The Brain Flashcards
What does CNS stand for?
Central nervous system
What does PNS stand for?
Peripheral nervous system
What is the primary function of the thalamus?
To take in sensory information related to seeing, hearing, touching, and tasting
What is the primary function of the pons?
To help coordinate several automatic brain functions
What is the brain stem?
The most ancient and central core of the brain
What is the primary function of the medulla?
To automatically control the beating of the heart, and the breathing of the lungs
What is the primary function of the cerebellum?
To be responsible for non-verbal learning and memory, the perception of time, and the modulation of emotions
What is reticular information?
Network inside of the brainstem essential for arousal
What is the old brain?
The most basic form of the brain, responsible for basic survival functions
What is the limbic system?
The evolved part of the brain, involved in our behavioural and emotional responses
What is the primary function of the hypothalamus?
To help govern the endocrine system, regulate body temperature, regulate cardiac rhythm, and manage the feeling of hunger
What is the primary function of the pituitary gland?
To secrete various different hormones, some of which affect other glands
What is the primary function of the amygdala?
To be involved in memory consolidation and emotion
What is the primary function of the hippocampus?
To be central to learning and memory
What lobes are responsible for speaking, planning, judging, abstract thinking, and personality aspects?
The frontal lobes
What are the frontal lobes responsible for?
The frontal lobes are responsible for speaking, planning, judging, abstract thinking, and personality aspects
What lobes are responsible for the sense of touch and body position?
The parietal lobes
What are the parietal lobes responsible for?
The parietal lobes are responsible for the sense of touch and body position?
What lobes are responsible for comprehension, sound and speech?
The temporal lobes
What are temporal lobes responsible for?
The temporal lobes are responsible for comprehension, sound and speech
What lobes are responsible for information related to sight?
The occipital lobes
What are occipital lobes responsible for?
The occipital lobes are responsible for information related to sight
What part of the brain is responsible for generating signals that direct the movement of the body?
The motor cortex
What is the primary function of the motor cortex?
To generate signals to direct the movement of the body
What part of the brain is responsible for receiving and processing sensory information?
The somatosensory cortex
What is the primary function of the somatosensory cortex?
To receive and process sensory information from across the body
What are some of the function of the frontal lobe?
Recognising future consequences from current actions
Resisting urges
Making decisions
What is the definition of brain localisation?
The specialised parts of the brain that perform specific functions
What is the definition of brain lateralisation
Brain lateralisation refers to specialised functions of each brain hemisphere, mainly regarding differences in language ability
Where is the corpus callosum?
The corpus callosum is located in-between the left and right hemispheres of the brain
What side of the body does the left hemisphere control?
The right side
What side of the body does the right hemisphere control?
The left side
What are some topics that the left side of the brain govern?
Language
Math
Logic
What are some topics that are governed by the right brain?
Spatial abilities
Face recognition
Visual imagery
Music
Is the left side of the brain verbal or non-verbal?
Verbal
Is the right side of the brain verbal or non-verbal?
Non-verbal
What is split brain?
When the left and right hemispheres are separated at the corpus callosum
Can a person still function with split brain?
Yes
What is the function of the endocrine system?
To use hormones to send messages through the bloodstream
