The Brain

Question 1

Medulla

Answer 1

the first large swelling at the top of the spinal cord, forming the lowers part of the brain
Responsible for life-sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate

Question 2

Pons

Answer 2

larger swelling above the medulla that connects the top of the brain to the bottom
Plays a part in sleep, dreaming, left-right body coordination and arousal

Question 3

Reticular formation (RF)

Answer 3

area of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and the pons, is responsible for selective attention

Question 4

Cerebellum

Answer 4

located behind the pons, controls and coordinates involuntary, rapid, fine motor movement

Question 5

Limbic system

Answer 5

a group of several brain structures located under the cortex and involved in learning, emotion, memory, and motivation

Question 6

Thalamus

Answer 6

located in the center of the brain, relays sensory information from the lower part of the brain to the proper areas of the cortex, processes some sensory information before sending it to its proper area

Question 7

Olfactory bulbs

Answer 7

two projections just under the front of the brain that receive information from the receptors in the nose located just below

Question 8

Hypothalamus

Answer 8

small structure in the brain located below the thalamus and directly above the pituitary gland, responsible for motivational behavior such as sleep, hunger, thirst, and sex (basic needs), also releases vasopressin and oxytocin

Question 9

Hippocampus

Answer 9

curved structure located within each temporal lobe, responsible for the formation of long-term memories and the storage of memory for location of objects

Question 10

Amygdala

Answer 10

brain structure located near the hippocampus, responsible for fear responses and memory of fear

Question 11

Cortex

Answer 11

outmost covering of the brain consisting of densely packed neurons, responsible for higher thought processes and interpretation of sensory input, where the Thalamus sends sensory information to the cortex for interpretation

Question 12

Cerebral hemispheres

Answer 12

2 sections of cortex on the left and right sides of the brain

Question 13

Corpus callosum

Answer 13

thick band of neurons that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres

Question 14

Occipital lobe

Answer 14

section of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere containing the visual centers of the brain

Question 15

Primary visual cortex

Answer 15

processes visual information from the eyes

Question 16

Visual association cortex

Answer 16

identifies and makes sense of visual information

Question 17

Parietal lobes

Answer 17

Sections of the brain located at the top and back of each cerebral hemisphere containing the centers for touch, taste, and temperature sensations

Question 18

Somatosensory cortex

Answer 18

area of neurons running down front of parietal loves, responsible for processing information from the skin and internal body receptors for touch, temperature, body position, and possibly taste

Question 19

Temporal lobe

Answer 19

areas of cortex located just behind temples containing the neurons responsible for the sense of hearing and meaningful speech

Question 20

Auditory association cortex

Answer 20

identifies and makes sense of auditory information

Question 21

Primary auditory cortex

Answer 21

processes auditory information from the ears

Question 22

Frontal lobes

Answer 22

areas of the cortex located in the front and top of the brain, responsible for higher mental processes and decision making as well as the production of fluent speech

Question 23

Motor cortex

Answer 23

section of the frontal lobe located at the back, responsible for sending motor commands to the muscles of the somatic nervous system