The Brain

Question 1

What is the brain?

Answer 1

Controls complex behaviour

Made of billions of interconnected neurons and has different regions that carry out different functions

Question 2

4 main brain areas

Answer 2

Cerebrum (outer layer called cerebral cortex)

Cerebellum

Medulla

Hypothalamus

Question 3

function of cerebrum

Answer 3

split into 2 hemispheres and highly folded

controls intelligence, personality, conscious thought and high level functions such as language and verbal memory.

Question 4

function of cerebellum

Answer 4

controls balance, co-ordination of movement and muscular activity

Question 5

function of medulla

Answer 5

controls unconscious activities such as heart rate and breathing rate

Question 6

hypothalamus function

Answer 6

regulating centre for temperature and water balance within body

Question 7

cerebral cortex

Answer 7

outer layer of cerebrum

centre of conscious thoughts

also recalls memories and alters behaviour in light of experience

Question 8

Brin functions in cerebral cortex

Answer 8

Localisation of brain functions in cerebral cortex, which has many distinct regions. Contains sensory areas, motor areas and association areas involves in language processing, personality, imagination and intelligence.

Question 9

Corpus Callosum

Answer 9

Information is passed between 2 hemispheres of brain through are CALLED CORPUS CALLOSUM WHICH CONNECTS BOTH HEMISPHERES.

Question 10

Information from left side of body processed by which hemisphere?

Answer 10

Right Hemisphere

Question 11

how have neuroscientists mapped various regions of the brain to particular functions?

Answer 11

Studying patients with brain damage, electrically stimulating different parts of the brain and MRI scanning techniques.

Question 12

Brain Damage

Answer 12

Scientists have stimulated different parts of brain with a weak electrical current and asked patients to describe what they experienced.

Question 13

Brain damage = weak electrical current to motor area?

Answer 13

patient makes involuntary movement

Question 14

Brain damage - electrical stimulation to visual area

Answer 14

may see flash of colour

Question 15

EEGs

Answer 15

Electroencephalograms

Can be created and studied, to observe electrical activity in brain.

(squiggly sharp lines chart)

Question 16

MRI Brain scans

Answer 16

Magnetic Resonance Imagine uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to show details of brain structure. MRI builds up 3d picture of anatomy of brain.

Question 17

FMRI Brain scans

Answer 17

Functional magnetic resonance imaging is technique that maps activity in brain. Patients given different sensory stimuli or asked to perform various tasks.

By looking at scan, scientists can see which parts of brain are active when task is carried out.