Unit 3B vocab Flashcards
Tissue distruction; a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
Lesion
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
EEG electroencephalogram
A series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body
CT scan
Aka cat scan
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the rain performs a given task
PET scan
Positron emission tomography
A technique that uses magnetic fields an radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. Show brain anatomy
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
A technique for revealing blood flow and therefore brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Shows brain function
fMRI
Functional MRI
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions
Brainstem
The base of the brainstem
Controls heartbeat and breathing
Medulla
A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
Reticular formation
The brains sensory switchboard. Located on top of the brainstem. It direct messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum an medulla
Thalamus
The “little Brain” at the rear of the brainstem Functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
Cerebellum
Donut shaped neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres Associated with emotions and drives
Limbic system
Two Lima bean sized neural clusters in the Lombok system. Linked to EMOTION
Amygdala
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information processing center
cerebral cortex
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish and protect neurons
glial cells
glia
portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
frontal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
parietal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
occipital lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving info primarily from the opposite ear
temporal lobes
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
motor cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
sensory cortex
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
association areas
impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area or to Wernicke’s area
aphasia
controls language expression
an area in the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech
Broca’s area
controls language reception
an area in left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression
Wernickes area
the brains ability to change especially during childhood by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
plasticity
the formation of new neurons
neurogenesis
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
corpus callosum
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres b cutting the fibers (corpus callosum) connecting them
split brain
our awareness of ourselves and our environment
consciousness
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including pereption, thinking, memory and language)
cognitive neuroscience
the principle that info is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
dual processing
a neural structure that directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp) helps govern the endocrine system via pituitary gland and is linked to emotion and reward
hypothalamus
