unit 2 : brain structures Flashcards
1
Q
brainstem
A
- central core of the brain that connects to the spinal cord
- responsible for automatic survival functions
2
Q
medulla (oblongata)
A
- part of the brain stem (base)
- controls heart rate, digestion, & breathing
3
Q
pons
A
- part of the brainstem
- acts as a bridge between different areas of nervous system
- helps with sleeping, waking, and dreaming
4
Q
thalamus
A
- on top of the brainstem
- acts as the brains sensory control center
- receives info from all senses except smell
5
Q
reticular formation (RAS)
A
- a nerve that travels through the brainstem & thalamus
- controls sleep wake cycle, attention, & arousal
6
Q
cerebellum (little brain)
A
- coordinates movement, discriminates sounds & textures
- enables learning & memory
7
Q
limbic system
A
- neural system associated with emotions & learning
- includes amyglada, hypothalamus, hippocampus
8
Q
amygdala
A
- neural cluster
- processes emotions, helps form emotional memories
- can trigger fight or flight response, can link fear / aggression to people or places
9
Q
hypothalamus
A
- controls hunger, thirst, & sleep
- maintains homeostasis by connecting nervous & endocrine system through pituitary gland
10
Q
hippocampus
A
- crucial part in organizing, sorting, & forming memories
- spacial navigation
- helps convert short term memories into long term
11
Q
fissures
A
- deep groves / clefts that divide the cerebral cortex into different regions or lobes
ex : longitudinal fissure, seperates left and right hemisphere
ex : lateral fissure, divides temporal from frontal and parietal lobes
12
Q
cerebral cortex (hemispheres)
A
- outer layer of interconnected neural cells
- responsible for though & problem solving
- divided into 4 main lobes
13
Q
frontal lobe
A
- involved in speaking
- muscle movements, making plans & judgment
14
Q
motor strip (cortex)
A
located in frontal lobe
- controls voluntary movement
15
Q
association areas
A
- areas of the cerebral cortex not involved in primary motor or sensory functions
- involved in learning, thinking, remembering, & speaking
16
Q
broca’s area (left hemisphere)
A
region in frontal lobe
- speech and language
17
Q
parietal lobe
A
- processes sensory info & spatial awareness
18
Q
somatosensory strip (cortex)
A
area infront of parietal lobes
- registers & processes touch & movement
19
Q
temporal lobe
A
- receives & processes auditory info (from opposite side of ear)
20
Q
auditory cortex
A
in temporal lobe
- processes sound
21
Q
wernicke’s area (left hemisphere)
A
in temporal lobe
- language comprehension, spoken & written language
22
Q
occipital lobe
A
processes visual info
23
Q
visual cortex
A
located in occipital lobe
- receives input from eyes and interprets color, shape, and movement
- allows us to recognize and understand what we see
24
Q
basal ganglia
A
group of structures deep within brain
- key role in voulantary movements, motor learning, habit formation & coordination
