Neuroscience and Behavior: structures of the brain

Question 1

What is the nervous system?

Answer 1

an interacting network of neurons that conveys information thruout the body

Question 2

What are two major divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 2

1. central
2. peripheral

Question 3

What makes up the central nervous system?

Answer 3

1. brain
2. spinal cord

Question 4

What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 4

the peripheral nervous system connects the central nervous system to the body’s organs + muscles

Question 5

What makes up the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 5

1. autonomic *conveys involuntary and automatic commands
2. somatic * conveys info in and out of the central nervous system / voluntary actions

Question 6

What are the two affects of the autonomic portion of the PNS?

Answer 6

1. sympathetic *arousing
2. parasympathetic *calming

Question 7

What are the two divisions of the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 7

1. autonomic
2. somatic

Question 8

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system *PNS

Answer 8

1. sympathetic *arousing
2. parasympathetic *calming

Question 9

What is the function of the somatic nervous system?

Answer 9

1. a set of nerves that conveys info between voluntary muscles and the central nervous system

*humans have conscious control over this system

Question 10

What is the function of the autonomic nervous system *PNS

Answer 10

1. a set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs, and glands

*involuntary controls

Question 11

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system and their functions?

Answer 11

1. sympathetic nervous system: a set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations
2. parasympathetic nervous system: helps the body return to a normal resting state

Question 12

What are spinal reflexes?

Answer 12

simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions

ex. withdrawing from pain is reflexibe activity controlled by the spinal cord - painful sensations travel directly to the spiral cord via sensory neurons, then issue a command to motor neurons

Question 13

What parts of the body do the cervical nerves in the spinal cord control?

Answer 13

1. head/ neck
2. diaphram
3. deltoids/ biceps
4. triceps
5. hands

Question 14

What parts of the body does the thoracic nerves in the spinal cord control?

Answer 14

1. chest muscles
2. abdominal muscles

Question 15

What parts of the body do the lumbar nerves in the spinal cord control?

Answer 15

1. leg muscles

Question 16

What parts of the body do the sacral nerves in the spinal cord control?

Answer 16

1. bowels/ bladder
2. sexual function

Question 17

What are the three different parts of the brain? in order from simplest to highest functions?

Answer 17

1. hindbrain
2. midbrain
3. forebrain

Question 18

What is the hindbrain?

Answer 18

the hindbrain coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord and controls the basic functions of life

*spinal cord is continuous with the hindbrain

Question 19

What are some of the functions of the hindbrain?

Answer 19

1. respiration
2. alertness
3. motor skills

Question 20

What structures make up the hindbrain?

Answer 20

1. medulla
2. reticular formation
3. cerebellum
4. pons

Question 21

What is the function of the medulla *hindbrain

Answer 21

coordinates heart rate, circulation, respiration

Question 22

What is the function of the pons *hindbrain

Answer 22

relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Question 23

What is the function of the cerebellum *hindbrain

Answer 23

controls fine motor skills

Question 24

What is the function of the reticular formation *hindbrain

Answer 24

regulates sleep, wakefulness, and arousal

Question 25

What two structures make up the midbrain?

Answer 25

1. tectum 2. tegmentum

Question 26

What is the function of the tectum *midbrain

Answer 26

1. orients an organism in the environment 2. receives stimuli from sensory organs and moves organism towards the stimulus

Question 27

What is the function of the tegmentum *midbrain

Answer 27

involved in movement and arousal; helps orient an organism towards sensory stimuli

Question 28

What is the function of the midbrain?

Answer 28

The midbrain is important for orientation *tectum and movement *tegmentum

Question 29

What is the forebrain/ function of the forebrain?

Answer 29

1. highest level of the brain 2. controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory and motor functions

Question 30

What are the two main sections of the forebrain?

Answer 30

1. cerebral cortex 2. subcortical structures

Question 31

What is the cerebral cortex *forebrain

Answer 31

the outermost layer of the brain, visible to the naked eye, and divided into two hemispheres *left/right

Question 32

What are the subcortical structures *forebrain

Answer 32

areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the center of the brain

Question 33

What is the basal ganglia *forebrain/ subcortical structure

Answer 33

a set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements

Question 34

What is the function of the thalamus *forebrain/subcortical structure

Answer 34

relays and filters information rom the senses to the cerebral cortex

Question 35

What is the function of the hippocampus *forebrain/ subcortical structure

Answer 35

critical for creating and integrating new memories

Question 36

What is the function of the amygdala *forebrain/subcortical structure

Answer 36

plays a role in emotional processes

Question 37

What is the function of the hypothalamus *forebrain/ hindbrain

Answer 37

regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior

Question 38

What is the function of the pituitary gland *forebrain/ subcortical structure

Answer 38

releases hormones that direct many other glands

Question 39

Describe role /function of the forebrain

Answer 39

the forebrain is the highest level of the brain and is critical for complex cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions the forebrain is divided into two parts: the cerebral cortex + subcortical structures the cerebral cortex and outermost layer of the brain is divided into two hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum

Question 40

What are the four lobes that make up the cerebral cortex?

Answer 40

1. frontal 2. parietal 3. temporal 4. occipital * gyrus - smooth *sulci - wrinkles

Question 41

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 41

a thick band of nerve fibers that connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemispheres

Question 42

What is the function of the occipital lobe?

Answer 42

processes visual information

Question 43

What is the function of the temporal lobe?

Answer 43

the temporal lobe is responsible for hearing and language

Question 44

What is the function of the parietal lobe?

Answer 44

the parietal lobe processes information abt touch *contains the somatosensory cortex: registers touch on skin on the opposite side of the hemisphere/ body

Question 45

What does the motor cortex control? *frontal lobe

Answer 45

initiates voluntary movements and sends messages to the basal ganglia, cerebellum and spinal cord

Question 46

What does the somatosensory cortex control *parietal lobe

Answer 46

represents skin areas of particular parts on the contralateral side of the body

Question 47

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

Answer 47

the frontal lobe has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory and judgement

Question 48

What are association areas?

Answer 48

composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cerebral cortex