The Brain (neuroscience)

Question 1

What are the 5 main parts of the brain?

Answer 1

• cerebrum
• diencephalon
• cerebellum
• brain stem
• spinal cord.

Question 2

What is the cerebrum responsible for?

Answer 2

higher brain functions (cerebral hemispheres)

Question 3

What is the Diencephalon responsible for?

Answer 3

lower brain functions (thalamus, hypothalamus)

Question 4

What are the 3 components of the brain stem?

Answer 4

Midbrain - upper
Pons - middle
Medulla - lower

Question 5

What is the spinal cord’s function?

Answer 5

reflex actions

Question 6

What is the cerebrum split into?

Answer 6

Two cerebral hemispheres - joined by the corpus callosum nerve fibres

Question 7

What are the lobes of the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 7

The frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes.

Question 8

What is gyrification?

Answer 8

Where characteristic folds increase the surface area of the cortex

Question 9

What is the difference between grey matter and white matter in the brain?

Answer 9

Grey matter is made up of cell bodies, while white matter is made up of axons.

Question 10

What is the cerebral hemisphere covered in?

Answer 10

Neural cortex - A layer of grey matter

Question 11

What are the ridges and grooves in the cerebral cortex called? What is their purpose?

Answer 11

Ridges = Gyri
Groves = sulci
Large groves = Fissures

Increase surface area

Question 12

What is the function of the cerebrum?

Answer 12

Is the seat of most higher mental functions, conscious thought, intellect and memory

Question 13

What divides the cerebral hemispheres into lobes?

Answer 13

The longitudinal fissure, central sulcus, and lateral sulcus.

Question 14

What do axons in the white matter do?

Answer 14

They connect various brain regions
Axons gather together to form tracts and bundles

Question 15

What are the 3 sections of the frontal lobe?

Answer 15

Pre-frontal cortex
Pre-motor cortex
Motor cortex

Question 16

What is the pre-frontal cortex responsible for?

Answer 16

• Higher level thought, decision-making planning & organising
• Inhibiting impulses and actions
• Personality

Question 17

What is the motor cortex responsible for?

Answer 17

Processes & transmits information regarding body movement and position
Plans & co-ordinates fine movements via basal ganglia

Question 18

What does the primary sensory cortex of the parietal lobe detect?

Answer 18

Sensations, such as touch and pressure

Question 19

What is the parietal lobe responsible for?

Answer 19

• Spatial orientation and information processing.
• Memory for numeracy, spelling

Question 20

What is the temporal lobe responsible for?

Answer 20

DULAM
- Auditory (sound) processing
- Memory
- Dreams
- Language & understanding

Question 21

What is the occipital lobe responsible for?

Answer 21

Processes and interpretates visual information from the eyes

It is the main vision centre of the brain

Question 22

What is the diencephalon?

Answer 22

A structural and functional link between the cerebral hemispheres and the brain stem

Question 23

What does the diencephalon include?

Answer 23

Thalamus and hypothalamus

Question 24

What is the diencephalon responsible for?

Answer 24

Integrating nervous and endocrine systems, through the hypothalamus and pituitary gland

Question 25

What does the diencephalon filter? And what is it involved in?

Answer 25

Filters sensory information
Involves in emotion, memory and autonomic functions

Question 26

What is the hippocampus particularly important for?

Answer 26

Memory

Question 27

How does the cerebellum adjust on-going movements?

Answer 27

By comparing arriving sensations with previously experienced sensations- relays to cerebrum

Question 28

What is the basal ganglia?

Answer 28

A cluster of structure involved in the regulation of movement

Question 29

Which vital functions does the brain stem control?

Answer 29

Heart rate and breathing