the brain

Question 1

what are the 3 divisions of the brain

Answer 1

hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain

Question 2

what are the parts of the hindbrain

Answer 2

contains the medulla oblongata and cerebellum

Question 3

describe the hindbrain physically

Answer 3

Located at the back of the head at the base of the brain and looks like an extension of the spinal cord

Question 4

describe the functioning on the medulla oblongata

Answer 4

Controls the involuntary processes of the autonomic nervous system involved in-
-Respiratory centre: breathing regulation
-Cardiac Centre: heart rate, blood pressure
-Digestion and reflexes like swallowing, chocking and
-sneezing

Question 5

what happens if the medulla oblongata is damaged

Answer 5

If damaged, a person will require life support machines to regulate breathing and heart function. Significant damage = “brain dead”.

Question 6

what does the cerebellum do

Answer 6

Receives messages from muscles, tendons, joints, and structures in our ear
in charge of
-Balance, posture and coordination of muscles
-Muscle memory and motor learning
-Everyday voluntary but automatic tasks, i.e. walking & writing

Question 7

what happens if the cerebellum is damaged

Answer 7

Affected by alcohol. If damaged, a person may move in uncoordinated ways

Question 8

describe the midbrain physically

Answer 8

Located in between the forebrain and hindbrain in the centre of the brain.
Contains the reticular formation

Question 9

what does the reticular formation do

Answer 9

Screens incoming information; exerts some control over which sensory signals reach the cerebrum and come to our conscious attention. Prevents overload.

Question 10

describe the forebrain

Answer 10

The largest and most highly developed part of the brain. Top “brain” looking part

Question 11

what does the forebrain contain

Answer 11

Contains the Thalamus, Hypothalamus, and Cerebrum

Question 12

describe the thalamus/what does it do

Answer 12

Relay sensory and motor signals to and from the cerebral cortex

Question 13

what does the hypothalamus do

Answer 13

Regulates-
o Body temperature
o water levels
o Sleep
o Sex drive
o Food intake

Question 14

describe the cerebrum

Answer 14

Primary control centre for voluntary muscle movements Primary processing centre of sensory information
Higher functioning – memory, logic, personality
Includes the Corpus callosum and Cerebral cortex

Question 15

describe the corpus callosum

Answer 15

Connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain and allows them to communicate.

Question 16

describe the cerebral cortex

Answer 16

Outermost layer of the cerebrum. Comprises of folded grey matter.
can be subdivided into lobes defined by deep groves/fissures
There are four lobes

Question 17

what are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex

Answer 17

Frontal, temporal, occipital and parietal lobes

Question 18

what does the primary motor cortex do

Answer 18

generates neural impulses that control the execution of voluntary movement;
o action potentials are sent from the PMC via fast myelinated motor neurons these activate groups of muscles to achieve movement.
o The amount of brain matter devoted to any body part represents the amount of control the primary motor cortex has over that body part.
o Nerve impulses cross the body’s midline to activate skeletal muscles on the opposite side of the body – contralateral control; the left hemisphere of the brain controls voluntary movement on the right side of the body and vice versa.

Question 19

describe the prefrontal cortex

Answer 19

Responsible for executive functioning;
-Abstract thinking
-Decision making / problem solving
-Goal orientated behaviour / planning / motivation
-Logic
-Judgement and reasoning
-Emotional regulation
-Personality

not fully developed till 25

Question 20

describe broca’s area

Answer 20

Motor speech area - helps in movements required to form words

Question 21

what happens if brocas area is damaged

Answer 21

When there is an issue in the Broca’s area, a patient can sequence words to make meaningful speech but has difficulty producing the words; this is called Broca’s aphasia.

Question 22

what makes up the temporal lobe

Answer 22

primary auditory cortex and wernickes area

Question 23

describe the primary auditory cortex

Answer 23

Processing of auditory (sound) stimuli
Neurons in the Primary Auditory Cortex are organized according to the frequency of sound to which they respond best. Neurons at one end of the auditory cortex respond best to low frequencies (low pitch); neurons at the other respond best to high frequencies (high pitch).

Question 24

what happens if the primary auditory cortex is damaged

Answer 24

Destruction of one side primary auditory cortex only slightly reduces hearing in the opposite ear- contralateral control of the body by the brain. Affect one’s ability to localize the source of a sound, because comparative signals in both cortices are required to detect the direction a sound is coming from.

Question 25

describe the wernicke’s area

Answer 25

allows for the production of speech that is comprehensible by others. Sequencing of words so that sentences make sense. Allows for the selection of the correct words to express meaning.

Question 26

what happens if the wernicke’s area is damaged

Answer 26

damage results in a patient who can produce speech but cannot form sequences of speech that make sense to others; Wernicke’s aphasia

Question 27

what makes up the occipital lobe

Answer 27

primary visual cortex

Question 28

describe the primary visual cortex

Answer 28

found in the occipital lobe in both cerebral hemispheres.
Receives and processes visual information e.g., color, shape and motion.
Both hemispheres of the cerebrum have a visual cortex that gets data from the opposing eye.

Question 29

what makes up the parietal lobe

Answer 29

primary sensory cortex

Question 30

describe the primary sensory cortex

Answer 30

Receives general sensory information from skin and proprioceptors of skeletal muscle, joints, and tendons
Capable of spatial awareness: identification of body region being stimulated
When such receptors detect one of these sensations, the information is sent via the thalamus to the primary sensory cortex of the Parietal lobe.
Same as motor cortex; the size of the caricature shows the number of neurons and brain matter responsible for that body part.