Brain Quiz Flashcards
Hindbrain
Structures on top of our spinal cord.
What does hindbrain control
Controls basic biological structures.
medulla oblangata
Located just above the spinal cord. Involved in the control of blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.
cerebellum
Also known as “little brain”. Coordinates fine muscle movements, voluntary movement, and balance.
thalamus
Receives sensory signals from the spinal cord and sends them to other parts of the forebrain, transmitting replies. (Every sense except smell)
Thalamus is the-
“Traffic Cop”
limbic system (shape/location)
A doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres.
limbic system
Associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex
hippocampus
Involved in the processing and storage of memories.
hypothalamus
Maybe most important structure in the brain. Linked to emotion and regulates body temperature, sexual arousal, hunger, thirst, and the endocrine system.
amygdala
Works with the hippocampus in processing memory. More involved in volatile emotions like anger.
cerebral cortex
Known as the body’s ultimate control and processing center. Made up of densely packed neurons we call “gray matter”, covers the cerebral hemispheres.
frontal lobe
The lobe of our brain that controls abstract thought and emotional control. Also contains our motor cortex and Broca’s area.
temporal lobe
The lobe of our brain that processes sound sensed by our ears. Also contains Wernicke’s area.
parietal lobe
The lobe of our brain where most of our senses are processed. Also contains our sensory cortex.
occipital lobe
This lobe of our brain processes what we see with our eyes. Also contains our visual cortex.
Broca’s area
Responsible for speech production.
Wernicke’s area
Involved in helping you understand what you hear.
left hemisphere
This hemisphere of our brain is involved in logic and sequential tasks.
corpus callosum
Divides the brain into two hemispheres
right hemisphere
This hemisphere of our brain is involved in spatial and creative tasks.
Cerebral Cortex
Body’s ultimate control and processing center
Brain plasticity
The idea that the brain, when damaged, will attempt to find news ways to reroute messages.
Children’s brains are more plastic than adults
