The Brain

Question 1

Ablation

Answer 1

Surgical removal of brain tissue.

Question 2

Axial plane/Horizontal plane/Transverse plane

Answer 2

A slice that runs horizontally through a standing person (i.e., parallel to the floor); slices of brain in this plane divide the top and bottom parts of the brain; this plane is similar to slicing a hamburger bun.

Question 3

Basal ganglia

Answer 3

Subcortical structures of the cerebral hemispheres involved in voluntary movement.

Question 4

Brain stem

Answer 4

The “trunk” of the brain comprised of the medulla, pons, midbrain, and diencephalon.

Question 5

Callosotomy

Answer 5

Surgical procedure in which the corpus callosum is severed (used to control severe epilepsy).

Question 6

Case study

Answer 6

A thorough study of a patient (or a few patients) with naturally occurring lesions.

Question 7

Cerebellum

Answer 7

The distinctive structure at the back of the brain, Latin for “small brain.”

Question 8

Cerebral cortex

Answer 8

The outermost gray matter of the cerebrum; the distinctive convolutions characteristic of the mammalian brain.

Question 9

Cerebral hemispheres

Answer 9

The cerebral cortex, underlying white matter, and subcortical structures.

Question 10

Cerebrum

Answer 10

Usually refers to the cerebral cortex and associated white matter, but in some texts includes the subcortical structures.

Question 11

Contralateral

Answer 11

Literally “opposite side”; used to refer to the fact that the two hemispheres of the brain process sensory information and motor commands for the opposite side of the body (e.g., the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body).

Question 12

Converging evidence

Answer 12

Similar findings reported from multiple studies using different methods.

Question 13

Coronal plane

Answer 13

A slice that runs from head to foot; brain slices in this plane are similar to slices of a loaf of bread, with the eyes being the front of the loaf.

Question 14

Diffuse optical imaging (DOI)

Answer 14

A neuroimaging technique that infers brain activity by measuring changes in light as it is passed through the skull and surface of the brain.

Question 15

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer 15

A neuroimaging technique that measures electrical brain activity via multiple electrodes on the scalp.

Question 16

Frontal lobe

Answer 16

The front most (anterior) part of the cerebrum; anterior to the central sulcus and responsible for motor output and planning, language, judgment, and decision-making.

Question 17

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Answer 17

A neuroimaging technique that infers brain activity by measuring changes in oxygen levels in the blood.

Question 18

Gray matter

Answer 18

The outer grayish regions of the brain comprised of the neurons’ cell bodies.

Question 19

Gyri

Answer 19

(plural) Folds between sulci in the cortex.

Question 20

Gyrus

Answer 20

A fold between sulci in the cortex.

Question 21

Horizontal plane

Answer 21

A slice that runs horizontally through a standing person (i.e., parallel to the floor); slices of brain in this plane divide the top and bottom parts of the brain; this plane is similar to slicing a hamburger bun.

Question 22

Lateralized

Answer 22

To the side; used to refer to the fact that specific functions may reside primarily in one hemisphere or the other (e.g., for the majority individuals, the left hemisphere is most responsible for language).

Question 23

Lesion

Answer 23

A region in the brain that suffered damage through injury, disease, or medical intervention.

Question 24

Limbic system

Answer 24

Includes the subcortical structures of the amygdala and hippocampal formation as well as some cortical structures; responsible for aversion and gratification.

Question 25

Metabolite

Answer 25

A substance necessary for a living organism to maintain life.

Question 26

Motor cortex

Answer 26

Region of the frontal lobe responsible for voluntary movement; the motor cortex has a contralateral representation of the human body.

Question 27

Myelin

Answer 27

Fatty tissue, produced by glial cells that insulates the axons of the neurons; myelin is necessary for normal conduction of electrical impulses among neurons.

Question 28

Nomenclature

Answer 28

Naming conventions.

Question 29

Occipital lobe

Answer 29

The back most (posterior) part of the cerebrum; involved in vision.

Question 30

Parietal lobe

Answer 30

The part of the cerebrum between the frontal and occipital lobes; involved in bodily sensations, visual attention, and integrating the senses.

Question 31

Phrenology

Answer 31

A now-discredited field of brain study, popular in the first half of the 19th century that correlated bumps and indentations of the skull with specific functions of the brain.

Question 32

Positron emission tomography (PET)

Answer 32

A neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting the presence of a radioactive substance in the brain that is initially injected into the bloodstream and then pulled in by active brain tissue.

Question 33

Sagittal plane

Answer 33

A slice that runs vertically from front to back; slices of brain in this plane divide the left and right side of the brain; this plane is similar to slicing a baked potato lengthwise.

Question 34

Somatosensory (body sensations) cortex

Answer 34

The region of the parietal lobe responsible for bodily sensations; the somatosensory cortex has a contralateral representation of the human body.

Question 35

Spatial resolution

Answer 35

A term that refers to how small the elements of an image are; high spatial resolution means the device or technique can resolve very small elements; in neuroscience it describes how small of a structure in the brain can be imaged.

Question 36

Split-brain patient

Answer 36

A patient who has had most or all of his or her corpus callosum severed.

Question 37

Subcortical

Answer 37

Structures that lie beneath the cerebral cortex, but above the brain stem.

Question 38

Sulci

Answer 38

(plural) Grooves separating folds of the cortex.

Question 39

Sulcus

Answer 39

A groove separating folds of the cortex

Question 40

Temporal lobe

Answer 40

The part of the cerebrum in front of (anterior to) the occipital lobe and below the lateral fissure; involved in vision, auditory processing, memory, and integrating vision and audition.

Question 41

Temporal resolution

Answer 41

A term that refers to how small a unit of time can be measured; high temporal resolution means capable of resolving very small units of time; in neuroscience it describes how precisely in time a process can be measured in the brain.

Question 42

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Answer 42

A neuroscience technique that passes mild electrical current directly through a brain area by placing small electrodes on the skull.

Question 43

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Answer 43

A neuroscience technique whereby a brief magnetic pulse is applied to the head that temporarily induces a weak electrical current that interferes with ongoing activity.

Question 44

Visual hemifield

Answer 44

The half of visual space (what we see) on one side of fixation (where we are looking); the left hemisphere is responsible for the right visual hemifield, and the right hemisphere is responsible for the left visual hemifield.

Question 45

White matter

Answer 45

The inner whitish regions of the cerebrum comprised of the myelinated axons of neurons in the cerebral cortex.