Monday Flashcards
Midbrain
The midbrain, located just above the pons, is involved in vision, movement, hearing, and muscle coordination, although it is not the central processing unit. Rather, the midbrain is an assistant, just one part of the circuitry that makes up brain function.
Hindbrain
The hindbrain includes the upper part of the spinal cord, the brain stem, and a wrinkled ball of tissue called the cerebellum. The hindbrain controls the body’s vital functions such as respiration and heart rate. The cerebellum coordinates movement and is involved in learned movements.
Corpus Callosum
Bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres, messages move from one side of the brain to the other
Broca’s Area
Located in the lower portion of the left frontal lobe, controls motor functions involved with speech production and language comprehension
Motor Cortex
This area of the brain receives information from various lobes of the brain and utilizes this information to carry out body movements
Wernicke’s Area
It is located in the temporal lobe on the left side of the brain and is responsible for the comprehension of speech
Frontal Lobes
Areas of the cortex located in the front of the brain, associated with reasoning, motor skills higher level cognition, and expressive language
Parietal Lobes
Sections of the brain located at the top and back of each cerebral hemisphere containing the centers for processing sensory signals such as touch, pressure, temperature, and pain
Occipital Lobes
Section of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere containing the visual centers of the brain that process visual information
Temporal Lobe
Areas of the cortex located just behind the temples containing the neurons responsible for the sense of hearing and meaningful speech
Neuroplasticity
The reorganization of neural pathways as a result of experience.
Association Areas
Process higher-order functions such as thinking, remembering, planning, forming judgments, and speaking.
Long-term Potentiation
A pattern of neural firing that strengthens synaptic connections over time.
Somatosensory Cortex
Part of your brain that receives and processes sensory information from the entire body
Forebrain
The forebrain is important for the planning and execution of movements, sensory processing, regulating sleep wake states and behavioral responses to emotions such as stress and fear