Unit 3- topic 1 Flashcards
Structure and function of CNS
Brain + spinal cord connected by brain stem
Processing + responding to sensory input from PNS
Structure and Function of PNS
Comprises nerves + ganglia outside brain + spinal cord to communicates info to and from CNS
subdivisions of PNS
Somatic and Autonomic Nervous system
function of somatic nervous system
Transmits sensory info to, and motor commands from CNS. It is both voluntary and mediated by reflexes.
function of autonomic nervous system
Communication between body’s non-skeletal muscles and internal organs + glands
Non-voluntary control of body’s functions e.g., heartbeat and breathing
subdivisions and functions of the autonomic nervous system
SYMPATHETIC AND PARASYMPATHETIC
Sympathetic: fight-flight-freeze response
Parasympathetic: maintaining homeostasis (rest and digest)
what is the spinal cords role in stimulus-response loops?
For stimulus-response loops, the spinal cord acts as a pathway that connects the brain and PNS
definition of spinal reflexes
innate responses controlled by spinal cord without the brain to sensory stimuli which tend to contribute to safety and survival
monosynaptic reflex arc
involves one synapse with a sensory neuron directly communicating a signal to a motor neuron
Polysynaptic reflex arc
involves more than one synapse, including interneurons in the spinal cord
cerebral cortex
surface of the rain that is covered in bumps and folds called gyri and sulci. Fissure is a deep sulcus called a fissure such as the longitudinal fissure that divides the hemispheres of the brain.
corpus callosum
connects left and right hemispheres of brain
occipital lobe role and cortex
primary visual cortex: processes visual information from the eyes
identifies and makes sense of visual information.
parietal lobe function and cortex
somatosensory cortex: area of neurons running down the front of the parietal lobes.
responsible for processing information from the skin and internal body receptors for touch, temperature, body position, and possibly taste.
temporal lobe function and cortex
primary auditory cortex: processes auditory information from the ears
identifies and makes sense of auditory information.
frontal lobe function and cortex
responsible for higher mental processes and decision making as well as the production of fluent speech.
motor cortex: section of the frontal lobe located at the back; responsible for sending motor commands to the muscles of the somatic nervous system.
Brocas area lobe, function, and damage
Broca’s area (frontal lobe)- the speech production centre of the brain and the muscle movements of speech involving the motor control of the lips and tongue. Damage can lead to Broca’s aphasia (difficulty speaking, articulating, and constructing grammatically correct sentences)
Wernicke’s area, lobe function, and damage
Wernicke’s area (temporal lobe)- responsible for speech comprehension by taking auditory input and applying meaning. Damage can lead to Wernicke’s aphasia (difficulty understanding speech and producing meaningful sentences)
Geschwind’s territory, lobe and function
Geschwind’s territory (parietal lobe)- area of the brain that provides a connection between Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area and other areas involved in language via bundle of nerve fibres.
role of the limbic system
responsible for interpretation, production, and regulation of emotion, including behavior and motivation. located on both sides of thalamus.
what makes up the limbic system
hippocampus, hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex
hippocampus role
regulation and expression of emotion and memory
aids in recalling relevant memory to create meaning when presented with emotionally charged stimuli
hypothalamus role
homeostasis and survival systems and links nervous systems to the endocrine system. Involved in physiological responses to fear stimuli
thalamus role
involved in emotional processing, memory formation, and behavioural regulation
amygdala role of both sides
involved in activation of some emotions (mainly fear) and memory formation
Left- mostly deals with positive emotion
Right- mostly deals with negative emotion
prefrontal cortex role in the limbic system
underside connects brain regions that are involved in emotional processing and production and is also involved in regulating and modifying emotions
what did LeDoux propose
two pathways of emotion
LeDoux’s Biological Model- short route
Where an environmental stimulus is received by the thalamus and sent directly to the amygdala
Useful in survival situations (fight, flight, freeze)
LeDoux’s Biological Model- long route
an environmental stimulus is received by the thalamus and then passes it to the sensory cortex. The information is then passed to the hypothalamus before then moving to the amygdala.
Useful in situations which require more appraisal/consideration (secondary appraisal)
definition of voluntary movement
controlled consciously under control of brain and differs from spinal reflexes as they involve the brain and can involve complex series of planned movements
three steps of voluntary movement
gather information, coordinating and remembering movement, executing movement
basal ganglia role in voluntary movement
Positioned at base of forebrain and top of midbrain and have strong connections with cerebral cortex, thalamus, and brainstem
Controls the information gathering process and enable movement through operating a complex feedback loop
Channel info from brain regions to motor cortex and block movements that don’t suit end goal. In doing so, receive info from frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes
processes and parts involved in coordinating and remembering movement
Muscle memory (procedural memory)- the ability to remember smooth, well sequenced movements
Cerebellum
Located in hindbrain and is associated with memory of coordinated movements
Coordinated primary motor cortex to help execute selected movements
