The brain

Question 1

The nervous system

Answer 1

The nervous system controls, Emotions, Movements, Thinking and Behavior.
Is divided into
Central Nervous System (CNS)- Brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)- Smaller branches

Question 2

Neurons

Answer 2

Messages travel through these cells to and from the brain.

Question 3

Cell Body

Answer 3

contains the nucleus and produces energy

Question 4

Dendrites

Answer 4

receives impulses from other neurons

Question 5

Axon

Answer 5

carries impulses away from the body toward the dendrites of the next neuron

Question 6

Myelin sheath

Answer 6

Myelin is an insulating layer, that forms around axons, It is made up of protein and fatty substances, allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells

Question 7

Synapse

Answer 7

small pocket of space between two cells, where they can pass messages to communicate.

Question 8

Neurotransmitters

Answer 8

Neurotransmitters: a chemical released by the neuron to carry chemical signals (“messages”) from one neuron (nerve cell) to the next
eg.
Dopamine: motivation/positive stress
Glutamate: learning/memory Serotonin: regulates sleep, mood

Question 9

The human brain is comprised of 3 parts

Answer 9

Forebrain - hypothalamus, thalamus, cerebrum
Midbrain - reticular formation
Hindbrain - medulla, cerebellum, pons

Question 10

Hindbrain

Answer 10

Cerebellum: posture, balance, voluntary movement
Medulla: breathing, heart rate, reflexes
Coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord

Question 11

Midbrain

Answer 11

Sits on top of the brainstem under the cerebral hemisphere. Handles all sensory information that passes between the spinal cord and the forebrain (excet smelll). involved in body movement in relation to auditory and visual signals.

Question 12

Forebrain

Answer 12

cerebrum, thalamus and hypothalamus.
It plays a major role in how we think, feel and behave. The outer layer of the forebrain is called the cortex

Question 13

Forebrain- Thalamus

Answer 13

The thalamus is a mostly gray matter structure. The thalamus is composed of different nuclei that each serve a unique role, ranging from relaying sensory and motor signals, as well as regulation of consciousness and alertness.

Question 14

Forebrain- Hypothalamus

Answer 14

Maintains homeostasis in the body
(keeps the body stable)
Regulates the release of hormones, connecting the nervous system to the endocrine system.
Controls the brain’s internal ‘body clock’ which coordinates our sleep-wake cycle
Regulates appetite, thirst and body temperature.

Question 15

Forebrain- cerebrum

Answer 15

The largest part of the brain. It is divided into two hemispheres, or halves, called the cerebral hemispheres. Areas within the cerebrum control muscle functions and also control speech, thought, emotions, reading, writing, and learning.

Question 16

Corpus collosum

Answer 16

The two hemispheres are linked by the corpus callosum
The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers in the middle of the brain. It connects the left and right hemispheres, allowing messages to pass between both sides.

Question 17

Right hemisphere

Answer 17

Specializes in non-verbal, artistic skills. Controls spatial and visual skills, such as recognizing patterns, faces, putting puzzles together, interpreting pictures. Receives sensory information from the left side of the body
Controls voluntary movement on the left side of the body.

Question 18

Left hemisphere

Answer 18

Dominant in verbal and analytical functions
Receives sensory information from the right side of the body
Controls voluntary movement on the right side of the body

Question 19

Frontal lobe

Answer 19

Frontal lobe: the upper front of each cerebral hemisphere of the brain; associated with complex mental abilities and the control of voluntary movement.

Question 20

Temporal lobe

Answer 20

an area located on either side of each cerebral hemisphere in the brain; associated with processing auditory information;

Question 21

Occipital lobe

Answer 21

an area located at the back of each cerebral hemisphere in the brain, associated with processing visual information.

Question 22

Parietal lobe

Answer 22

an area of each cerebral hemisphere located behind the frontal lobe, mostly associated with processing sensations but also involved in the coordination of senses and movement.

Question 23

Primary visual cortex

Answer 23

the area at the base of the brain’s occipital lobe that registers, processes and interprets visual information sent from each eye.

Question 24

primary sensory cortex

Answer 24

an area of the parietal lobe that receives and interprets sensory information from different parts of the body.

Question 25

Primary motor cortex

Answer 25

an area at the rear of the frontal lobe in the brain that directs the body’s skeletal muscles and controls voluntary movement.

Question 26

Primary auditory cortex

Answer 26

the area of the brain’s temporal lobes that registers and processes auditory (sound) information.

Question 27

Wernicke’s area

Answer 27

an area of the left temporal lobe of the brain responsible for the comprehension of language and the formulation of meaningful sentences.

Question 28

Wernicke’s aphasia

Answer 28

an impairment in the ability to understand language and formulate coherent, meaningful speech, caused by damage to Wernicke’s area.

Question 29

Broca’s area

Answer 29

an area in the left frontal lobe of the brain close to the primary motor cortex that controls the muscles responsible for the production or articulate speech, regulates breathing patterns while speaking and vocalizations required for normal speech.

Question 30

Broca’s aphasia

Answer 30

an impairment in the ability to produce articulate speech, caused by damage in Broca’s area.

Question 31

Sensory neurons

Answer 31

These are specialized neurons that detect external stimuli (such as sound, light, pressure and chemicals) and send impulses to the CNS for interpretation.
For example: the sensory neurons in your ear only respond to sound waves and the sensory neurons in your nose only respond to chemical energy.

