the brain

Question 1

brain using a basic
structure comprising three main
areas or regions

Answer 1

1. Hindbrain
2. Midbrain
3. Forebrain

Question 2

Hindbrain

Answer 2

• Located at the base of the
  brain around the brain stem.
• Includes the, cerebellum,
  medulla and pons.
• These control or influence
  various motor functions and
  vital, automatic responses
  such as breathing and heart
  rate, as well as sleep and
  arousal.

Question 3

Midbrain

Answer 3

• Central part of the brain
• 2.5 cm long and contains neural pathways
  connecting upper and lower brain areas.
• The midbrain is a collection of structures involved
  with movement, processing of visual, auditory and
  tactile sensory information, sleep and arousal.
• The midbrain receives a large amount of information
  from the eyes and ears and processes this to help
  produce orienting movements

Question 3

Cerebellum

Answer 3

• Cauliflower-shaped structure about the size of a
  tennis ball located at the base of the brain.
• Is the second largest part of the brain.
• The cerebellum coordinates fine muscle movements
  and regulates posture and balance.
• The cerebellum organises and adjusts muscle activity
  to help ensure movement is smooth and precise so
  that it can perform more or less automatically
• The cerebellum is involved in activities requiring a
  rapid and skilled sequence of movements such as
  when speaking and touch-typing.

Question 4

Cerebellum pt 2

Answer 4

• Damage to the cerebellum makes it
  difficult to coordinate muscle control
  for everyday activities such as
  reaching, walking, throwing a ball or
  riding a bike.
• Problems with balance
• Damage can also mean difficulties with
  speech.
• The cerebellum is also involved in
  learning and memory associated with
  movement in particular. For example,
  when we learn to walk, speak, or play a
  musical instrument

Question 4

Forebrain

Answer 4

• Largest and most prominent part of the
  brain.
• Collection of upper level structures
  including the amygdala, hippocampus,
  basal ganglia, neocortex and cerebrum.
• Regulates complex cognitive processes
  such as thinking, learning, memory and
  perception.
• Regulates aspects of emotion and
  personality.

Question 5

Forebrain: Basal Ganglia

Answer 5

• The basal ganglia has a role
  in long-term implicit
  procedural memories
  involving motor skills that
  are voluntary.

Question 6

Damage to the Basal Ganglia

Answer 6

• Persons with Parkinson’s disease often
  have damage to dopamine producing
  neurons in the substantia nigra, a part of
  the basal ganglia.
• This results in motor symptoms such as
  tremors, poor posture, difficulty standing
  and walking.
• Persons with Huntington’s disease also
  have degeneration of neurons in the
  basal ganglia resulting in difficulties
  learning and remembering motor skills.

Question 7

Forebrain: Hippocampus

Answer 7

• The hippocampus is in the medial temporal lobe
  (underneath the temporal lobe area of the
  cerebral cortex.)
• It is part of the limbic system of the brain which
  includes the hippocampus, the amygdala and the
  cingulate gyrus.
• The hippocampus is seen to be the centre for
  STM because it is heavily involved in forming or
  encoding memories.

Question 8

damage to the hippocampus

Answer 8

• Damage to the hippocampus can result in loss of
  a range of memories including the memory of
  language and spatial navigation abilities

Question 9

Forebrain: Amygdala

Answer 9

The amygdala is an almond-shape set of
neurons located deep in the brain’s medial
temporal lobe. Shown to play a key role in
the processing of emotions,
the amygdala forms part of the limbic
system.
Allows you to sense danger. Activating the
fight flight response.
The amygdala is also involved in the
formation of a wide range of emotional
memories

Question 10

Forebrain: Cerebrum

Answer 10

• Located above and in front of the cerebellum.
• Occupies most of the forebrain.
• Consists of an outer cerebral cortex and masses
  of neural issue where neurons form connections.
• Responsible for almost everything we think, feel
  and do.
• Divided into two cerebral hemispheres. One on
  the left and one on the right.
• The deep grove that runs down the centre is
  called the longitudinal fissure.

Question 11

Forebrain: Neocortex

Answer 11

• The neocortex is the outer surface of the brain. It is
  the ‘newest’ part of the cerebral cortex which about
  2 to 3mm thick and shares neural links with all other
  brain structures.
• It is divided into two hemispheres, each hemisphere
  having four lobes and each lobe plays a role in
  memory.
• Association areas in each lobe are responsible for
  higher cognitive processes such as learning and
  problem solving and contribute to memory