Nervous System Biology Flashcards
Dorsal Prefrontal Cortex
Associated with attention and cognition
Ventral Prefrontal Cortex
Associated with experience of emotion
Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex
Decision-making and controlling emotional responses
Kluver-Bucy Syndrome
Results from the bilateral destruction of the amygdala; results in hyperorality, hypersexuality, and disinhibited behavior
Central Nervous System
The brain and the spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
Everything of the nervous system that is not the brain or spinal cord; the 12 cranial nerves and the 31 pairs of spinal nerves
Sensory neurons
Also known as afferent neurons; transmit information from receptors to the central nervous system
Motor neurons
Also known as efferent neurons; transmit motor information from central nervous system to muscles and glands
Interneurons
Neurons of the central nervous system; are important for decision making and for reflexive pathway
Reflex arcs
Neural pathways that avoid input from the brain for a rapid response
Somatic nervous system
Voluntary movements
Autonomic nervous system
Involuntary muscle contractions
Parasympathetic nervous system
“Rest and digest”; conserve energy in a resting state
Sympathetic nervous system
“Fight or flight”; activated by stress; resources dedicated towards responding to the stressor
Lower Motor Neurons
Efferent neurons of the peripheral nervous system; they synapse with skeletal muscles and form a neuromuscular junction
Lower Motor Neuron Signs
Result from lower motor neuron abnormalities; include atrophy of skeletal muscle, hyporeflexia, hypotonia, and involuntary twitches
Muscle Stretch Reflex
A reflex that causes the muscle to contract after it has been stretched
Gray Matter
Most of the neurons soma (outside in the brain)
White Matter
Neurons with myelinated axons (outside in the spinal cord)
Upper Motor Neurons
Neurons in the brain that synapse onto (and thereby control) lower motor neurons
Corticospinal Tract
The tract of when an upper motor neuron synapses onto a lower motor neuron in the spinal cord
Corticobulbar tract
The tract of when an upper motor neuron synapses onto a lower motor neuron in the brain stem
Upper Motor Neuron Signs
Result from upper motor neuron abnormalities; include hyperreflexia, hypertonia, extensor plantar response (toes extend upward instead of downward), and clonus (activation of antagonist muscle)
Somatosensory Tracts
Tracts taken by the spinal cord to deliver information to the brain.
- Position, vibration, fine touch
- Pain, temperature, gross touch
Meninges
Thick sheet of connective tissue covering the brain – composed of dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Aqueous solution in which the brain and spinal cord rest
Ventricles of the brain
The internal cavities; cell in these cavities produce the cerebrospinal fluid
Brainstem
The hindbrain and midbrain; the most primitive region of the brain. It connects all parts of the brain together including the cranial nerves
Cerebral Cortex
Most advanced structure of the brain evolutionarily; associated with language processing, problem-solving, impulse control, long-term planning, and other higher-order functions; also called the neocortex
Midbrain
Responsible for sensorimotor reflexes
Hindbrain
Where the brain meets the spinal cord; controls balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, other vital functions necessary for life
Medulla Oblongata
Part of the hindbrain that regulates breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure among other vital functions
Pons
Part of the hindbrain and regulate sensory/motor pathways between cortex and medulla.
Cerebellum
Part of the hindbrain; maintains posture and balance and coordinated body movements
Colliculi
A pair of nuclui in the midbrain responsible for receiving sensory input. Superior colliculus receives visual sensory input and inferior colliculus receives auditory sensory input
Forebrain
Associated with complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes and is therefore the greatest influence on human behavior
Neuropsychology
The study of functions and behaviors associated with specific regions of the brain
Lesion Studies
Intentionally shutting down brain tissue (not in humans!) corresponding to certain brain structures to observe changes in behavior.
