HOW THE BRAIN WORKS

Question 1

What is the left hemisphere of the brain?

Answer 1

The left half of the cerebral cortex

Controls the right side of the body; responsible for language, logic, problem-solving, maths, and analysis.

Question 2

What is the function of the right hemisphere of the brain?

Answer 2

Controls the left side of the body; involved in creativity, spatial awareness, facial recognition, and emotion

The right half of the cerebral cortex.

Question 3

What part of the brain does the medulla represent?

Answer 3

The lowest part of the brainstem

Controls vital involuntary functions like heartbeat, breathing, and digestion.

Question 4

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 4

Coordinates voluntary movements, balance, and posture

Located at the back of the brain, under the cerebrum.

Question 5

What is the role of the reticular formation?

Answer 5

Regulates alertness, arousal, and consciousness; screens incoming information

A network of neurons in the brainstem.

Question 6

What does the hypothalamus maintain?

Answer 6

Homeostasis (hunger, thirst, temperature)

A small structure below the thalamus that links the nervous system to the endocrine system.

Question 7

What is the thalamus known for?

Answer 7

A relay station in the middle of the brain

Receives sensory information (except smell) and sends it to the appropriate brain areas.

Question 8

What is the cerebrum responsible for?

Answer 8

Complex thinking, voluntary movement, memory, emotion, and perception

The largest part of the brain, made up of the two hemispheres.

Question 9

What functions do the frontal lobes serve?

Answer 9

Involved in decision-making, personality, emotions, and voluntary movement

Located at the front of the brain.

Question 10

What is the primary motor cortex responsible for?

Answer 10

Controls voluntary movement

Located within the frontal lobes.

Question 11

What is Broca’s area associated with?

Answer 11

Speech production

Located in the left frontal lobe.

Question 12

What do the parietal lobes process?

Answer 12

Touch and spatial awareness

Located at the top of the brain.

Question 13

What is the function of the somatosensory cortex?

Answer 13

Receives and processes touch, pressure, pain, and temperature

Located within the parietal lobes.

Question 14

What is the role of the occipital lobes?

Answer 14

Processes visual information

Located at the back of the brain.

Question 15

What does the primary visual cortex do?

Answer 15

Interprets signals from the eyes

Located in the occipital lobes.

Question 16

What is the function of the temporal lobes?

Answer 16

Processes sound, memory, and language comprehension

Located at the sides of the brain.

Question 17

What is experience-dependent plasticity?

Answer 17

Brain changes from individual experiences

Builds new connections based on new learning.

Question 18

What is experience-expectant plasticity?

Answer 18

Brain develops in response to expected experiences

Needed for normal development.

Question 19

What does long-term potentiation (LTP) refer to?

Answer 19

Strengthening of synapses due to repeated use

Increases efficiency in learning and memory.

Question 20

What is long-term depression (LTD)?

Answer 20

Weakening of unused synapses

Clears old/unneeded connections.

Question 21

What does neuroplasticity mean?

Answer 21

The brain’s ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections

Helps with learning and recovery from injury.

Question 22

What is rerouting in the context of neuroplasticity?

Answer 22

An undamaged neuron forms a new connection to replace a damaged pathway

A key process in neural recovery.

Question 23

What does sprouting refer to?

Answer 23

New dendrites grow to form new connections

An essential aspect of neuroplasticity.

Question 24

What is synaptic pruning?

Answer 24

Elimination of weak or unused synapses

Makes neural networks more efficient.

Question 25

What is synaptogenesis?

Answer 25

Formation of new synapses between neurons ## Footnote A process important for learning and memory.

Question 26

What is the central nervous system (CNS)?

Answer 26

Brain and spinal cord ## Footnote Processes information and sends instructions.

Question 27

What does the peripheral nervous system (PNS) consist of?

Answer 27

All nerves outside the CNS ## Footnote Carries messages between the CNS and body.

Question 28

What is the function of the somatic nervous system?

Answer 28

Controls voluntary movement and sensory info ## Footnote A component of the peripheral nervous system.

Question 29

What does the autonomic nervous system control?

Answer 29

Involuntary bodily functions (e.g., heart rate, digestion) ## Footnote Part of the peripheral nervous system.

Question 30

What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 30

Activates fight-or-flight response ## Footnote A division of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 31

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 31

Calms the body; rest-and-digest state ## Footnote Another division of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 32

What is an acquired brain injury?

Answer 32

Brain damage caused after birth (e.g., stroke, accident) ## Footnote Distinct from congenital brain injuries.

Question 33

What is aphasia?

Answer 33

Language disorder due to brain damage ## Footnote Can affect speech production and comprehension.

Question 34

What characterizes Broca's aphasia?

Answer 34

Difficulty producing speech; comprehension remains ## Footnote Caused by damage to Broca’s area.

Question 35

What is Wernicke's aphasia?

Answer 35

Fluent but meaningless speech; poor comprehension ## Footnote Caused by damage to Wernicke’s area.

Question 36

What is a concussion?

Answer 36

Mild traumatic brain injury ## Footnote Often results from a blow to the head.

Question 37

What is a stroke?

Answer 37

Blood supply to the brain is blocked, causing brain damage ## Footnote Can lead to various neurological deficits.

Question 38

What is a traumatic brain injury?

Answer 38

Damage caused by an external force (e.g., car accident) ## Footnote Can have lasting effects on cognitive and physical abilities.

Question 39

What is chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)?

Answer 39

Long-term brain damage from repeated head injuries ## Footnote Often associated with contact sports.

Question 40

What is epilepsy?

Answer 40

A neurological disorder marked by recurring seizures ## Footnote Can vary in severity and frequency.

Question 41

What is a seizure?

Answer 41

Sudden, uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain ## Footnote Can cause convulsions or loss of consciousness.

Question 42

What defines a neurological disorder?

Answer 42

A disease of the brain, spinal cord, or nerves ## Footnote Encompasses a wide range of conditions.

Question 43

What is tau protein?

Answer 43

A type of protein found in neurons that helps stabilise microtubules ## Footnote Supports the structure and function of brain cells in normal amounts.