the brain Flashcards
what does the brain control?
complex behaviour
what is the brain made up of?
interconnected neurones
3 parts of brain
- cerebral cortex
- medulla
- cerebellum
where is the medulla?
bottom, near spine
where is the cerebral cortex?
outer wrinkly bit, covers top of brain
where is the cerebellum?
bottom towards back, circular
cerebral cortex function
- responsible for consciousness, intelligence, memory, language
medulla function
controls unconscious activities e.g breathing, heartbeat
cerebellum function
muscle coordination
What methods do scientists use to study the brain?
-Studying patients with brain damage
-Electrically stimulating the brain
-MRI scans
what makes investigating and treating brain disorders difficult?
the complexity and delicacy of the brain
how does studying patients help?
if a small part of the brain has been damaged, the effect on the patient shows you what the damaged part does
how can you electrically stimulate the brain?
by pushing a tiny electrode into the tissue and giving it a small zap of electricity
what do mri scans produce?
a very detailed picture of the brain’s structure
