Unit 3B,C: The Brain Flashcards
Brain scan that measures brain activity

Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Brain scan that uses large magnets to create a picture of the brain

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
LOBES OF THE BRAIN
The blue area - controls complex thinking

Frontal Lobe
LOBES OF THE BRAIN
The yellow area

Parietal Lobe
LOBES OF THE BRAIN

The green area
Temporal Lobe
LOBES OF THE BRAIN
The red area - interprets visual information

Occipital Lobe
The area circled in red, a small “mini brain” at the bottom and back of the cerebral cortex - controls balance and reflexive movements

Cerebellum
Controls reflexive movements and balance
The “fist shaped” area within the brain which extends from the spinal cord, including the medulla, pons, and thalamus

Brainstem
A brain scanning technique that compares multiple MRI scans over time, and highlights the differences
In this picture - changes (active areas) shown in red

fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Brain scanning technique which uses x-rays to produce an image of the brain

CT (Computed Tomography) Scan
The bottom part of the brainstem - controls autonomic processes such as heartbeat and breathing

Medulla
The middle part of the brainstem, looks like a lump

Pons
The top area in the brainstem, and the largest part
Is a virtual “switchboard” for the brain, directing most neuronal messages from the spinal cord to their appropriate location in the brain

Thalamus
The layer of tissue which connects the two hemispheres of the brain

Corpus Callosum
The system of brain structures that are located between the brainstem and the cerebrum
Limbic System
The entire outer area of the brain making up 80% of the brain’s weight, includes both “grey matter” and “white matter”
Pictured with the thalamus
Cerebrum
The outermost layer of the cerebrum, only 1/10 of an inch thick - “grey matter”
Pictured with the entire cerebrum and thalamus
Cerebral Cortex
The “comma” or “seahorse” shaped organ in the limbic system, which wraps around the thalamus
Controls Memory

Hippocampus
Part of the limbic system, located below the thalamus
Controls rewards, body temperature, and hunger
Hypothalamus
The part of the limbic system which controls emotions

Amygdala
The band across both hemispheres of the cerebrum that control messages concerned with sending signals to the body
Pictured in blue

Motor Cortex
The band across both hemispheres of the cerebrum that control messages concerned with receiving signals from the body
Pictured in yellow

Sensory Cortex
Area in the cerebral cortex which controls the production of speech

Broca’s Area
The area in the cerebral cortex which controls the interpretation of speech

Wernicke’s Area