The Brain

Question 1

Ventricles

Answer 1

Remnants of the neural tube; serves as shock absorber, mediates between blood vessels and brain tissue in exchange of material.

Question 2

Nuclei

Answer 2

Cluster of cell bodies.

Question 3

Tracts

Answer 3

Bundle of axons (called nerves in the PNS)

Question 4

Neurons

Answer 4

Organize into nuclei and tracts.

Question 5

Brain stem

Answer 5

Part if the brain at the top of the spinal cord consisting of pons and the medulla.

Question 6

Pons

Answer 6

Involved in sleeping, waking, and dreaming.

Question 7

Medulla

Answer 7

Responsible for involuntary bodily functions.

Ex. breathing, heart rate

Question 8

Reticular Activating System

Answer 8

A dense network of neurons found in the core of the brain stem; it arouses the cortex and screens incoming info.

Question 9

Cerebellum

Answer 9

“Lesser brain” contributes to sense of balance and coordinates the muscles to that movement is smooth and precise. Involved in cognitive and emotional learning.

Question 10

Thalamus

Answer 10

Sensory relay station of the brain except smell; directs sensory messages to higher areas in charge of vision, sound, or touch.

Question 11

Hypothalamus

Answer 11

Located under the thalamus, the hypothalamus constantly monitors the body’s current state and issues instructions to keep it at homeostasis. Involved in basic survival drives associate with the four F’s (fighting, fleeing, feeding, sex). Regulates body temp, controls complex operations of the autonomic system.

Question 12

Pituitary Gland

Answer 12

“Master gland” the hormones it discrets affects many other endocrine glands and is directed by the hypothalamus.

Question 13

Amygdala

Answer 13

Responsible for reevaluating sensory info, quickly determining its emotional importance and contributing to the decision to approach or withdraw from a person or situation. Assesses stimuli for their fit in your current psychological state and even core personality traits,

Question 14

The Hippocampus

Answer 14

“Gateway to memory” compares sensory info with what the brain has already learned about the world; involved in retrieval of info during recall. People with severe memory problems have damaged hippocampuses.

Question 15

The Cerebrum

Answer 15

Where higher forms of thinking take place. Divided into two halves called cerebral hemispheres connected by bundles of nerve fibers called corpus callosum. The left side controls the right side of the body and the right side controls the left.

Question 16

Lateralization

Answer 16

Specialization of the two cerebral hemispheres for particular functions.

Question 17

The Cerebral Cortex

Answer 17

Produces “grayish” tissue which is why it’s called gray matter and contains 3/4ths of all cells in the brain.

Question 18

Frontal Lobe

Answer 18

Contains motor cortex which issues orders to muscles in the body. Active especially during short term memory; involved in emotion, ability to make plans, think creatively, and take initiative.

Question 19

Temporal Lobe

Answer 19

Involved in memory, perception, and emotion containing the auditory complex.

Question 20

Parietal Lobe

Answer 20

Contains the somatosensory cortex which receives info about pressure, pain, touch, and temperature from all over the body.

Question 21

Occipital Lobe

Answer 21

Contains the visual cortex where most visual messages are sent and processed.

Question 22

Broca’s Area

Answer 22

In the frontal lobe in the left hemisphere for 95% of people. Important in speech production, articulation.

Question 23

Wernicke’s Area

Answer 23

In the left temporal lobe; comprehension of speech and differentiating sounds.

Question 24

Prefrontal Cortex

Answer 24

Associated with complex abilities such as reasoning, decision making, and planning. Has something to do with personality. Inhibitory part of the brain and the last to develop. Govern the ability to do tasks in a sequence and to stop doing them at an appropriate time.

Question 25

Left Hemisphere

Answer 25

Thought to be rational and analytical.
Controls speech production
Identifies objects
Describes events in correct order

Question 26

Right Hemisphere

Answer 26

Thought to be intuitive and holistic.
Recognizes facial expressions
Recognizes non-verbal sounds
Handles spatial-visual abilities

Question 27

Brain plasticity

Answer 27

The brain’s ability to change in response to new experiences.

E.g. Helps to explain why some people who cannot recall simple words after a stroke may be speaking almost normally within months because their brains rewired themselves to adapt to the damage.

Question 28

Fundamental characteristic in the nervous system

Answer 28

The capacity to change. When the nervous system changes there is often a correlated change in behavior or psychological function.

Question 29

Plastic Changes

Answer 29

Likely to reflect other modifications of existing circuits or the generation of new circuits.

Question 30

Complex environments

Answer 30

Lengthen dendrites and increase the density of the synapses.

Question 31

Factors affecting brain plasticity

Answer 31

Experience
Psychoactive Drugs
Gonadal Hormones
Anti-inflammatory Agents
Growth Factors
Dietary Factors
Genetic Factors
Disease
Stress
Brain Injury