The Brain (neuroscience) Flashcards
What are the 5 main parts of the brain?
- cerebrum
- diencephalon
- cerebellum
- brain stem
- spinal cord.
What is the cerebrum responsible for?
higher brain functions (cerebral hemispheres)
What is the Diencephalon responsible for?
lower brain functions (thalamus, hypothalamus)
What are the 3 components of the brain stem?
Midbrain - upper
Pons - middle
Medulla - lower
What is the spinal cord’s function?
reflex actions
What is the cerebrum split into?
Two cerebral hemispheres - joined by the corpus callosum nerve fibres
What are the lobes of the cerebral hemispheres?
The frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes.
What is gyrification?
Where characteristic folds increase the surface area of the cortex
What is the difference between grey matter and white matter in the brain?
Grey matter is made up of cell bodies, while white matter is made up of axons.
What is the cerebral hemisphere covered in?
Neural cortex - A layer of grey matter
What are the ridges and grooves in the cerebral cortex called? What is their purpose?
Ridges = Gyri
Groves = sulci
Large groves = Fissures
Increase surface area
What is the function of the cerebrum?
Is the seat of most higher mental functions, conscious thought, intellect and memory
What divides the cerebral hemispheres into lobes?
The longitudinal fissure, central sulcus, and lateral sulcus.
What do axons in the white matter do?
They connect various brain regions
Axons gather together to form tracts and bundles
What are the 3 sections of the frontal lobe?
Pre-frontal cortex
Pre-motor cortex
Motor cortex
What is the pre-frontal cortex responsible for?
- Higher level thought, decision-making planning & organising
- Inhibiting impulses and actions
- Personality
What is the motor cortex responsible for?
Processes & transmits information regarding body movement and position
Plans & co-ordinates fine movements via basal ganglia
What does the primary sensory cortex of the parietal lobe detect?
Sensations, such as touch and pressure
What is the parietal lobe responsible for?
- Spatial orientation and information processing.
- Memory for numeracy, spelling
What is the temporal lobe responsible for?
DULAM
- Auditory (sound) processing
- Memory
- Dreams
- Language & understanding
What is the occipital lobe responsible for?
Processes and interpretates visual information from the eyes
It is the main vision centre of the brain
What is the diencephalon?
A structural and functional link between the cerebral hemispheres and the brain stem
What does the diencephalon include?
Thalamus and hypothalamus
What is the diencephalon responsible for?
Integrating nervous and endocrine systems, through the hypothalamus and pituitary gland
What does the diencephalon filter? And what is it involved in?
Filters sensory information
Involves in emotion, memory and autonomic functions
What is the hippocampus particularly important for?
Memory
How does the cerebellum adjust on-going movements?
By comparing arriving sensations with previously experienced sensations- relays to cerebrum
What is the basal ganglia?
A cluster of structure involved in the regulation of movement
Which vital functions does the brain stem control?
Heart rate and breathing
