Areas and Function Flashcards
Cerebral cortex
Outer layer of cerebrum, overlying deep nuclei
- frontal lobe
- occipital lobe
- parietal lobe
- temporal lobe
Primary cortical areas
receive sensory information from peripheral receptors or execute motor tasks; little interpretation of the meaning of the information
- eg., primary motor/somatosensory/visual/auditory/gustatory areas
Association areas
receive input from primary area
involved in higher order processing, integrating, and interpreting information
associate simpler elements of cognition
tune sensory expectation based on expectations, needs, etc.
- eg., premotor/somatosensory/visual/auditory/frontal association areas etc.
- prefrontal cortex
Brain stem (3 structures)
midbrain
pons
medulla oblongata
Brain stem function
basic vital functions (heart rate, breathing, sleeping/alertness, digestion)
transfers information between body and cerebrum and cerebellum
Thalamus function
relay station - integrates sensory information and projects to cerebral frontal lobes
limbic system
50ish nuclei subdivisions have multiple function specializations
Hypothalamus function
controls autonomic functions
sets appetite drives and reproductive behaviour
participates in emotional responses
secretes ADH, oxytocin, releasing hormones for anterior pituitary regulation
Cerebrum (Telencephalon) function
contains cerebral cortex
motor area (voluntary muscle movements)
sensory cortex (conscious perception of touch, pressure, vibration, pain, temperature, taste)
association areas (sensory data integration and processing)
Cerebellum function
balance
coordination
voluntary and involuntary movement
Pons function
connects cerebellum to other brain centres, medulla, and spinal cord
modifies output of respiratory centres in medulla
Medulla oblongata function
regulates heart rate and contraction force
vasomotor control (blood vessel diameter)
sets breathing rate
relays information to cerebellum
Cerebral commissures
type of white matter tract that crosses midline; connects same cortical area in opposite hemispheres
Sulci
large fissures in cortex
major ones:
- central fissure (separates frontal and parietal lobes)
- lateral fissure (separates frontal and parietal from temporal
- longitudinal fissure (longest fissure)
Gyri
ridges between fissures in cortex
major ones: precentral gyrus; postcentral gyrus; superior temporal gyrus; cingulate gyrus
Corpus callosum
largest/most significant commisural fibers tract
connects left and right hemispheres
Parietal lobe function
sensory processing (touch, pressure, heat, cold, pain)
spatial coordinate system
perception of body awareness
topographically ordered
Occipital lobe function
vision
retinotopically organized