Flashcards in Chapter 3 Section 2 & 3 Deck (33):
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cerebral cortex
outer layer of the brain. provides for better memory, more advanced social interactions, ability to experience emotions. bark-like, allows us to use language, acquire complex skills, create tools, and live in social groups
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brain stem
oldest and innermost region of the brain. controls basic functions of life: breathing, attention, motor responses
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medulla
base of brain stem, controls heart rate and breathing
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pons
spherical shape above medulla, structure in brain stem that helps control the movements of the body, playing a particularly important role in balance and walking
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reticular formation
long, narrow network of neurons running through medulla and pons. filters out some stimuli coming in and sends them along; also plays role in walking, eating, sexual activity and sleeping
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thalamus
the egg-shaped structure above the brain stem that filters even more after the reticular formation, sending some incoming stimuli to higher brain. shuts off signals during sleep
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cerebellum
two wrinkled ovals behind brain stem. coordinates voluntary movement. influenced by alcohol.
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limbic system
a brain area, located between the brain stem and the two cerebral hemispheres, that governs emotions and memory. includes amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus
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amygadala
consists of two almond-shard clusters and is primarily responsible for regulating our perceptions of and reactions to, aggression and fear
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hypothalamus
a brain structure that contains a number of small areas that perform a variety of functions, including the important role of linking the nervous system to the endocrine via the pituitary gland
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hippocampus
two horns that curve back from amygdala. for storing long-term memories.
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corticicalization
folding of cerebral cortex, increasing surface area
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glia
glial cells, surround and link to the neurons, protecting them and providing them with nutrients and absorbing unused neurotransmitters. myelin is an example
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hemispheres
two main sections of brain, divided into four lobes each, each separated by folds known as fissures.
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frontal lobe
frontmost lobe, behind forehead. responsible for thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
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parietal lobe
behind frontal lobe, extends from middle to back of skull and is primarily responsible for processing information about touch.
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occipital lobe
processes visual information, at very back of skull.
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temporal lobe
between ears responsible for hearing and language`
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contralateral control
brain is wired so that each hemispheres handles the opposite side of the bod
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motor cortex
the part of the cortex that controls and executes movements of the body by sending signals to the cerebellum and the spinal cord
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somatosensory cortex
an area just behind and parallel to the motor cortex at the back of the frontal lobe, receives information from the skin's sensory receptors and movements of different body parts
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visual cortex
the area located in the occipital lobe (very back of brain) that processes visual information
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auditory cortex
responsible for hearing and language, within the temporal lobe.
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association areas
rest of cortex. areas in which sensory and motor information is combined and associated with our stored knowledge
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neuroplasticity
the brain's ability to change its structure and function in response to experience or damage
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neurogenesis
the forming of new neurons.
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brain laterization
the idea that the left and right hemispheres of the ons
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corpus callosum
connects and supports communication between two hemispheres
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lesion
damage to the brain. as a result of strokes, falls, auto accidents, gunshots. studying people with lesions lets you ID what part of brain does what by studying deficiencies. part of neuroimagaing
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feature detectors
specific neurons in visual cortex that detect movement, lines and edges, and faces
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EEG
a technique that records electrical activity produced by the brain's neurons through the use of electrodes that are placed around the research participant's head
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fMRI
functional magnetic resonance imaging. type of brain scan that uses a magnetic field to create images of brain activity in each brain area.
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