The Brain Flashcards
(122 cards)
1
Q
What is the primary function of the brain?
A
To coordinate and control body activities and processes.
2
Q
Fill in the blank: The brain is divided into ___ main parts.
A
three
3
Q
What are the three main parts of the brain?
A
Forebrain, Midbrain, Hindbrain
4
Q
What is the role of the cerebrum?
A
Responsible for higher brain functions such as thought, action, and emotion.
5
Q
Which part of the brain is responsible for regulating vital functions such as breathing?
A
The hindbrain
6
Q
What is the function of the cerebellum?
A
To coordinate voluntary movements and maintain posture and balance.
7
Q
The _______________ is involved in sensory perception and motor control.
A
Cerebral cortex
8
Q
What is the function of the brainstem?
A
To control basic life functions such as heartbeat and breathing.
9
Q
Fill in the blank: The amygdala is primarily involved in ___ processing.
A
emotion
10
Q
What is neuroplasticity?
A
The brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.
11
Q
Which part of the brain is associated with memory formation?
A
The hippocampus
12
Q
What is the role of the thalamus?
A
To relay sensory information to the appropriate areas of the brain.
13
Q
The left hemisphere of the brain is primarily responsible for _____________.
A
Language, logic, step-by-step thinking
14
Q
What is the corpus callosum?
A
A band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
15
Q
Fill in the blank: The ___ lobe is responsible for processing visual information.
A
occipital
16
Q
What does the frontal lobe control?
A
Higher cognitive functions, including reasoning, planning, and problem-solving. Voluntary skeletal muscle movements through the primary motor cortex.
17
Q
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with mood regulation?
A
Serotonin
18
Q
What is the role of dopamine in the brain?
A
Involved in reward, motivation, and motor control.
19
Q
Fill in the blank: The ___ system is involved in the brain’s reward and pleasure centers.
A
limbic
20
Q
What is a synapse?
A
The junction between two neurons where communication occurs.
21
Q
What is the function of glial cells?
A
To support and protect neurons in the brain.
22
Q
Fill in the blank: The ___ is the outermost layer of the brain.
A
cerebral cortex
23
Q
What is the primary role of the parietal lobe?
A
To process sensory information such as touch, temperature, and pain.
24
Q
What is the primary function of the brain?
A
To process sensory information and initiate behavioural responses to the environment.
25
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the part of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions.
cerebral cortex
26
Which part of the brain is associated with emotion and memory?
The limbic system.
27
What is neuroplasticity?
The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.
28
Which structure is known as the 'gateway to the cortex'?
Thalamus.
29
What role does the frontal lobe play in behavior?
It is involved in decision making, problem-solving, and planning (executive functions).
30
Fill in the blank: The __________ lobe is primarily responsible for processing visual information.
occipital
31
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.
32
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with mood regulation?
Serotonin.
33
What is the function of the parietal lobe?
It processes sensory information such as touch, temperature, and pain and has a role in spatial awareness and visual attention.
34
Fill in the blank: The __________ system is involved in the regulation of emotions.
limbic
35
What is the role of the amygdala?
It processes emotions, particularly fear and pleasure.
36
Which part of the brain is responsible for coordinating voluntary movements?
Cerebellum.
37
What is the role of the hippocampus?
It is crucial for the formation of new memories.
38
Which part of the brain regulates body temperature and hunger?
Hypothalamus
39
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the outer layer of the brain that is involved in complex thought.
cerebral cortex
40
What is the function of the corpus callosum?
It connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
41
Which area of the brain is responsible for language comprehension?
Wernicke's area.
42
What is an action potential?
A brief electrical impulse that travels down an axon.
43
What is the role of myelin?
It insulates the axon, thereby speeding up neural transmission.
44
Fill in the blank: The __________ lobe is responsible for auditory processing.
temporal
45
What is the role of glial cells?
To support and protect neurons.
46
Which neurotransmitter is associated with the fight-or-flight response?
Norepinephrine.
47
What is the function of the brain's reward system?
To reinforce behaviors that are essential for survival and reproduction.
48
Fill in the blank: The __________ is responsible for the regulation of circadian rhythms.
suprachiasmatic nucleus
49
What is the significance of the prefrontal cortex?
It is involved in complex behaviors such as planning and social interaction.
50
What are the two main types of cells in the nervous system?
Neurons and glial cells.
51
What is contralateral organization?
The principle that the left side of the brain receives sensory input from, and sends motor commands to, the right side of the body and vice versa.
52
Fill in the blank: The __________ is involved in the regulation of thirst and hunger.
hypothalamus
53
What is the primary role of the occipital lobe?
To process visual information.
54
What does the term 'lateralization' refer to?
The specialization of function in each hemisphere of the brain.
55
Fill in the blank: The __________ is a part of the limbic system that plays a key role in memory.
hippocampus
56
What is the role of the thalamus?
To relay sensory information to the appropriate areas of the brain.
57
Which area of the brain is primarily responsible for motor control?
Primary motor cortex of the frontal lobe.
58
What does the term 'synapse' refer to?
The junction between two neurons where communication occurs.
59
Fill in the blank: The __________ is involved in the processing of auditory information.
temporal lobe
60
What is the function of the primary somatosensory cortex?
To process sensory input from the skin and joints.
61
Which neurotransmitter is known for its role in pleasure and reward?
Dopamine.
62
What is the role of the brain's executive functions?
