Unit 2: Brain Flashcards
Thalamus function
“inner chamber” ; brains sensory switchboard; all senses except smell pass through thalamus; sends information to proper regions of cerebral cortex for processing; transmits “replies” to cerebellum and medulla
Frontal lobe location
front of brain; underneath the forehead; largest lobe
Cerebellum function
“little brain” ; helps coordinate voluntary movements, as well as balance and sense of equilibrium
Parietal lobe function
touch and sensory information processing; contains sensory cortex
Reticular formation location
runs through middle of medulla and pons; in between of ears
Hippocampus function
formation of permanent (long-term) memories that are then stored elsewhere in brain; storage of memories for location of objects
Temporal lobe function
sound information processing; contains auditory cortex, Wernicke’s area
Thalamus location
sits on top of brainstem
Brain stem function
oldest/most basic part of brain; contains medulla, pons, and reticular formation; automatic survival functions; sends and receives information
Corpus callosum
connects life and right hemispheres with a thick of nerve fibers
Amygdala function
responsible for emotional responses to fear and the memory of fear’ also associated with anger and aggression
Occipital lobe location
toward of base of brain; at base of cortex
Occipital lobe function
visual information processing; contains visual cortex
Prefrontal cortex
planning, personality, memory storage, complex decision-making, and areas devoted to language; Phineas George
Cerebrum
“human brain” ; features unique to humans and primates; largest and most complex part of human brain; divided into two hemispheres and four lobes and is covered by cerebral cortex
Hypothalamus function
“below inner chamber” ; fight or flight; eating and drinking, sexual functions, body temperature; main link between endocrine and nervous system
Parietal lobe location
top of head; between the frontal and occipital lobe
Amygdala location
two almond shaped structures; near hippocampus
Pons functions
helps coordinate movement especially left-right coordination; influences sleep, dreaming, and arousal
Reticular formation functions
controls an organisms level of alertness/arousal
Visual cortex
processes sensory information from eyes; NOT contralateral
Cerebellum location
located in rear of brain; large and deeply folded in structure
Pons location
sits on top of medulla; links medulla and cerebellum to upper portions of brain; larger swelling
Auditory cortex
processes sensory information from ears; dominant neural pathways are contralateral
Primary motor cortex
controls movement of bodys voluntary muscles by sending commands to somatic division of PNS; output; cross-wired pattern
Forebrain
“animal brain” ; contains ability to handle more complex stimuli that reptiles cannot do
Limbic system function
responsible for mood and emotions, as well as experience of pain and fear
Medulla oblongata location
on top of spinal cord; very bottom of brain; part of brainstem
Frontal lobe function
Advanced cognitive abilities; contains prefrontal cortex, motor cortex, Broca’s area
Wernicke’s area
devoted to language comprehension and expression
Brain stem location
lower part of brain that connects to spinal cord
Cross-wired pattern
left side of brain controls right side of body and etc
Temporal lobe location
just behind the temples; just below the parietal lobe
Broca’s area
devoted to production of speech; people speak smoothly and fluently; directs muscle movements involved in speech
Hypothalamus location
directly underneath the thalamus and directly above the pituitary gland
Medulla oblongata functions
life-supporting functions ie. respiration, digestion, heartbeat, blood pressure
Hippocampus location
curved structure located within each temporal lobe; wraps around the back of the thalamus
Hindbrain
“reptilian brain” ; most basic part of the brain; contains medulla oblongata, pons, reticular formation, cerebellum, brain stem; regulates functions most basic to life
Somatosensory strip
registers and processes senses; input; cross-wired pattern
Limbic system
a loosely connected network of structures; includes thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala
