reward, below thalamus
hippocampus
processes storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events, neural center in limbic system
corpus callosum
axon fibers connecting two cerebral hemispheres
pituitary
master endocrine gland
pons
helps coordinate movement and control sleep, above medulla
cerebral cortex
thin surface layer of interconnected cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; ultimate control and info-processing center
glial cells (glia)
cells in nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; thinking and learning (glue cells)
cerebrum
hemispheres that make up 85% of brains weight; enables perceiving, thinking, speaking
frontal lobe
front of brain behind the forehead, speaking and muscle movements, making plans and judgements
parietal lobes
top of the brain towards the back, receives sensory input for touch and body position
occipital lobe
back of the head, receives information from visual fields
temporal lobe
front of head, above ears, receives auditory info from the opposite ear
motor cortex
rear of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movement
somatosensory cortex
front of the parietal lobes that registers and process body touch and movement sensations
association areas
areas of cerebral cortex involved in learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
prefrontal cortex
forward part of frontal lobes include judgment, planning, and processing new memories
plasticity
ability to modify itself after damage, especially during childhood; reorganizing after damage or building new pathways based on experience
neurogenesis
formation of new neurons
split brain
condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them (mainly corpus callosum)
perceptual tasks
brain waves, blood flow, glucose consumption
left hemisphere
quick, literal interpretations of language
right hemisphere
excels in making inferences, moderate speech, orchestrate sense of self
right-left difference preop
injects senative to artery of left hemisphere, right arm falls limp and speechlessness occurs
injects senative to right hemisphere artery and left side goes limp but speech remains
consciousness
awareness of ourselves and environment
cognitive neuroscience
study of the brain activity linked with mental processes
dual processing
info is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
blindsight
the ability to respond to visual stimuli without consciously perceiving them
