Unit 2 - BoB, S&P, M

Question 1

the limbic system

Answer 1

a group of several brain structures located below the cortex & above the hind brain involved in learning, emotions, memory & motivation

Question 2

what does the limbic system contain?

Answer 2

hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, thalamus

Question 3

hippocampus

Answer 3

plays a really important part in memory, learning, and comparing sensory information to expectations

Question 4

amygdala

Answer 4

• about the size of an almond
• influences anger, rage, fear, & aggressive behavior
• also influences our motivation, emotional control, fear response, and interpretations of nonverbal emotional expressions

Question 5

hypothalamus

Answer 5

• located below the thalamus
• has a role in the endocrine system/hormones
• regulates the 4 Fs: fight (aggression), flight (fear), food (eat/drink) and fornication (sex behavior/arousal/drive)
• plays a huge role in hunger, accessing nourishment

Question 6

thalamus

Answer 6

• above the hypothalamus
• relays information from sensory information from sensory organs to make meaning
• “amazon warehouse of the nervous system” aka relay station // stimuli arrives at the thalamus and is then directed out to where it needs to go
• also regulates sleep cycles

Question 7

cortex

Answer 7

the wrinkled outer layer of the brain, really tightly packed layer of neurons // has 2 hemispheres and 4 lobes in each hemisphere

Question 8

what are the 4 lobes of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 8

frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe

Question 9

frontal lobe

Answer 9

• helps with higher order mental functions (planning, LANGUAGE, & complex decision making)
• contains Broca’s area and the motor cortex & is the largest lobe

Question 10

parietal lobe

Answer 10

• processes sensory information (touch, temperature, taste), balance, and where the body is in space
• contains the somatosensory cortex

Question 11

occipital lobe

Answer 11

• visual cortex processes visual sensations (information from the eyes is given meaning)
• located at the rear of the cortex

Question 12

temporal lobe

Answer 12

• located near the ear, processes sound & human speech
• primary auditory area of the brain
• contains the auditory cortex and Wernicke’s area

Question 13

In what ways is the brain studied?

Answer 13

lesioning, EEG, MRI, and FMRI

Question 14

What is lesioning?

Answer 14

specific, surgical damage to precise regions of animal brains in order to observe change in behavior

Question 15

EEG

Answer 15

• non-invasive way of measuring and recording electrical activity in the brain that takes place in the cortex
• subject wears a “highly attractive cap”
• used in sleep studies & helps to diagnose epilepsy, attention disorders, tumor detection, etc.

Question 16

MRI

Answer 16

• uses radiowaves to create images by exciting specific parts of the brain
• opened up more ways of understanding the brain

Question 17

FMRI

Answer 17

• allows us to see energy released by brain cells when engaged in a particular task
• used by Prof. Albert at BMC for a driving related study

Question 18

What does the hindbrain contain?

Answer 18

pons, medulla, cerebellum, reticular formation

Question 19

reticular formation

Answer 19

• plays a role in one’s general attention, alertness, and arousal
• linked to sleep cycles, helps keep one asleep
• extends from the lower brain up to the thalamus

Question 20

cerebellum

Answer 20

• about the size of a fist, has 2 wrinkled hemispheres and is covered by the cortex
  base/back of the brain (above the medulla)
• coordinates and controls involuntary, rapid, fine motor movement
• helps with balance, smooth movements