Structures + Functions Summary

Question 1

Cerebral cortex

Answer 1

Sensory perception
Voluntary control of movement
Language
Personality traits
Mental events - eg. thinking, decision making

Question 1

Basal nuclei

Answer 1

Inhibition of muscle tone
Coordination of slow, sustained events
Suppression of useless patterns of movement

Question 2

Thalamus

Answer 2

Relay station for all synaptic input
Crude awareness of sensation
Some degree of consciousness
Role in motor control

Question 3

Hypothalamus

Answer 3

Regulation of homeostatic functions
Link between nervous + endocrine system
Emotion + basic behavioural patterns

Question 4

Cerebellum

Answer 4

Maintenance of balance
Enhancement of muscle tone
Coordination + skilled voluntary muscle activity

Question 5

Brain stem (midbrain, pons + medulla)

Answer 5

Origin of cranial nerves
Cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive control centres
Regulation of muscle reflexes
Reception + integration of all synaptic input from spinal cord
Role in sleep-wake cycle