BIOLOGY OF THE MIND Flashcards
(23 cards)
When did the primate brain appear?
Between 34 million and 23 million years ago during the Oligocene epoch.
What is the command-and-control center of the nervous system?
Central nervous system (CNS)
What are the two main subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system?
- Sympathetic branch
- Parasympathetic branch
What neurotransmitter does the sympathetic system use?
Norepinephrine
What is the primary function of the primary motor cortex?
Generating neural signals that control movement.
What does the prefrontal cortex control?
Complex aspects of planning, organizing, controlling, and executing behavior.
What sensory information does the somatosensory cortex receive?
- Touch
- Pain
- Temperature sense
- Limb proprioception
What is the role of the occipital lobes?
Responsible for visual processing.
What is the tonotopic organization in the auditory cortex?
Neurons are arranged based on the frequency of sound.
What does the association cortex do?
Integrates activities in various sensory systems and complex cognitive functions.
True or False: Language processing is predominantly a function of the right hemisphere.
False
What is the emotional component of speech called?
Emotional prosody
What is the function of the interpreter in the left hemisphere?
Makes causal interpretations about the world.
What do patients with left-side lesions struggle with?
Identifying local targets.
What regulates hunger in the hypothalamus?
Lateral hypothalamus
What are the three output pathways of the hypothalamus?
- Autonomic output pathway
- Neuroendocrine pathway
- Motivational pathway
What is the role of the basolateral amygdala?
Tracks the emotional significance of stimuli.
What type of memory is the hippocampus primarily involved in?
Episodic memory
What is the function of the medulla?
Controls vital functions such as respiration and heart rate.
What does the pons connect?
The brain (cerebrum) and the cerebellum.
What is the role of the superior colliculus?
Perceiving objects in the periphery and orienting gaze.
Fill in the blank: Damage to the cerebellum results in _______.
Jerky, poorly coordinated muscle functioning.
What is the function of the inferior colliculus?
Locating and orienting toward auditory stimuli.