To manage cognitive processes such as attention, inhibition, working memory, planning and decision making.
63
Which part of the brain is involved in maintaining balance and coordination?
The cerebellum
64
Fill in the blank: The __________ lobe is essential for integrating sensory information.
parietal
65
What is the primary function of the brain's limbic system?
To regulate emotions and memory.
66
Multiple Choice: Which brain structure is involved in the formation of new memories?
Hippocampus.
67
What is the role of the basal ganglia?
To control voluntary motor movements and procedural learning.
68
Fill in the blank: The __________ connects the brain to the spinal cord.
brainstem
69
What is executive functioning?
A set of cognitive processes that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control.
70
Which part of the brain is crucial for language production?
Broca's area.
71
What is the function of the primary visual cortex?
To process visual stimuli.
72
Which hemisphere is more involved in creative tasks?
The right hemispere.
73
Fill in the blank: The __________ is a structure in the brain that helps regulate emotions.
amygdala
74
What is the primary role of the corpus callosum?
To facilitate communication between the left and right hemispheres.
75
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with alertness and arousal?
Norepinephrine.
76
What is the role of dendrites?
To receive information from other neurons
77
What part of the neuron receives information from other neurons?
Dendrites
78
What is the role of the axon?
Transmits an electrical impulse (action potential)
79
What part of the neuron transmits an action potential?
axon
80
What part of a neuron releases neurotransmitters for neural communication?
Axon terminals
81
What is the role of the axon terminals?
release neurotransmitters into the synapse in response to an action potential along the axon
82
Which part of a pre-synaptic neuron is involved in neural communication?
axon terminals
83
Which part of a post-synaptic neuron is involved in neural communication?
Dendrites
84
What is the space between an axon terminal and dendrite called?
Synaptic gap
85
What is a synaptic gap?
The space between an axon terminal of a pre-synaptic neuron and the dendrite of a post-synaptic neuron
86
What are the three types of neurons?
Sensory/afferent neurons
Motor/efferent neurons
Interneurons
87
What is the role of sensory neurons?
Convey information from sensory organs towards central nervous system via afferent pathway
88
What is the role of motor neurons?
Convey information from central nervous system to effector organs, such as skeletal muscles
89
What is the role of interneurons?
1. Process and interpret sensory information
2. Initiate appropriate motor responses
90
What are the two types of neuroplasticity?
Developmental plasticity and adaptive plasticity
91
What is developmental plasticity?
Changes in the brain that occur throughout the lifespan in response to experiences
92
What term refers to changes in the brain that occur throughout the lifespan as the results of experiences?
Developmental plasticity
93
What is adaptive plasticity?
The brain's ability to restore function over time after an injury
94
What term refers to the brain's ability to restore function over time after an injury?
Adaptive plasticity
95
What are the three factors that affect developmental plasticity?
Synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, myelination
96
What is synaptogenesis?
The creation of new synapses (a factor in developmental plasticity).
97
What is synaptic pruning?
The elimination of underused synapses (a factor in adaptive plasticity)
98
What is myelination?
The formation of myelin sheaths over the axons of neurons to facilitate faster communication between neurons
99
When does most synaptogenesis occur?
During infancy
100
When does most synaptic pruning occur?
During childhood and adolescence
101
When does most myelination occur?
During adolescence
102
What are the two factors affecting adaptive plasticity?
1. Sprouting, 2. Rerouting
103
What is sprouting?
When a neuron develops new branches on a dendrite or axon terminal
104
What term refers to a neuron developing a new branch on a dendrite or axon terminal?
Sprouting
105
What is rerouting?
When a neuron forms a new connection with an undamaged neuron after brain injury
106
What term refers to when a neuron forms a new connection with an undamaged neuron after brain injury?
Rerouting
107
Name four factors that are essential for maintaining healthy brain function
1. Mental stimulation
2. Diet
3. Social interaction
4. Physical activity
108
What are vesicles?
Packages of neurotransmitters stored in the axon terminals
109
What is the name of the packages of neurotransmitters stored in the axon terminals?
Vesicles
110
What is a neurotransmitter?
A chemical messenger that facilitates communication between two neurons
111
What is the term for a chemical messenger that facilitates communication between two neurons?
neurotransmitter
112
What is a synapse?
The site of communication between two neurons
113
What is the site of communication between two neurons?
Synapse
114
What are the two categories of neurotransmitter?
1. Excitatory neurotransmitters
2. Inhibitory neurotransmitters
115
What is an excitatory neurotransmitter?
When it binds to specific and complementary receptor sites, it increases the likelihood of the post-synaptic neuron triggering an action potential
116
What is an inhibitory neurotransmitter?
When it binds to specific and complementary receptor sites, it decreases the likelihood of the post-synaptic neuron triggering an action potential
117
Which type of neurotransmitter increases the likelihood of the post-synaptic neuron triggering an action potential
excitatory neurotransmitter
118
Which type of neurotransmitter decreases the likelihood of the post-synaptic neuron triggering an action potential
Inhibitory neurotransmitter
119
What is an acquired brain injury?
A brain injury sustained after birth
120
# Fill in the blank
A movement impairment is an example of how an acquired brain injury can affect WHAT functioning.
Biological
121
# Fill in the blank
Memory loss is an example of how an acquired brain injury can affect WHAT functioning.
Psychological
122
# Fill in the blank
Job productivity changes are an example of how an acquired brain injury can affect WHAT functioning.
Social
