Unit 3B The Brain Flashcards
Lesion
Tissue destruction; a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.
Electroencephalogram
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
CT (computed tomography) scan
Examines the brain by taking X-ray photographs that can reveal brain damage.
PET (positron emission tomography) scan
Depicts brain activity by showing each brain areas consumption of its chemical fuel, the sugar glucose.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
It is used to get a detailed picture of a brains soft tissue.
Brainstem
Beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the Brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions.
Medulla
The base of the Brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Reticular formation
A nerve network in brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.
Thalamus
Located on top of the Brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
Cerebellum
At the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.
Pons
The part of your Brainstem in between the brain and spinal cord; it allows signals to travel to and from your brain.
Limbic System
Doughnut-shaped neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.
Amygdala
Two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to fear and emotions.
Hypothalamus
A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.
Reward deficiency syndrome
A genetically disposed deficiency in the natural brain systems for pleasure and well-being that leads people to crave whatever provided that missing pleasure or relieves negative feelings.
Cerebral Cortex
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center.
Glial Cells
Support the billions of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex, providing nutrients, insulating myelin, and guiding neural connections
Frontal lobe
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgement
Parietal lobe
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
Occipital lobe
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; including areas that receive information from the visual fields
Temporal lobe
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; include the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.
Motor cortex
An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.
Sensory cortex
Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body tough and movement sensations.
Association areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
Aphasia
Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area or to wernick’s area.
Plasticity
The brains ability to modify itself after some types of damage.
Constraint-induced theory
It reprograms the brain by improving the dexterity of a brain-damaged person l, through restraining a fully functioning limb and forcing use of the uncooperative leg.
Neurogenesis
The formation of new neurons.
Lateralization
The hemispheric specialization of the brain
Corpus callosum
The wide band of axon fibers connecting the two hemispheres and carrying messages between them.
What is a split brain?
A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them. When this happens the phone cables responsible for transmitting messages from one hemisphere to the other are severed, so researchers can quiz each hemisphere separately.
Right brain
Performing a perceptual task, like: brain waves, blood flow, and glucose composition. Also modulating our speech, and orchestrating our self defense.
Left brain
Speaking, calculating, and making quick, literal interpretations.
Consciousness
Our awareness of ourselves and our environment
Cognitive neuroscience
The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked w cognition.
Dual processing
The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.
Visual perception track
It enables us to recognize things and to plan future actions.
What is serial conscious processing?
It’s slower than parallel processing, but it is skilled at solving new problems, which recruits our focused attention
What is meant by describing unconscious information processing as on multiple parallel tracks?
When we look at a bird flying, we are consciously aware of the result of our cognitive processing, but not of our sub processing of the birds color, form, movement, distance, and identity.
