[Week 3] The Brain

Question 1

Ablation

Answer 1

Surgical removal of brain tissue.

Question 2

Basal ganglia

Answer 2

Subcortical structures of the cerebral hemispheres involved in voluntary movement.

Question 3

Brain stem

Answer 3

The “trunk” of the brain comprised of the medulla

Question 4

Callosotomy

Answer 4

Surgical procedure in which the corpus callosum is severed (used to control severe epilepsy).

Question 5

Case study

Answer 5

A thorough study of a patient (or a few patients)

Question 6

Cerebellum

Answer 6

the part of the brain at the back of the skull in vertebrates. Its function is to coordinate and regulate muscular activity.

Question 7

Cerebral cortex

Answer 7

The outermost gray matter of the cerebrum; the distinctive convolutions characteristic of the mammalian brain.

Question 8

Cerebral hemispheres

Answer 8

left or right side of brain

Question 9

Cerebrum

Answer 9

Usually refers to the cerebral cortex and associated white matter

Question 10

Contralateral

Answer 10

Literally “opposite side”; used to refer to the fact that the two hemispheres of the brain process sensory information and motor commands for the opposite side of the body (e.g.

Question 11

Converging evidence

Answer 11

Similar findings reported from multiple studies using different methods.

Question 12

Coronal plane

Answer 12

A slice that runs from head to foot; brain slices in this plane are similar to slices of a loaf of bread

Question 13

Diffuse optical imaging (DOI)

Answer 13

A neuroimaging technique that infers brain activity by measuring changes in light as it is passed through the skull and surface of the brain.

Question 14

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer 14

A neuroimaging technique that measures electrical brain activity via multiple electrodes on the scalp.

Question 15

Frontal lobe

Answer 15

The front most (anterior) part of the cerebrum; anterior to the central sulcus and responsible for motor output and planning

Question 16

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Answer 16

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): A neuroimaging technique that infers brain activity by measuring changes in oxygen levels in the blood.

Question 17

Gray matter

Answer 17

The outer grayish regions of the brain comprised of the neurons’ cell bodies.

Question 18

Gyri

Answer 18

(plural) Folds between sulci in the cortex.

Question 19

Gyrus

Answer 19

A fold between sulci in the cortex.

Question 20

Horizontal plane

Answer 20

A slice that runs horizontally through a standing person

Question 21

Lateralized

Answer 21

To the side; used to refer to the fact that specific functions may reside primarily in one hemisphere or the other (e.g.

Question 22

Lesion

Answer 22

A region in the brain that suffered damage through injury

Question 23

Limbic system

Answer 23

involved in our behavioral and emotional responses

Question 24

Metabolite

Answer 24

A substance necessary for a living organism to maintain life.

Question 25

Motor cortex

Answer 25

Region of the frontal lobe responsible for voluntary movement; the motor cortex has a contralateral representation of the human body.

Question 26

Myelin

Answer 26

Fatty tissue

Question 27

Nomenclature

Answer 27

Naming conventions.

Question 28

Occipital lobe

Answer 28

The back most (posterior) part of the cerebrum; involved in vision.

Question 29

Parietal lobe

Answer 29

The part of the cerebrum between the frontal and occipital lobes; involved in bodily sensations

Question 30

Phrenology

Answer 30

the detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities

Question 31

Positron emission tomography (PET)

Answer 31

A neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting the presence of a radioactive substance in the brain that is initially injected into the bloodstream and then pulled in by active brain tissue.

Question 32

Sagittal plane

Answer 32

A slice that runs vertically from front to back; slices of brain in this plane divide the left and right side of the brain; this plane is similar to slicing a baked potato lengthwise.

Question 33

Somatosensory (body sensations) cortex

Answer 33

The region of the parietal lobe responsible for bodily sensations; the somatosensory cortex has a contralateral representation of the human body.

Question 34

Spatial resolution

Answer 34

A term that refers to how small the elements of an image are; high spatial resolution means the device or technique can resolve very small elements; in neuroscience it describes how small of a structure in the brain can be imaged.

Question 35

Split-brain patient

Answer 35

A patient who has had most or all of his or her corpus callosum severed.

Question 36

Subcortical

Answer 36

Structures that lie beneath the cerebral cortex

Question 37

Sulci

Answer 37

(plural) Grooves separating folds of the cortex.

Question 38

Sulcus

Answer 38

A groove separating folds of the cortex.

Question 39

Temporal lobe

Answer 39

The part of the cerebrum in front of (anterior to) the occipital lobe and below the lateral fissure; involved in vision

Question 40

Temporal resolution

Answer 40

A term that refers to how small a unit of time can be measured; high temporal resolution means capable of resolving very small units of time; in neuroscience it describes how precisely in time a process can be measured in the brain.

Question 41

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Answer 41

A neuroscience technique that passes mild electrical current directly through a brain area by placing small electrodes on the skull.

Question 42

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Answer 42

A neuroscience technique whereby a brief magnetic pulse is applied to the head that temporarily induces a weak electrical current that interferes with ongoing activity.

Question 43

Visual hemifield

Answer 43

The half of visual space (what we see) on one side of fixation (where we are looking); the left hemisphere is responsible for the right visual hemifield

Question 44

White matter

Answer 44

The inner whitish regions of the cerebrum comprised of the myelinated axons of neurons in the cerebral cortex.