YR11 - SAC: Chapter 5 Review

Question 1

What is the function of the brain?

Answer 1

The role of the cerebral cortex is the processing of complex sensory information, the initiation of voluntary movements, language, symbolic thinking and the regulation of emotion, including localisation of function

Question 2

What is the structure of the brain?

Answer 2

The brain is made up of three parts: the hindbrain (cerebellum, medulla), midbrain (reticular formation) and the forebrain (hypothalamus, thalamus, cerebrum)

Question 3

What is the role of the cerebellum (hindbrain)?

Answer 3

Receives information from the pons, coordinates the sequence of body movement, perception and cognition, balance and fine muscle movement

Question 4

What is the role of the medulla (hindbrain)?

Answer 4

A continuation of the spine,

Controls breathing, heartbeat, digestion, and other vital bodily functions

Question 5

Explain ‘reticular formation’

Answer 5

A network of neurons that is part of both the midbrain and hindbrain and connects the hindbrain and forebrain,
It controls arousal and the ‘sleeping and waking cycle’

Question 6

What is grey matter?

Answer 6

The cell body predominate giving the cerebral cortex a greyish brown appearance

Question 7

What is white matter?

Answer 7

A large concentration of myelin gives this tissue an opaque white appearance

Question 8

What is the role of the pons (hindbrain)?

Answer 8

Receive information sent from visual areas to control eye and body actions, controls movement, breathing, sleeping, dreams and waking

Question 9

What is the role of the brainstem (hindbrain)?

Answer 9

Acts as a relay centre connecting the cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord. It performs many automatic functions such as breathing, heart rate, body temperature,

Question 10

What is the structure of the cerebrum? (forebrain)

Answer 10

Divided into left and right cerebral hemispheres

Separated by the longitudinal fissure - A deep groove that runs from the front to rear of the cortex

Question 11

Explain the 3 main parts of the cerebrum…

Answer 11

Sensory areas – receive information about senses such as vision, sound, smell etc.

Motor cortex – transmits information about body movements.

Association cortex – integrates sensory and motor information.

Question 12

What is the role of the hypothalamus? (forebrain)

Answer 12

Controls basic survival actions:

Expression of emotions and the four F’s - Feeding, fighting, fleeing and fornication

Question 13

What is the role of the thalamus? (forebrain)

Answer 13

The communications centre of the brain -

1. Enables an organism to process sensory stimuli in the environment
2. To determine which of the incoming sensory information is most important for us to pay attention to

Question 14

What is the cerebral cortex referring to?

Answer 14

The outer layer of each hemisphere - a thin layer that covers the hemispheres

Question 15

List the role of the frontal lobes

Answer 15

• The largest lobes
• Functions include initiating movement of the body (motor functions)
• Language, planning, judgement, problem-solving, aspects of personality and regulation of emotions

Question 16

List the role of the parietal lobes

Answer 16

• Receive sensations such as touch, pressure, temperature and pain from the body
• Includes somatosensory cortex

Question 17

List the roles of the temporal lobes

Answer 17

• Process is auditory information

* Performs complex auditory analysis that is necessary for understanding human speech or listening to music

Question 18

List the roles of the occipital lobes

Answer 18

• entirely concerned with vision
• information from the left side of each retina is processed in the left occipital lobe and information from the right side of each retina is processed in the right occipital lobe

Question 19

Define the primary cortices

Answer 19

Primary cortices receive information from the lobe they are responsive to, for example:

• The primary visual cortex receives visual information from their eyes – occipital lobe
• the primary auditory cortex receives sound information from the ears - temporal lobe
• the primary somatosensory cortex receives information from sense receptors in the skin - parietal lobe

Question 20

Explain hemispheric specialisation

Answer 20

Hemispheric specialisation refers to the specialisation and dominance of certain functions by each of the cerebral hemispheres of the brain

Question 21

Right hemispheric functions

Answer 21

Non-verbal functions are those which do not require the use of recognition of words

For example
Creativity, imagination, intuition, control the left side of the body

Question 22

Left hemispheric functions

Answer 22

Verbal functions that require the use or recognition of words

Example: Logic, analytical thought, number skills and right body control

Question 23

Define Broca’s area

Answer 23

This area plays an important role in the production of articulate speech

Question 24

Define Wernicke’s area

Answer 24

Its function is the comprehension of words. It is involved with interpreting sounds, especially of human speech