The Brain and Bio Flashcards
corpus callosum
The corpus callosum is a bundle of fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain, and the cerebellum helps with balance and control of body movements.
basal ganglia
Does not of these releases hormones. The basal ganglia is located in the base of the brain but, rather than releasing hormones, helps with the coordination of movement.
pituitary gland
pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and releases two hormones, growth hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone, that induce growth. Growth hormone is necessary for the growth of all body tissues except the central nervous system and genitals, and the thyroid-stimulating hormone is linked to brain development and helps the growth hormone to fully impact body size.
What is a particularly rapid period of early brain growth?
The first two months of life is a period of rapid brain growth. During this time, formation of synapses is rapid, especially in the auditory and visual areas of the cerebral cortex. Myelination (the coating of neural fibers with a sheath that makes the message transfer between neurons more efficient) is particularly dramatic during the first two years.
Language areas of the cerebral cortex develop rapidly at a relatively steady pace until months 9 or 10. Frontal lobes of the cerebral cortex undergo more extended and gradual synaptic growth up until age 2 or 3 years old and then undergo synaptic pruning until adulthood. The emotional processing areas of the brain do not undergo noticeable development until after the child’s first year.
What is phenotype and what is it a product of?
Phenotype refers to the observable characteristics of an individual, such as eye color or height. Researchers agree that phenotype is a product of genotype and environment. In other words, phenotype is a product of a person’s biological makeup as well as their surroundings.
A gene is located on a chromosome, so chromosomes and genes are essentially the same. While parents and siblings are part of a person’s environment, there is a strong biological component of phenotype. Self and other is not correct because a person’s environment does not always refer to other individuals; it can refer to a location or the events that occur in a person’s life during development.