Question 32

Motor neurons

Answer 32

These neurons carry motor messages (about movement) from the CNS to the rest of the body. These messages coming from the CNS usually require instructions for the body to under go some sort of movement, such as muscles contracting, glands secreting hormones or activity in the organs.

Question 33

Relay neurons

Answer 33

These neurons are primarily involved in reflex (involuntary) actions that do not involve the brain. They are predominantly located in the spinal cord and connect the sensory and motor neurons. They are activated when sensory neurons receive an intense sensation such as touching the hot face of an iron. In these situations, it is important to pull away from the iron quickly and so the brain would be by-passed with the interneurons interpreting the sensory information and the appropriate response.

Question 34

Neurotransmitter

Answer 34

a chemical messenger that crosses the synaptic gap from the pre-synaptic neuron and attaches to receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron.

Question 35

Synapse/synaptic gap and nerve impulses

Answer 35

Synapse/synaptic gap: the space between two neurons.
Nerve impulses: the electrical messages carried by a neuron.

Question 36

Post and pre synaptic neuron

Answer 36

Post-synaptic neuron: a neuron that receives a nerve impulse across the synapse to another neuron (post-synaptic neuron).

Pre-synaptic neuron: a neuron that sends a nerve impulse across the synapse to another neuron (post-synaptic neuron).

Question 37

Neurotransmitter- adrenaline

Answer 37

the release of adrenaline tends to occur during stressful events such as public speaking, sport or in a car accident.
Increased heart rate, Increased breathing rate, Pupil dilation, Decreased blood flow to gut, Increased blood flow to skeletal muscle - increase in physical strength, Increased speed of reaction

Excess amounts can lead to anxiety, stress or depression or agitation

Question 38

Neurotransmitter- Noradrenaline

Answer 38

Boosts mood, Reduces symptoms of depression, Involved in the maintenance of alertness, drive and motivation, Involved in memory retrieval

• Promotes stress avoiding behaviors
• narrows blood vessels to increase blood pressure

Question 39

EEG (electroencephalograph):

Answer 39

EEG is used to investigate the whole Brain, measures brain waves, or electrical activity in the brain and different patterns of brain waves can indicate problems with the brain such as epilepsy or tumors.

pros- Cheap, Easily transportable, Good temporal resolution, Silent, No radiation, Non invasive
cons- Low spatial resolution, Poor for cortex measurements, Cannot locate specific areas, Long time to wire up the subject, Needs a lot of interpretation

Question 40

CT scan (computered tomography)

Answer 40

is a type of X-ray that translates the scanned picture into a clear two-dimensional image of the Brain. CT scans through 180 degrees and takes a measurement every degree, giving rise to the pictures. A CT scan may reveal underdeveloped parts of the brain or sights of injury from impact, tumors, strokes, lesions or infection.

pros-Better than single x-ray, Shows the extent of a lesion, Quicker than MRI
cons-Higher levels of radiation, cost, Allergic reactions to contrast dye

Question 41

MRI

Answer 41

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain. Magnetic resonance imaging, detecting abnormalities

pros- No ionizing radiation, Excellent spatial resolution, Good contrast between grey and white matter,
cons- Cost, Size of machine, Enclosed machine – claustrophobic patients not ideal, Expensive

Question 42

FMRI

Answer 42

Functional magnetic resonance imaging – shows functions of the nervous system, Diagnose metabolic disorders/diseases
Uses MRI technology to measure brain activity by detecting associated changes in blood flow, Scanners to detect a change in oxygen that occurs in an area of heightened neuronal activity. Heightened activity causes the brain to use more oxygen. Therefore, hemoglobin in that area has less oxygen bound to it.

pros- Satisfactory temporal (2-3 mm) and spatial resolution
No ionizing radiation
cons- Strong magnetic field

Question 43

CNS

Answer 43

receives and transmits information to and from the peripheral nervous system. a major division of the nervous system consisting of all the nerves in the brain and spinal cord

Question 44

PNS

Answer 44

a major division of the nervous system consisting of all the nerves outside the central nervous system (outside the brain and spinal cord). It transmits sensory information inwards to the central nervous system and transmits motor messages from the brain outwards to the rest of the body . The peripheral nervous system acts as a communication pathway that goes back and forth between the brain and the extremities.

Question 45

Nervous system:

Answer 45

a system of networks of specialized cells (neurons) that connect different parts of the body to each other and the brain via electrochemical signals.

Question 46

Spinal cord

Answer 46

a part of the central nervous system that consists of a cable of nerve fibres stretching from the base of the brain to the lower back. It connects the brain to the peripheral nervous system and transmits sensory information from the peripheral nervous system to the brain and motor messages from the brain to the PNS.

Question 47

Somatic nervous system

Answer 47

the division of the peripheral nervous system that transmits sensory information inwards towards the central nervous system, and motor messages from the central nervous system to the body’s voluntary skeletal muscles.

Question 48

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Answer 48

transmits motor messages from the brain to the body’s internal organs and glands, which results in involuntary activity and transmits messages back to your brain about the activity level of these organs and glands.

Question 49

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 49

maintains an energy level appropriate for normal bodily functioning and physically calms us after high arousal by reversing the changes in bodily functioning

Question 50

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 50

alters the activity level of internal muscles, organs and glands to physically prepare our body for increased activity during times of high emotional or physical arousal.