Parts of the Brain

Question 1

Amygdala

Answer 1

Location: Medial temporal lobe
Function: Memory formation, fear response, attributing emotions to memories

Question 2

Basal ganglia

Answer 2

Location: Base of forebrain
Function: Motor control

Question 3

Hippocampus

Answer 3

Location: Medial temporal lobe, posterior to the amygdala
Function: Memory formation, spatial navigation, pattern separation, and emotional regulation

Question 4

Insula

Answer 4

Location: Inside the brain (can not be seen), split into 2 part by the central insular sulcus
Function: Perception of pain, sell/body awareness (functions are still poorly understood due to location)

Question 5

Prefrontal cortex

Answer 5

Location: Frontal lobe, separated into 3 regions
Function:
- Dorsolateral: Planning, and working memory
- Orbit-frontal: Decoding taste and touch, & reward and punishment related behaviour control
- Ventromedial: Encoding emotional stimuli & anxiety and fear regulation

Question 6

Hypothalamus

Answer 6

Location: Forebrain
Function: Produces hormones to help & maintain homeostasis & bodily reactions to stressors

Question 7

Nucleus Accumbens

Answer 7

Location: 2 oval-shaped parts that sit side by side and are made up of 2 parts (outer shell & core) in the basal forebrain (centre)
Function:
- Outer shell: connected to the limbic system & behaviour
- Core: connected to the motor neurons
- “Neural interface between motivation & action”