Neuroscience and Behavior: structures of the brain Flashcards
What is the nervous system?
an interacting network of neurons that conveys information thruout the body
What are two major divisions of the nervous system?
- central
- peripheral
What makes up the central nervous system?
- brain
- spinal cord
What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?
the peripheral nervous system connects the central nervous system to the body’s organs + muscles
What makes up the peripheral nervous system?
- autonomic *conveys involuntary and automatic commands
- somatic * conveys info in and out of the central nervous system / voluntary actions
What are the two affects of the autonomic portion of the PNS?
- sympathetic *arousing
- parasympathetic *calming
What are the two divisions of the peripheral nervous system?
- autonomic
- somatic
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system *PNS
- sympathetic *arousing
- parasympathetic *calming
What is the function of the somatic nervous system?
- a set of nerves that conveys info between voluntary muscles and the central nervous system
*humans have conscious control over this system
What is the function of the autonomic nervous system *PNS
- a set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs, and glands
*involuntary controls
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system and their functions?
- sympathetic nervous system: a set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations
- parasympathetic nervous system: helps the body return to a normal resting state
What are spinal reflexes?
simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions
ex. withdrawing from pain is reflexibe activity controlled by the spinal cord - painful sensations travel directly to the spiral cord via sensory neurons, then issue a command to motor neurons
What parts of the body do the cervical nerves in the spinal cord control?
- head/ neck
- diaphram
- deltoids/ biceps
- triceps
- hands
What parts of the body does the thoracic nerves in the spinal cord control?
- chest muscles
- abdominal muscles
What parts of the body do the lumbar nerves in the spinal cord control?
- leg muscles
What parts of the body do the sacral nerves in the spinal cord control?
- bowels/ bladder
- sexual function
What are the three different parts of the brain? in order from simplest to highest functions?
- hindbrain
- midbrain
- forebrain
What is the hindbrain?
the hindbrain coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord and controls the basic functions of life
*spinal cord is continuous with the hindbrain
What are some of the functions of the hindbrain?
- respiration
- alertness
- motor skills
What structures make up the hindbrain?
- medulla
- reticular formation
- cerebellum
- pons
What is the function of the medulla *hindbrain
coordinates heart rate, circulation, respiration
What is the function of the pons *hindbrain
relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
What is the function of the cerebellum *hindbrain
controls fine motor skills
What is the function of the reticular formation *hindbrain
regulates sleep, wakefulness, and arousal
What two structures make up the midbrain?
- tectum
- tegmentum
What is the function of the tectum *midbrain
- orients an organism in the environment
- receives stimuli from sensory organs and moves organism towards the stimulus
What is the function of the tegmentum *midbrain
involved in movement and arousal; helps orient an organism towards sensory stimuli
What is the function of the midbrain?
The midbrain is important for orientation *tectum and movement *tegmentum
What is the forebrain/ function of the forebrain?
- highest level of the brain
- controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory and motor functions
What are the two main sections of the forebrain?
- cerebral cortex
- subcortical structures
What is the cerebral cortex *forebrain
the outermost layer of the brain, visible to the naked eye, and divided into two hemispheres *left/right
What are the subcortical structures *forebrain
areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the center of the brain
What is the basal ganglia *forebrain/ subcortical structure
a set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements
What is the function of the thalamus *forebrain/subcortical structure
relays and filters information rom the senses to the cerebral cortex
What is the function of the hippocampus *forebrain/ subcortical structure
critical for creating and integrating new memories
What is the function of the amygdala *forebrain/subcortical structure
plays a role in emotional processes
What is the function of the hypothalamus *forebrain/ hindbrain
regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior
What is the function of the pituitary gland *forebrain/ subcortical structure
releases hormones that direct many other glands
Describe role /function of the forebrain
the forebrain is the highest level of the brain and is critical for complex cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions
the forebrain is divided into two parts: the cerebral cortex + subcortical structures
the cerebral cortex and outermost layer of the brain is divided into two hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum
What are the four lobes that make up the cerebral cortex?
- frontal
- parietal
- temporal
- occipital
- gyrus - smooth
*sulci - wrinkles
What is the corpus callosum?
a thick band of nerve fibers that connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemispheres
What is the function of the occipital lobe?
processes visual information
What is the function of the temporal lobe?
the temporal lobe is responsible for hearing and language
What is the function of the parietal lobe?
the parietal lobe processes information abt touch
*contains the somatosensory cortex: registers touch on skin on the opposite side of the hemisphere/ body
What does the motor cortex control? *frontal lobe
initiates voluntary movements and sends messages to the basal ganglia, cerebellum and spinal cord
What does the somatosensory cortex control *parietal lobe
represents skin areas of particular parts on the contralateral side of the body
What is the function of the frontal lobe?
the frontal lobe has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory and judgement
What are association areas?
composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cerebral cortex
