PSYCH 100 - Chapter 3

Question 1

endocrine system

Answer 1

A network of glands that produces and releases hormones into the bloodstream to regulate the body’s activities. (3.4

Question 2

adrenal glands

Answer 2

The endocrine glands located on top of the kidneys; they produce a variety of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, that are central to the stress response. (3.4)

Question 3

pituitary gland

Answer 3

The master endocrine gland, located at the base of the brain, that in addition to producing its own hormones regulates hormone production in other glands. (3.4)

Question 4

occipital lobe

Answer 4

A lobe that runs along the back portion of the head; contains the primary visual cortex and is largely devoted to vision. (3.5)

Question 5

temporal lobe

Answer 5

A lobe that runs alongside the ears; contains the primary auditory cortex and is responsible for the ability to hear and understand language. (3.5)

Question 6

parietal lobe

Answer 6

A lobe that runs alongside the head above and behind the ears; contains the primary somatosensory cortex, supporting a map of the body’s skin surface and the sense of touch. (3.5)

Question 7

frontal lobe

Answer 7

A lobe located in the front of the head; contains the primary motor cortex and a map of the body’s muscles, essential for movement and planning. (3.5)

Question 8

insular lobe

Answer 8

The cortex that is insulated by the overlying cortex; supports the sense of taste and allows perception of the internal organs. (3.5)

Question 9

neocortex

Answer 9

The evolutionarily newest cerebral cortex that is the largest part of the human brain; supports complex functions, including language, thought, problem solving, and imagination. (3.5)

Question 10

primary sensory areas

Answer 10

The first regions of the cerebral cortex to receive signals from a sensory organ via its sensory nerve. (3.5)

Question 11

primary motor cortex

Answer 11

The cortex that is responsible for voluntary movements. (3.5)

Question 12

primary somatosensory cortex

Answer 12

The cortex that is responsible for the sense of touch. (3.5)

Question 13

association cortex

Answer 13

The cortex that integrates information coming in from the senses with existing knowledge. (3.5)

Question 14

limbic system

Answer 14

A system often associated with emotion; it bridges the older, lower brain regions that regulate the body with the newer, higher brain structures more related to complex mental functions. (3.6)

Question 15

hippocampus

Answer 15

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. (3.6)

Question 16

amygdala

Answer 16

A component of the limbic system important for registering the emotional significance of events. (3.6)

Question 17

basal ganglia

Answer 17

A group of interconnected structures that are an evolutionarily older subcortical motor system necessary for planning and executing movement. (3.6)

Question 18

thalamus

Answer 18

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. (3.6)

Question 19

hypothalamus

Answer 19

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. (3.6)

Question 20

brainstem

Answer 20

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. (3.7)

Question 21

pons

Answer 21

An upper brainstem structure that controls breathing and relays sensations, such as hearing, taste, and balance, to the subcortex and cortex. (3.7)

Question 22

medulla oblongata

Answer 22

A lower brainstem structure that controls autonomic functions, including heart rate and blood pressure, and reflexes like coughing and swallowing. (3.7)

Question 23

reticular formation

Answer 23

A structure that runs through the brainstem and is connected to many parts of the brain; plays a central role in arousal and attention. (3.7)

Question 24

cerebellum

Answer 24

A hindbrain structure that supports a variety of functions, including coordination, precision, balance, and accurate timing. (3.7)