Brain Basics

Question 1

Brain cell specialized in sending electrical signals

Answer 1

Neuron

Question 2

Neurons fire with…

Answer 2

Action potential

Question 3

Axons are covered in…

Answer 3

in fat (myelin)

Question 4

Dendrites

Answer 4

Branches from the cell body that receive signals

Question 5

Bundle of axons are called…

Answer 5

nerves

Question 6

Neurons communicate over the small gap

Answer 6

synapse

Question 7

Inhibitory

Answer 7

can decrease rate of fire

Question 8

Excititory

Answer 8

can increase rate of fire

Question 9

Neurotransmitters in the synapse can trigger…

Answer 9

an action potential

Question 10

Resting Potential

Answer 10

The axon is “polarized” in its resting state - a negative charge

Question 11

Depolarization

Answer 11

• Ions channels active
• Positive + ions enter
• Creates net positive + charge

Question 12

Repolarization

Answer 12

• Positive + ions get “kicked out”
• Begin return to negative charge

Question 13

Hyperpolarization

Answer 13

• Temporarily too much negative charge
• Unable to fire again until returning to resting potential

Question 14

Myelin - fat - helps send the signal…

Answer 14

faster
- Signal skips from node to node (node of raviner)

Question 15

The peripheral nervous system contains…

Answer 15

Somatic and Autonomic Nervous Systems

Question 16

Somatic Nervous System is associated with…

Answer 16

muscles and senses, sensory system, motor system

Question 17

Autonomic Nervous system contains…

Answer 17

• Sympathetic “Fight or Flight”
• Parasympathetic “Rest and Digest

Question 18

Thalamus (subcortical regions)

Answer 18

• Relay station - for sensory information
• Sensory information sorted and shipped out

Question 19

Hypothalamus (subcortical regions)

Answer 19

• Connected to pituitary gland
• Allows brain to regulate hormones in the body

Question 20

Amygdala (subcortical regions)

Answer 20

• Involved in processing emotional information

Question 21

Hippocampus

Answer 21

• Involved in creating long-term memories

Question 22

Occipital lobe (neocortex)

Answer 22

(back of the brain)
- Vision
- Visual integration

Question 23

Temporal lobe

Answer 23

(temple, sides of head)
- Hearing
- Language comprehension
- Some visual perception

Question 24

Parietal Lobe

Answer 24

(top back / crown)
Somatosensory cortex
- Recieves touch info from the brain
- Sensory and Spatial awareness

Question 25

Frontal Lobe

Answer 25

(front / top) - Decision making, planning, and reasoning - Ability to regulate and control mental processes

Question 26

Corpus callosum

Answer 26

Large bundle of nerves that connect the left and right hemispheres

Question 27

Broca's Area

Answer 27

(Located in the left hemisphere of the frontal lobe) - Controls ability to speak language - Involved in producing language - Will impact speaking and writing

Question 28

Wernicke's area

Answer 28

- Speaking words fluently but made no sense - Langauge comprehension (listening and reading) - Ability to communicate meaningful language to others

Question 29

Primary Recieving Areas

Answer 29

- analyze "raw" sensory data

Question 30

VIsion Primary receiving area

Answer 30

Occipital lobe

Question 31

Hearing - Primary receiving areas

Answer 31

Temporal Lobe

Question 32

Touch - Primary receiving areas

Answer 32

Parietal Lobe

Question 33

Taste - Primary receiving areas

Answer 33

Temporal Lobe

Question 34

Smell - Primary receiving areas

Answer 34

Under frontal lobe (olfactory bulb)

Question 35

Association Areas...

Answer 35

make connections between the raw data, so it’s understandable.

Question 36

Association areas for vision interpret...

Answer 36

info about shape, color, and motion to see “a green car”, “a red rose”, etc..

Question 37

Prosopagnosia

Answer 37

an inability to recognize faces

Question 38

Visual Agnosias

Answer 38

Ability to see, vision is intact; however, damage to association areas means that people can not make out what they see

Question 39

The Patient in Ch. 1 - Dr. P

Answer 39

Visual perception, visual imagination and memory were damaged in how they connected to the personal and familiar - Issues with recognition of faces - Fail to see faces - No signs of eye degeneration - No obvious signs of Alzheimers

Question 40

Dr. Sacks states that Dr. P has...

Answer 40

Visual agnosia and prosopagnosia

Question 41

Dr. Sacks tests his vision by showing him...

Answer 41

pictures of famous individuals and loved ones, he can not recognize besides very obvious distinguishable features

Question 42

Dr. Sacks gives him a rose and a glove, and he...

Answer 42

is unsure what they both are.