The brain

Question 1

What is the brain responsible for?

Answer 1

• All complex decisions and behaviours
• Holds all of our thoughts and memories

Question 2

What is the role of the cerebral cortex and where is it found?

Answer 2

• Found all around the top of the brain
• Controls memory, consciousness, intelligence, language and all senses

Question 3

What is the cerebral cortex split into?

Answer 3

• Split into 2 halves known as hemispheres
• The right hemisphere controls the muscles on the left side of the body
• The left hemisphere controls the muscles on the right side of the body

Question 4

What is the role of the ceebellum and where is it found?

Answer 4

• Back of the brain
• Controls balance and muscle coordination

Question 5

What is the role of the hypothalamus

Answer 5

• Regulates body temperature
• Send signals to the pituitary gland

Question 6

What is the role of the medulla and where is it found?

Answer 6

• Found inside the brain stem
• Controls unonscious activities (E.G: breathing and heart rate)

Question 7

What are the 3 ways that scientists can study the brain?

Answer 7

• Study people with brain damage
• Electrically stimulate different parts of the brain
• Scan the brain

Question 8

What are the 3 different types of brain scans?

Answer 8

• CT scan (X-Rays): finds damage in the brain
• PET scan (radioactive chemicals): measures activity of the brain
• MRI scan (magnetic fields): measures activity of the brain

Question 9

Why is the brain so hard to treat (3 reasons)

Answer 9

• There is a huge variety of things that can go wrong in the brain (E.G: tumours, disease, etc… )
• The brain is encapsulated in the skull and surrounded by lots of fragile tissue making it hard to treat physically
• The structure of the brain is very complex making to treat using drugs and chemicals