Tissue removal, radiofrequency, neurochemical, and cortical cooling
CT Scan
X-rays of the brain taken to map brain structure
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Uses magnetic field to interact with hydrogen and map out hydrogen dense regions; used to map brain structure
PET Scan
Radioactive sugar in injected into body, and its uptake and dispersion is imaged; used to map both function and structure
Functional MRI
An MRI that also measures changes associated with blook flow; used to map both function and structure
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Measures broad patterns of electrical activity in the brain
Regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF)
Measures changes in blood flow to different parts of the brain
Thalamus
The switchboard for all of the incoming senses except smell; it receives, sorts, and trasmits sensory information to the appropriate areas
Hypothalamus
Serves homeostatic function and is important for emotional experiences during high arousal, aggressive behavior, and sexual behavior
Lateral hypothalamus
Triggers eating and drinking
Ventromedial hypothalamus
Provides signals to stop eating and drinking when necessary
Anterior hypothalamus
Controls sexual behavior, sleep, and body temperature
Posterior Pituitary
An endocrine gland that is comprised of axonal projections from the hypothalamus; it is the site of release of various hypothalamic hormones
Pineal gland
An endocrine gland that is important for many biological rhythms, most famously the circadian rhythm
Basal Ganglia
A group of structures in the middle of the brain that coordinate muscle movement and relay information from the motor cortex to the central nervous system
Extrapyramidal system
A system of the brain that collects information about body position and carries it to the central nervous system (it does not interact with motor neurons)
Limbic System
A set of brain structures associated with emotions and memory. It includes the hippocampus, the hypothalamus, amygdala, thalamus, and septal nuclei
Septal nuclei
Pleasure centers of the brain; there is an association between septal nuclei stimulation and addictive behaviors
Amygdala
Plays an important role in defensive and aggressive behaviors
Hippocampus
Vital role in memory and learning; it consolidates memories into long term memory and can redistribute memories to the cerebral cortex
Fornix
A projection in the limbic system that allows the hippocampus to communicate with the rest of the limbic system
Cerebral hemispheres
Halves of the cerebral cortex
Frontal lobe
The front surface of the cortex; is divided into prefrontal cortex and primary motor cortex and contains Broca’s area
Prefrontal cortex
Manages executive functions by supervising the processes associated with perception, memory, emotion, impulse control, and long-term planning
Association area
A term that refers to any area of the brain that integrates input from diverse brain regions
Projection areas
A term that refers to any area of the brain that performs simple perceptual and motor tasks (contrasted with association area)
Primary Motor Cortex
Initiates voluntary movements by sending signals to the spinal cord to muscle cells; contains the motor homunculus (mapping of body parts that can move)
Parietal Lobe
Located behind the frontal lobe; contains the somatosensory cortex and is responsible for spatial manipulation
Somatosensory cortex
The destination area for all incoming sensory information; contains the somatosensory homunculus (mapping of sensation of body parts)
Occitipal Lobe
Located at the rear of the brain; contains the visual cortex (so it processes visual stimuli)
Temporal Lobe
Located on each side of the brain beneath the parietal lobe; contain the auditory cortex and Wernicke’s Area. It also functions in memory processing and emotions
Auditory cortex
Where auditory stimuli are received from the ears and processed
Contralateral Communication
Each hemisphere communicates with the opposite side of the body
Ipsilateral Communication
Each hemisphere communicates with the same side of the body
Dominant Hemisphere
Usually the left; controls language processing, logic, math skills, and analytic functions
Nondominant Hemisphere
Usually the right; controls intuition, creativity, emotional recognition, music cognition, and visuospatial processing
Corpus Callosum
A connective tissue between the two hemispheres allowing them to communicate. If severed, “split brain” patient results because the hemispheres can no longer talk to each other
Reticular Formation
A neural network located in the brainstem that connect various parts of the brain and mediate overall level of consciousness
Cranial Nerves
12 pairs of nerve connecting to the reticular formation that do a range of tasks
Internal Capsule
A white matter structure of each cerebral hemisphere that contains the corticospinal tract
