The structure of the brain - lobes and subcortical structures Flashcards
What is the primary function of the frontal lobe?
it is responsible for higher cognitive functions eg. decision-making, problem-solving, planning and voluntary movements
what cortex is located in the frontal lobe?
the motor cortex - controls voluntary movements
What is broca’s area and where is it located?
Broca’s area, located in the left frontal lobe, is responsible for speech production
Damage to the frontal lobe can lead to what symptoms?
- personality changes
- difficulty planning
- loss of voluntary movement control
- Broca’s aphasia (if left hemisphere is damaged)
What is the primary function of the parietal lobe?
processes sensory info eg. touch, temp, and pain and is involved in spatial awareness
what cortex is located in the parietal lobe?
the somatosensory cortex - processes touch sensations
Damage to the parietal lobe can lead to what symptoms?
- issues with spatial awareness
- difficulty recognising objects by touch (agnosia)
- sensory deficits
What is the primary function of the temporal lobe?
- processes auditory info
- involved in memory, language and emotion
what cortex is located in the temporal lobe?
auditory cortex - processes sound
What is Wernicke’s area and where is it located?
located in left temporal lobe - responsible for language comprehension
Damage to the temporal lobe can lead to what symptoms?
- language comphension issues (Wernicke’s aphasia)
- memory problems
- difficulty processing auditory info
what is the primary function of the occipital lobe?
processes visual info
What cortex is located in the occipital lobe?
visual cortex - interprets visual signals from the eyes
Damage to the occipital lobe can result in what symptoms?
- visual impairments eg. blindness
- difficulty recognising objects by
- visual hallucinations
What is the function of the thalamus?
acts as a relay station, passing sensory info to the correct areas of the cortex
what symptoms occur if the thalamus is damaged?
- sensory processing issues
- difficulty with movement
- potential memory impairment
what is the function of the hypothalamus?
regulates homeostasis and motivational behaviours (hunger, thirst, sex) and hormone production
What symptoms occur is the hypothalamus id damaged?
disruptions in appetite , sleep and hormonal imbalances
What is the function of the cerebellum?
controls balance, coordination and fine motor movements by receiving and integrating info from the spinal cord
what symptoms occur if the cerebellum is damaged?
- loss of coordination
- tremors
- difficulty with precise movement
What is the function of the cops us callosum?
dense bundle of nerve cells that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain , allowing for communication between both sides
What symptoms occur if the corpsus callosum is damaged?
may result in split brain syndrome - where the two hemispheres cannot communicate effectively leading to issues with coordination, perception and processing info from one side of the body
What are the key structures of the limbic system?
- amygdala
- hippocampus
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
what is the function of the amygdala?
responsible for processing emotions eg. fear, aggression
