Neuroscience basics Flashcards
Lecture 1
What is the central nervous system made up of?
Brain and spinal cord
What is the peripheral nervous system made up of?
Cranial nerves and spinal nerves
Role of the peripheral nervous system
To act as a connection between the wider body parts and organs, and the CNS
What are the two main components that the peripheral nervous system is broken down into?
Autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system
WHich out of the CNS or PNS only controls voluntary actions?
CNS
Examples of things controlled by the autonomic nervous system?
Heart muscle, smooth muscle, glands
Examples of things controlled by the somatic nervous system?
Voluntary skeletal muscle
Two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
Role of parasympathetic nervous system?
Calming down
Role of sympathetic nervous system?
Alerting and increasing BP etc
Main functions of the nervous system?
Sensory processing, motor coordination, cognitive functions
What does the neural foundations refer to?
The neurons and networks that form the basis of how movement is initiated and coordinated
What does motor systems refer to?
Parts of the brain involved in planning, controlling and securing voluntary movements
What makes up the forebrain?
cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, amygdala and corpus callosum
What makes up the hindbrain
Pons, cerebellum, medulla oblongata
Role of cerebral cortex?
Higher cognitive function (thinking, decision making)
What makes up the subcortical structures?
Thalamus, hypothalamus and amygdala
Role of subcortical structures
Regulating essential functions like sleep, hormone balance and emotions
Four lobes of the brain
Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
Role of frontal lobe?
coordinates two halves, memory and movement
Role of parietal lobe?
Sensory functions, attention, mood and personality (somatosensory)
Role of temporal lobe?
Auditory and vision, emotional response, memory and information (speech and hearing)
Role of occipital lobe
Mainly vision processing
Role of the hindbrain?
Regulates vital autonomic functions like heart rate, respiration and blood pressure
Role of the cerebellum?
Motor control, coordination, balance and processing sensory info
Role of pons
Communication between different areas of the brain. Also regulates sleep and arousal
What is the brainstem made up of?
Midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata
Role of brainstem?
autonomic regulation
Types of motor function?
Gross and fine
Gross motor function?
Involve large muscle groups for activities like walking, running and jumping
Fine motor functions?
involve smaller muscles for precise tasks like writing and buttoning shirts
