Unit 1.2.2 Brain Structure

Question 1

Neurons

Answer 1

• Cells that make up the brain + nervous system
• Receive + transmit info

Question 2

Neurotransmitter

Answer 2

• Chemical produced by a neuron
• Carries a message across the synapse to another neuron
• Produced within the nervous system, including muscles, glands + organs

Question 3

Synapse

Answer 3

• Point of communication between two neurons or between a neuron and a target cell (such as muscle or gland)
• E.g. the gap between CNS and PNS

Question 4

Central nervous system (CNS)

Answer 4

• The brain + spinal cord
• Transmits info to + receives info from the PNS

Question 5

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Answer 5

Carries messages to and from the CNS.

Question 6

Hindbrain

Answer 6

• Cerebellum, medulla + pons
• Involved in supporting vital bodily processes (e.g breathing + sleeping)

Question 7

Cerebellum

Answer 7

• Coordinates fine muscle movements (especially rapid) + regulates posture + balance
• Involved in learning + memory of movement
• Organises + adjusts muscle activity

Question 8

Medulla (medulla oblongata)

Answer 8

• Continuation of spinal cord which connects to the brain
• Controls vital bodily/survival functions
• E.g. breathing, heart rate, swallowing

Question 9

Pons

Answer 9

• Acts as a bridge between the cerebellum + cerebral cortex
• Involved in sleep, arousal, facial expressions + hearing

Question 10

Midbrain

Answer 10

• Reticular formation
• Located at the topmost part of the brain stem
• Receives lots of info from ears + eyes + processes this to help produce orienting movements

Question 11

Dopamine

Answer 11

• Type of neurotransmitter
• Involved in reward, motivation, movement + memory

Question 12

Serotonin

Answer 12

• Type of neurotransmitter
• Regulates behaviour, mood + memory

Question 13

Reticular formation

Answer 13

• Runs through the centre of the midbrain, hindbrain + brain stem + upward to the forebrain
• Helps screen incoming info + alerts brain centres
• Regulates arousal, consciousness + motor control

Question 14

Forebrain

Answer 14

• Hypothalamus, thalamus + cerebrum
• Involved in coordinating brain activity

Question 15

Hypothalamus

Answer 15

• Connects hormonal + nervous systems
• Maintains body’s internal enviro (body temp, mood, sex drive)
• Influences behaviours associated with basic biological needs (hunger, sleep, thirst)

Question 16

Thalamus

Answer 16

• Processes + relays sensory info
• Filters info from almost all sense receptor sites (excluding nose) + passes it to relevant areas of the brain for processing

Question 17

Cerebrum

Answer 17

• Directs conscious motor activity
• Receives + process sensory info
• Responsible for cognitive processes (learning/memory) + personality
• Divided into two hemispheres connected by corpus callosum

Question 18

Main lobes of the brain
Cerebral cortex/primary cortical areas

Answer 18

• Frontal lobe
• Temporal lobe
• Parietal lobe
• Occipital lobe

Question 19

Frontal lobe

Answer 19

Important in the planning, sequencing + executing of voluntary movement.

Question 20

Temporal lobe

Answer 20

Responsible for receiving + processing sound from the ears.

Question 21

Parietal lobe

Answer 21

Involved in attention, spatial awareness + reasoning, + receiving + processing somatosensory info.

Question 22

Occipital lobe

Answer 22

Involved in receiving + processing info related to vision.

Question 23

Primary motor cortex

Answer 23

• Located at the back of the frontal lobe
• Sends neutral messages to the skeletal muscles
• Involved in voluntary movement

Question 24

Broca’s area

Answer 24

• Located in the left frontal lobe
• Responsible for clear + fluent speech

Question 25

Wernicke’s area

Answer 25

• Located in the left temporal lobe
• Involved in receiving + processing sounds from the ears

Question 26

Primary somatosensory cortex

Answer 26

• Located just behind the primary motor cortex + at the front of the parietal lobe in left + right hemisphere
• Receives + processes sensory info from a range of body areas (fingers/legs/face)