The Eye + Brain Flashcards
(37 cards)
What is the function of the cerebral cortex?
Controls complex actions such as
consciousness, intelligence, memory, and language.
What does the cerebellum do
Coordinates muscular activity and balance and posture
What is the role of the medulla?
Controls unconscious activities like breathing and heart rate.
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
Regulates body temperature and water balance.
What does the pituitary gland do?
Releases hormones to regulate body conditions.
How can scientists study the brain?
By studying brain damage, using electrical stimulation, and MRI scanning.
Why is brain damage hard to treat?
The brain is complex and delicate; treatments carry risks like speech problems or paralysis.
What does MRI stand for?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
How does an MRI scan work?
Uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the brain.
What can MRI scans show?
The structure of the brain and areas active during tasks
How are MRI scans useful in brain research?
They help link specific brain areas to functions like movement, speech, and emotion.
What is electrical stimulation of the brain?
Applying tiny electrical currents to specific areas of the brain using electrodes.
Q: How does electrical stimulation help scientists
Helps identify what different areas of the brain do by observing responses (e.g. movement, speech, vision).
Is electrical stimulation used in treatment?
Yes – sometimes used to treat conditions like Parkinson’s disease by stimulating certain brain areas.
How does studying brain damage help us understand the brain?
Damage to specific areas helps scientists work out what that part controls (e.g. speech loss = Broca’s area).
Give an example of learning from brain damage.
A patient losing memory after an accident might indicate damage to the hippocampus.
What are the limitations of studying brain damage?
Brain injuries are often unique and complex, making it hard to draw exact conclusions.
Why can it be difficult to study the brain
The brain is surrounded by the skull, which can be very hard to operate in and open in order for studies of the brain to take place.
The brain also has many impulses coming quickly from many different stimuli from different parts of the body which could make it much harder to study the brain
Studying or operating on the brain carries a high risk of causing permanent damage, which makes research cautious and limited.
What is the function of the cornea?
Refracts (bends) light into the eye
What does the iris do?
Controls the size of the pupil.
What is the pupil?
The hole that lets light into the eye.
What does the lens do?
Focuses light onto the retina.
What is the role of the ciliary muscles and suspensory ligaments?
They adjust the shape of the lens for focusing.
What does the retina contain?
Light-sensitive cells (rods and cones) that detect light.
