Chapter 3: Structure of the Human Brain: Forebrain

Question 1

Forebrain:

Answer 1

Highest level of the brain, coordinates higher level functions, such complex thinking, feeling, motivation, sensory and motor functions.

Divided into 2 parts: Cerebral cortex and the underlying subcortical structures.

Question 2

Cerebral cortex:

Answer 2

Coordinates thinking, planning, judging, perceiving, behaving purposefully and voluntarily
Divided into two hemispheres (the right and left hemispheres) 
Connected by the corpus callossum
4 lobes each:
Occipital lobe
Parietal lobe
Temporal lobe
Frontal lobe

Question 3

Cerebral cortex: Gyrus:

Answer 3

The smooth surfaces of the cortex.

Question 4

Cerebral cortex: Sulcus:

Answer 4

The indentations in the cortex.

Question 5

Cerebral cortex: Corpus callosum:

Answer 5

A thick band of nerve fibres that connects the two hemispheres and supports communication of information across hemispheres.

Question 6

Cerebral cortex: Contralateral control:

Answer 6

Each hemisphere controls the functions of the opposite side of the body.

Question 7

Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Occipital lobe:

Answer 7

Processes and makes sense of visual information (location and orientation).

Question 8

Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Parietal lobe:

Answer 8

Processes information about touch.

Question 9

Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Parietal lobe: Somatosensory cortex:

Answer 9

Responsible for processing sensations of skin areas.

Each part of the somatosensory cortex is devoted to a specific skin area.

If a body area is more sensitive = more somatosensory cortex is devoted to it.

Question 10

Homunculus

Answer 10

Sensitivity of specific skin areas is illustrated with a little ugly man (lol).

Question 11

Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Parietal lobe: Mortex cortex:

Answer 11

Coordinates movements of muscle groups throughout the body.

Parallel strip of brain tissue to the somatosensory cortex.

Question 12

Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Temporal lobe:

Answer 12

Responsible for hearing and language.
Processes info about sounds and language.
Hearing and language.

Question 13

Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Temporal lobe: Primary auditory cortex:

Answer 13

Receives sensory information from the ears

Question 14

Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Frontal lobe:

Answer 14

Has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, judgement and anticipation.

Special - sets humans apart.

Question 15

Subcortical structures: Basal ganglia:

Answer 15

Controls voluntary movements, habitual behaviours, and emotions.

Receives information from the cerebral cortex and sends it to motor centres in the brain stem.

Question 16

Subcortical structures: Thalamus:

Answer 16

Receives and filters information from the senses and sends it to the cerebral cortex.

Sorts sensory information [being sent to the brain] and sends it to the cerebral cortex.

Question 17

Subcortical structures: Hippocampus:

Answer 17

Creating and integrating new memories in other parts of the cerebral cortex.

Question 18

Subcortical structures: Amygdala:

Answer 18

Plays a role in emotional processes and the formation of emotional memories.

Question 19

Subcortical structures: Hypothalamus:

Answer 19

Regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behaviour.

Question 20

Limbic system:

Answer 20

A group of forebrain structures involved in motivation, emotion, learning and memory.

• hypothalamus
• hippocampus
• amygdala

Question 21

Lateralization:

Answer 21

The tendency from some neural functions or cognitive processes to be specialized in one side of the hemispheres.

Tendency for some functions to be specialized in one specific hemisphere.

Question 22

Broca’s area:

Answer 22

Production of speech.

Question 23

Wernicke’s area:

Answer 23

Language comprehension.

Language understanding.