Psych chapter 2 brain Flashcards
lowest portion of the brain; consists of the medulla, cerebellum, and pons
hindbrain
controls many vital functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and reflexes
medulla
plays an important role in motor coordination of arms and legs
cerebellum
bridge in the hindbrain that connects the cerebellum and the brain stem; involved in sleep and arousal
pons
includes parts of the hindbrain and midbrain; regulates crucial functions like breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure
brain stem
contains many nerve-fiber systems relaying information between the brain, eyes, and ears
midbrain
located in midbrain; involved in stereotyped patterns of behavior like sleeping and walking
reticular formation
the brain’s largest and forwardmost structure
forebrain
a loosely connected network of structures under the cerebral cortex; important in both memory and emotion
limbic system
almond-shaped structure involved in the discrimination of objects
amygdala
frontal structure involved in the storage of memories
hippocampus
forebrain structure that serves as a relay station sending initial information to appropriate places for future interpretation
thalamus
works with the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex to control and coordinate voluntary movements
basal ganglia
small forebrain structure monitoring eating, drinking, and sexual behavior, as well as emotion, stress, and reward
hypothalamus
outer layer of the brain which controls the most complex mental functions
cerebral cortex
outermost part of the cerebral cortex
neocortex
located at the back of the brain; respond to visual stimuli
occipital lobes
part of the cerebral cortex just above the ears; involved in hearing, language processing, and memory
temporal lobes
involved in personality, intelligence, and the control of voluntary muscles
frontal lobes
part of the frontal lobes; involved in higher cognitive functions such as planning, reasoning, and self-control
prefrontal cortex
located at the top and rear of the head; involved in registering spatial location, attention, and motor control
parietal lobes
located at the front of the parietal lobes; process information about body sensations
somatosensory cortex
located at the rear of the frontal lobes; processes information about voluntary movement
motor cortex
makes up about 75 percent of the cerebral cortex; refers to regions that integrate sensory and motor information
association cortex
large bundle of axons connecting the brain’s two hemispheres
corpus callosum
more involved in language, including speech, grammar, and syntax
left hemisphere
involved in processing nonverbal information such as spatial perception, visual recognition, and emotion
right hemisphere
