Parts of the Brain and Functions

Question 1

Basal ganglia

Answer 1

a group of interconnected structures that are evolutionarily older subcortical motor system necessary for planning and executing movement

Question 2

Brainstem

Answer 2

the lowest region of the brain; it sits on top of and is continuous with the spinal cord, collecting sensory signals from the body and sending signals down from the brain to create movement and regulate vital functions

Question 3

Broca’s area

Answer 3

an area in the frontal lobe, typically in the left hemisphere, that is generally associated with language production

Question 4

frontal lobe

Answer 4

contains the primary motor cortex and a map of the body’s muscles, essential for movement and planning; is involved in higher-order decision-making, thought, and self control

Question 5

insular cortex

Answer 5

supports the sense of taste and allows perception of the internal organs; relates to the sense of internal pain

Question 6

hippocampus

Answer 6

a component of the limbic system crucial for certain aspects of memory, the ability to navigate the environment, and the ability to think about the future

Question 7

hypothalamus

Answer 7

the master controller of the brain and body; integrates bodily signals with their associated feelings and behaviors; regulates specific functions, including hunger, body rhythms, reward seeking, and aggression

Question 8

medulla oblongata

Answer 8

a lower brainstem structure that controls autonomic functions, including heat rate and blood pressure, and reflexes like coughing and swallowing

Question 9

occipital lobe

Answer 9

contains the primary visual cortex and is largely devoted to vision

Question 10

parietal lobe

Answer 10

contains the primary somatosensory cortex, supporting a map of the body’s skin surface and the sense of touch

Question 11

pons

Answer 11

an upper brainstem structure that controls breathing and relays sensations, such as hearing, taste, and balance, to the subcortex and cortex

Question 12

temporal lobe

Answer 12

contains the primary auditory cortex and is responsible for the ability to hear and understand language

Question 13

Thalamus

Answer 13

a subcortical structure deep in the middle of the brain; communicates information to and from all of the sensory systems except the olfactory (smell) system, regulating alertness and consciousness

Question 14

Wernicke’s area

Answer 14

area in the temporal lobe, typically in the left hemisphere, thought to be important in language comprehension

Question 15

Amygdala

Answer 15

a component of the limbric system important for registering the emotional significance of events

Question 16

cerebellum

Answer 16

a hindbrain structure that supports a variety of functions, including coordination, precision, balance, and accurate timing

Question 17

reticular formation

Answer 17

a structure that runs through the brainstem and is connected to many parts of the brain; plays a central role in arousal and attention