the brain Flashcards
what parts make up the hindbrain?
the brain stem (medulla and pons) and the cerebellum
what is the function of the brain stem?
input point for signals that are travelling through the spine
what is the function of the medulla?
regulating heartrate and respiration, and a routing point for sensory/motor neuronal travelling
what is the function of the pons?
regulate sleep, dreaming and respiration
what is the function of the cerebellum?
higher level muscular movement (coordination, learning, memory, reflex)
what is the midbrain used for?
a sensory relay station, consciousness
what is the main part of the midbrain?
reticular formation
what is the function of reticular formation?
ascending portion sends input to the higher regions, and the descending portion admits or blocks signals
what is the reticular formation a relay center for?
vision and audition (motor neurons that control eye movement)
what is the forebrain used for?
sensory, motor, and biological drives
what are the three parts of the forebrain?
thalamus, basal ganglia, and hypothalamus
what is the function of the thalamus?
routes sensory information, like a ‘sensory switchboard’
what is the thalamus important for?
sensory processing (signals that leave your eye head to the visual cortex)
what does the basal ganglia control? what is another role?
voluntary muscle movement and learning/reward
what does the basal ganglia produce?
dopamine, which is why it is associated with motor control
what is the hypothalamus important for?
controlling biological drives like eating, drinking, sexual behavior, temperature, aggression
what does the forebrain affect?
hormones through the connection with the pituitary gland
in the forebrain, the ____________ or ____________ of various parts can ____________ motivated behavior
destruction, stimulation, modulate
what is the limbic system used for?
memory, emotion, and goal-directed behavior
what are the parts of the limbic system?
hippocampus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens
what is the function of the hippocampus? (2)
forming/retrieving memories
navigate our environment
what does the amygdala do?
organize emotion response patterns, usually fear and aggression
what is the nucleus accumbens important for ?
behaviors associated with reward and motivation
what is the nucleus accumbens associated with?
motor control and feelings the effects of rewards (involved with dopamine release)
the cerebral cortex relates to?
conscious thought process
what are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?
frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
what is the frontal lobe in charge of? (5)
- executive function (planning, attention, reasoning, judgement
- self-awareness
- speech
- skeletal motor function
- emotional regulation
what is one of the last parts of the brain to develop?
the frontal lobe
what does the occipital lobe contain?
the primary visual cortex (basic visual functioning)
how does the occipital lobe get information to the visual cortex?
the initial signal from the retina sends information to the visual cortex
what is the role of the temporal lobe?
complex visual processing, memory and language
what does the temporal lobe contain?
the primary auditory cortex (auditory processing)
what are the functions of the parietal lobe? (3)
body sensations
integration of sensory information (touch, pain, pressure)
multi-modal processing (where scent/sound is coming from)
what is broca’s area ?
language production and speech formation
what is wernicke’s area?
the comprehension of language
what is the cerebral cortex divided into?
the primary motor and somatic sensory cortex
what is the function of the primary motor cortex?
controls voluntary movement of lots of muscles
what is the function of the somatic sensory cortex?
receive sensory input from various regions of the body
what is contralateral wiring?
the right and left brain hemisphere controls the opposite side of your body (right hemisphere, left side)
the amount of the cortex that is devoted to each part of the body is directly proportionate to what?
the sensitivity of the area (higher at fingertips, less on your back)
what senses have specialized areas in the cerebral cortex?
auditory, vision and touch
