BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCES Flashcards
(41 cards)
The Brain
Primary task is to help maintain the whole body in an optimal state relative to the environment in order to maximise the chances of survival.
The brain does this by registering stimuli and then responding by generating actions.
The brain receives a constant stream of information as electrical impulses from neurons in the sense organs
The Spinal Cord
Responsible for coordinating all of the processes and movements in the body.
Is a dense budle of nerves and is linked to the Peripheral Nervous System
Transmission of information along the spinal cord to and from the brain occurs through interconnected neurons that form neural pathways
Carries sensory information to the brain, and motor information from the brain
Ascending Neural Pathways for Somatosensory Information
Comes in from various parts of the body through the spinal nerves and ravels up to the brain
Descending Neural Pathways for Motor Information
Leaves the brain and travels down the spinal cord to exit via the spinal nerves to its destination in the muscles, organs and glands
The Hindbrain
Located: base of the brain and towards the back of the skull
Important part of the ANS
Controls basic survival functions (heart rate, breathing, sleep, arousal)
Coordinates voluntary muscle movement and reflexive actions (swallowing, vomiting)
Occur without conscious effort
Metencephalon
Contains the pons and the cerebellum
Myelencephalon
Contains the medulla oblongata (autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate and digestion)
Midbrain
Connects the Forebrain and Hindbrain
Keeps us alert, awake and vigilant
Contains the middle of the Reticular Formation (a network of nerve pathways connecting the spinal cord, cerebrum and cerebellum and mediating the overall level of consciousness
Mesencephalon
Midbrain
Forebrain
Located: above the midbrain and divided into 2 hemispheres
Contains structures responsible for our most complex processes
- emotions, motivations, sensations, perceptions, learning, memory, reasoning
Telencephalon
The largest part of the brain, consisting of 2 hemispheres separated by the corpus callosum
- contains the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and limbic system
Diencephalon
Lower and smaller part of the forebrain
Contains the thalamus and the hypothalamus
Cerebral Cortex
Covering of each of the cerebral hemispheres
Involved in information processing activities: language, learning, memory, thinking, perception and problem solving
Planning and control of voluntary body movements
Some areas are dedicated to specific structures but most perform multiple functions at once and combine information
Divided into 4 main lobes
Gyri
Bulges in the cerebral cortex
Sulci
Shallower groves in the cerebral cortex
Fissures
Deeper groves in the cerebral cortex
Sensory Cortex Area
Receive and process information from senses
Motor Cortex Area
Receives, prcesses and sends information about voluntary bodily movements
Cerebral Hemispheres
Are almost symmetrical structures that are separated by a deep grove but are connected by the corpus callosum
They have many of the same functions that are located in the same place on each side
They don’t function independently, they communicate via the corpus callosum
Left Hemisphere
Verbal; language and analytical (logic)
Broca’s area and Wernicks areas
Right Hemisphere
Non-verbal; spatial activities, emotion, facial recognition
Thalamus
Processes and sends on sensory information to higher brain areas
Hypothalamus
Situated under the thalamus
Temperature control and basic behavioural drives
Cerebellum
Connected to the brainstem immediately in front of it by three pairs of stalk like extensions called cerebellar peduncles
Maintains balance, movement, coordination and conduction of sensory information
