Brain Cheat Sheet

Question 1

Thalamus

Answer 1

Older Brain Structure; sensory switch board, processes every sense other than smell

Question 2

Medulla

Answer 2

Older Brain Structure; controls heartbeat and breathing

Question 3

Brainstem

Answer 3

Older Brain Structure; oldest part of the brain, newer parts are built on top of this, automatic survival functions

Question 4

Reticular Formation

Answer 4

Older Brain Structure; controls arousal

Question 5

Cerebellum

Answer 5

Older Brain Structure; processes coordinates voluntary movement and balance

Question 6

Amygdala

Answer 6

Limbic System; fear and aggression

Question 7

Hippocampus

Answer 7

Limbic System; learning and memory

Question 8

Hypothalamus

Answer 8

Limbic System; reward center, hunger, thirst, sexual arousal

Question 9

Pituitary Gland

Answer 9

Limbic System; master gland works with hypothalamus

Question 10

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 10

Cerebral Cortex; outside of the brain, information-processing center of the brain

Question 11

Cerebrum

Answer 11

Cerebral Cortex; beefy portion of brain

Question 12

Frontal Lobe

Answer 12

Cerebral Cortex; higher order thinking

Question 13

Parietal Lobe

Answer 13

Cerebral Cortex; recieves sensory input for touch/body position

Question 14

Occipital Lobe

Answer 14

Cerebral Cortex; receives visual information

Question 15

Temporal Lobe

Answer 15

Cerebral Cortex; receives auditory information

Question 16

Motor Cortex

Answer 16

Cerebral Cortex; left hemisphere section controls movement of the right side of body and right hemisphere section controls movement of the left side of body

Question 17

Sensory Cortex

Answer 17

Cerebral Cortex; area at front of parietal lobe that registers and processes the senses

Question 18

Association Areas

Answer 18

Cerebral Cortex; not included in primary motor or sensory function, but involved in higher mental functions, Wernicke’s Area, Broca’s Area

Question 19

Wernicke’s Area

Answer 19

Cerebral Cortex, Association Areas, language processing

Question 20

Broca’s Area

Answer 20

Cerebral Cortex, Association Area, controls speech

Question 21

Plasticity

Answer 21

Cerebral Cortex; brain’s ability to reorganize itself, higher in younger people to overcompensate for damage

Question 22

Corpus Callosum

Answer 22

Split Brain; connects left and right brain hemispheres, can be severed to treat epilepsy

Question 23

Left Hemisphere

Answer 23

Right side of body/visual field, analytical thoughts, math/science, language/speech, more important functions than right hemisphere

Question 24

Right Hemisphere

Answer 24

Left side of body/visual field, emotions, artistic

Question 25

Acetylcholine

Answer 25

Neurotransmitter; enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Question 26

Acetylcholine Malfunctions

Answer 26

Alzheimer’s disease, ACh-producing neurons deteriorate

Question 27

Dopamine

Answer 27

Neurotransmitter; influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

Question 28

Dopamine Malfunctions

Answer 28

Oversupply linked to schizophrenia, undersupply linked to tremors and decreased mobility in Parkinson’s disease

Question 29

Seritonin

Answer 29

Neurotransmitter; affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Question 30

Serotonin Malfunctions

Answer 30

Undersupply linked to depression, some anti-depressant drugs raise serotonin levels

Question 31

Norepinephrine

Answer 31

Neurotransmitter; helps control alertness and arousal

Question 32

Norepinephrine Malfunctions

Answer 32

Undersupply can depress mood

Question 33

GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric Acid)

Answer 33

Neurotransmitter; major inhibitory nerotransmitter

Question 34

GABBA Malfuncations

Answer 34

Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia

Question 35

Glutamate

Answer 35

Neurotransmitter; major excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in memory

Question 36

Glutamate Malfuncations

Answer 36

Oversupply can overstimulate the brain, producing migraines or seizures (which is why people avoid MSG, monosodium glutamate, in food)