Unit 3B - Biological Bases of Behavior (The Brain) Flashcards
lesion
tissue destruction; a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
electroencephalogram (EEG)
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface; measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
presents a stimulus repeatedly and uses a computer to filter out brain activity unrelated to the stimulus in order to identify the electrical wave evoked by the stimulus
CT (computed tomography) scan
a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body
X-ray photographs can reveal brain damage
PET (positron emission tomography) scan
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue
MRI scans show brain anatomy
fMRI (functional MRI)
a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans
fMRI scans show brain function
brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain; extension of the spinal cord
location: begins where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull
includes: pons & medulla
response for: automatic survival functions
medulla
location: the base of the brainstem
part of: brainstem (with pons)
responsible for: heartbeat & breathing
pons
location: the base of the brainstem above the medulla
part of: brainstem (with medulla)
responsible for: coordinating movement
reticular formation
a network of neurons; some of the spinal cord’s sensory input travels through the reticular formation
location: extends from the spinal cord right up to the thalamus
responsible for: producing arousal
thalamus
the brain’s sensory switchboard, directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
location: top of the brainstem
responsible for: receiving info from all of the senses except smell and routing it to the higher brain regions that deal with seeing, hearing, tasting, and touching
cerebellum
the “little brain” that consists of two wrinkled halves
location: the rear of the brainstem
responsible for: processing sensory input (images) and coordinating movement output & balance (coordination)
cerebral hemispheres
the two halves of the brain
limbic system
doughnut-shaped neural system
location: below the cerebral hemispheres
includes: hippocampus, amygdala & hypothalamus
responsible for: emotions (fear & anger) and basic motives (food & sex)
amygdala
two lima bean-sized neural clusters
part of: the limbic system
responsible for: fear & aggression
