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MCAT > the brain > Flashcards

the brain Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

hindbrain

A

this controls balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, and general arousal processes (sleeping and waking)

contains:

  • cerebellum
  • medulla oblongata
  • reticular formation
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2
Q

midbrain

A
  • receives sensory and motor information from the rest of the body
  • associated with involuntary reflex responses triggered by visual or auditory stimuli

contains:
- inferior and superior colliculi

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3
Q

forebrain

A

associated with complex perception, cognitive, and behavioral processes

contains:

  • thalamus
  • hypothalamus
  • basal ganglia
  • limbic system
  • cerebral cortex
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4
Q

inferior colliculi

A

receives information from the auditory system

  • plays a role in reactions to loud noises
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5
Q

superior colliculi

A

receives information from visual sensory input

  • plays a role in moving based on sudden movements around us
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6
Q

thalamus

A

relay station for sensory information

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7
Q

hypothalamus

A

maintains homeostasis and integrates with the endocrine system through the hypophyseal system that connects it to the anterior pituitary

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8
Q

basal ganglia

A

smooths movements and helps maintain postural movements

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9
Q

limbic system

A

controls emotion and memory

contains:

  • septal nuclei (pleasure, pleasure seeking behavior/ addiction)
  • amygdala (fear and aggression)
  • hippocampus (consolidation of memory)
  • fornix (communication within limbic system)
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10
Q

electroencephalogram (EEG)

A
  • this allows for patterns of electrical activity within the brain to be detected and recorded
  • this is noninvasive and common on humans
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11
Q

regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF)

A
  • this is a way to detect broad patterns of neural activity based on the increased blood flow to different parts of the brain
  • this is noninvasive
  • relies on the assumption that blood flow to a particular region means that region is involved in cognitive function
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12
Q

CT/CAT scan

A

computed (axial) tomography

  • x-rays are taken at different angles and processed by a computer to produce a coss-sectional image of tissue
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13
Q

PET scan

A

positron emission tomography

  • radioactive sugar is injected and absorbed into the body and its dispersion and uptake through target tissue is imaged
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14
Q

MRI

A

Magnetic resonance imaging

  • a magnetic field that interacts with hydrogen atoms is used to map out hydrogen dense regions of the body
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15
Q

fMRI

A

functional magnetic resonance imaging

  • uses the same base technique as MRI but specifically measures changes associated with blood flow.
  • good for monitoring neuronal activity
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16
Q

frontal lobe

A
  • executive functioning
  • impulse control
  • long term planning (prefrontal cortex)
  • motor function (primary motor cortex)
  • speech production (brocas)
17
Q

parietal lobe

A
  • sensation of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain at the somatosensory cortex
  • spatial processing, orientation and manipulation
18
Q

occipital lobe

A

visual processing

19
Q

temporal lobe

A
  • sound processing (auditory cortex)
  • speech perception (wernicke’s area)
  • memory and emotion (limbic system)
20
Q

what are common studies used to look at nature vs nurture and what is nature vs nurture?

A
  • this is looking at the contributions of genetics (nature and the environment (nurture) to an individual’s traits
  • often studies through family, twin, and adoption
    studies
21
Q

wernicke’s area

A

this is in the temporal lobe

language comprehension

damage results in wernicke’s aphasia (speak fluently but have difficulty understanding language)

22
Q

broca’s area

A

this is in the frontal lobe

motor function of speech is here

damage results in broca’s aphasia (speak comprehensibly in short sentences with great effort)

23
Q

arcuate fasciculus

A
  • this connects wernicke’s area and broca’ area

damage results in conduction aphasia (the inability to repeat words despite intact speech generation and comprehension)

24
Q

ventromedial hypothalamus

A

this is part of the brain that tells the body when it is full and satiated

damage here can lead to obesity

25
Q

lateral hypothalamus

A

this is the part of the brain that tells the body when it is hungry

damage here can lead to a lack of eating

MCAT (10 decks)

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