quiz 4 Flashcards
Two nervous systems
central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS)
Parts of the CNS
Brain neurons and spinal cord, two functions: receive info from body sends to brain, takes info from brain sends to body
Parts of PNS
2 divisions: somatic or skeletal division (controls voluntary actions) and autonomic (involuntary-automatic functions- digestion, respiration; sympathetic, parasympathetic)
Sympathetic
fight or flight
Parasympathetic
rest/calm
Both sympathetic and parasympathetic are…
responses triggered by neurotransmitters
Endocrine system
made up of ductless glands, secrete hormones- chemical messengers (bloodstream), pituitary gland- “master gland”- located in brain- under the control of the hypothalamus
Major glands
thyroid, pineal, adrenal, pancreas, ovaries/testes
Thyroid
metabolism
Pineal
sleep-wake cycles
Adrenal glands
excites nervous system
Pancreas
blood sugar
Ovaries/testes
sex hormones
Brain and spinal cord
protected by layer of 3 thin membranes (meninges), bathed in cerebrospinal fluid to cushion and transport nutrients and waste; 3 sections of brain: hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain
Hindbrain
brainstem- oldest part of the brain (reptilian), medulla oblongata- heart rate and breathing, pons- sleeping and coordination between right and left side of body, cerebellum- voluntary movement and balance, reflexes
Midbrain
generally helps generate movement in response to sensory input, reticular formation extends from hindbrain through midbrain- filters and relays information: vision, hearing, arousal (sleep/wake), coordinates motor response
Forebrain
processing information related to: complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative (link) functions, voluntary motor activities; cerebum, uttermost layer… cerebral cortex; 2 hemispheres- right and left connected by corpus callosum; deep within the center is the limbric system
Cerebral cortex
about a quarter inch thick, gray matter: glial cells, neuron cells bodies and axons, white matter: myelinated axons extending inward from cortex; has a wrinkled appearance consisting of folds, grooves, and bulges; sulci and gyri, allows a larger surface area to fit into the skull; humans have most wrinkled/can hold more in skull
4 lobes
frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal
Frontal lobe
higher-level cognitive function, planning, judgement, personality
Parietal lobe
spatial abilities and sensory integration
Occipital lobe
visual cortex
Temporal lobe
auditory cortex
Limbic system
4 interconnected structures, emotion, motivation, and memory, basic drives; hunger, sex, aggression; fight or flight
4 parts of limbic system
thalamus- processes sensory information and relays messages
hypothalamus- motivation and emotion- pleasure center- food, water, and sex, directs activity of pituitary gland (homeostasis)
amygdala- related to fear and aggression
hippocampus- memory functions
Reflex arc
Hemispheres
Each hemisphere controls different things, right hemisphere control left side, left hemisphere controls right side; Corpus callosum communicates between the 2 halves; left visual field- right hemisphere, right visual field- left hemisphere
Split brain
difference in hemispheric function were demonstrated after split-brain operation; operation is used to stop or reduce recurring epileptic seizures
What did researchers conclude about the two hemispheres in most people
left hemisphere is superior in language abilities, speech, reading, and writing; right hemisphere is more involved in nonverbal emotional expression and visual-spatial tasks
Cortical localization
different functions are located or localized in different areas of the brain
2 specialized cortex
motor cortex- body movement, somatosensory cortex- receives sensory info from body
2 specialized areas
Broca’s area- left frontal lobe, area responsible for forming speech with mouth (damaged? can comprehend language but cant speak) Wernickes area- left temporal lobe, area responsible for listening, meaningful speech and comprehension (damaged? can speak quickly and easily but speech is often nonsensical)
Aphasia
impaired use of language
Neuroplasticity
ability to change function and structure
