The Brain Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

pituitary glands

A

a small, pea-sized endocrine gland located at the base of your brain below your hypothalamus; It releases several important hormones and controls the function of many other endocrine system glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

brainstem

A

the central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

medulla

A

uh] the hindbrain structure that is the brainstem’s base; controls heartbeat and breathing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

corpus callosum

A

a large bundle of more than 200 million myelinated nerve fibers that connect the two brain hemispheres, permitting communication between the right and left sides of the brain. Abnormalities within the corpus callosum have been identified in maltreated children

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

thalamus

A

the forebrain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

cerebellum

A

the hindbrain’s “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

limbic system

A

neural system located mostly in the forebrain — below the cerebral hemispheres — that includes the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and pituitary gland; associated with emotions and drives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

amygdala

A

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

hypothalamus

A

a limbic system neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system, and is linked to emotion and reward

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

frontal lobe

A

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead. They enable linguistic processing, muscle movements, higher-order thinking, and executive functioning (such as making plans and judgments)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

parietal lobe

A

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; it receives sensory input for touch and body position

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

occipital lobe

A

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; it includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

temporal lobe

A

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; it includes the auditory areas, each of which receives information primarily from the opposite ear. They also enable language processing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Broca’s area

A

a frontal lobe brain area, usually in the left hemisphere, that helps control language expression by directing the muscle movements involved in speech

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

a brain area, usually in the left temporal lobe, involved in language comprehension and expression

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

plasticity

A

Plasticity of the nervous or hormonal systems makes it possible to learn and register new experiences. Early experiences can also modify and shape gene expression to induce long-lasting changes in neurons or endocrine organs