Chapter 3 Section 2 & 3 Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Chapter 3 Section 2 & 3 Deck (33)
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1
Q

cerebral cortex

A

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

2
Q

brain stem

A

oldest and innermost region of the brain. controls basic functions of life: breathing, attention, motor responses

3
Q

medulla

A

base of brain stem, controls heart rate and breathing

4
Q

pons

A

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

5
Q

reticular formation

A

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

6
Q

thalamus

A

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

7
Q

cerebellum

A

two wrinkled ovals behind brain stem. coordinates voluntary movement. influenced by alcohol.

8
Q

limbic system

A

a brain area, located between the brain stem and the two cerebral hemispheres, that governs emotions and memory. includes amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus

9
Q

amygadala

A

consists of two almond-shard clusters and is primarily responsible for regulating our perceptions of and reactions to, aggression and fear

10
Q

hypothalamus

A

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

11
Q

hippocampus

A

two horns that curve back from amygdala. for storing long-term memories.

12
Q

corticicalization

A

folding of cerebral cortex, increasing surface area

13
Q

glia

A

glial cells, surround and link to the neurons, protecting them and providing them with nutrients and absorbing unused neurotransmitters. myelin is an example

14
Q

hemispheres

A

two main sections of brain, divided into four lobes each, each separated by folds known as fissures.

15
Q

frontal lobe

A

frontmost lobe, behind forehead. responsible for thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

16
Q

parietal lobe

A

behind frontal lobe, extends from middle to back of skull and is primarily responsible for processing information about touch.

17
Q

occipital lobe

A

processes visual information, at very back of skull.

18
Q

temporal lobe

A

between ears responsible for hearing and language`

19
Q

contralateral control

A

brain is wired so that each hemispheres handles the opposite side of the bod

20
Q

motor cortex

A

the part of the cortex that controls and executes movements of the body by sending signals to the cerebellum and the spinal cord

21
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

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

22
Q

visual cortex

A

the area located in the occipital lobe (very back of brain) that processes visual information

23
Q

auditory cortex

A

responsible for hearing and language, within the temporal lobe.

24
Q

association areas

A

rest of cortex. areas in which sensory and motor information is combined and associated with our stored knowledge

25
Q

neuroplasticity

A

the brain’s ability to change its structure and function in response to experience or damage

26
Q

neurogenesis

A

the forming of new neurons.

27
Q

brain laterization

A

the idea that the left and right hemispheres of the ons

28
Q

corpus callosum

A

connects and supports communication between two hemispheres

29
Q

lesion

A

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

30
Q

feature detectors

A

specific neurons in visual cortex that detect movement, lines and edges, and faces

31
Q

EEG

A

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

32
Q

fMRI

A

functional magnetic resonance imaging. type of brain scan that uses a magnetic field to create images of brain activity in each brain area.

33
Q

TMS

A

transcranial magnetic stimulation. a procedure in which magnetic pulses are applied to the brain of living persons with the goal of temporarily and safely deactivating a small brain region.