Unit 1 Topic 1.4 - The Brain Flashcards
(29 cards)
Brain Stem
What is its function?
The part of the brain that controls basic life functions and breathing and heart rate. It includes the Medulla
Medulla
What is its function?
A part of of the brain stem
Involved in regulating vital functions such as heart rate and breathing
Reticular Activating System (RAS)
What is its function?
A network in the brain
Regulates alertness,attention and some types of voluntary movement and emotion
Reward Center
A brain system that is activated by pleasurable stimuli and is involved in motivation, learning and motivation
Cerebellum
What is its function?
Helps coordinate muscle movement and balance, and is involved in procedural learning
Ex: riding a bike
Cerebral Cortex
What is its function?
Divided into two hemispheres
Includes areas responsible for complex thinking, perception and decision making
Limbic System
A group of brain structures involved in emotion, memory and motivation
(Thalamus, Hippocampus, Amygdala, Hypthalamus, Pituitary Gland)
Thalamus
What is its function?
Acts as the brains “sensory relay station,” directing incoming sensory information to the appropriate areas of the brain
Hypothalamus
What is its function?
Regulates hunger, thirst, body, temperature, and other basic drives.
Pituitary Gland
What is its function?
Known as the “master gland” of the ENDOCTRINE SYSTEM.
Controls other glands and is involved in growth and hormone release
Hippocampus
Involved in forming new memories
Amygdala
A key player in processing emotions, especially fear and aggression
Corpus Callosum
A thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing them to communicate
Occipital Lobes
What is its function?
Temporal Lobes
What is its function?
Located at the back of the brain
Processes VISUAL information
Located on the sides of the brain
Involves HEARING and UNDERSTANDING language
Parietal Lobes
What is its function?
Handle sensory information and helps organize and make sense of it
Somatosensory Cortex
What is its function?
Located in the PARIETAL lobes
This area processes sensory input like touch, pressure, temperature, and pain
Frontal Lobes
Involved in decisions making, planning and language
Prefrontal Cortex
What is its function?
Responsible for higher level thinking, planning and personality
Motor Cortex
What is its function?
Controls voluntary movement
Split Brain Research
Research involving patients whose CORPUS CALLOSUM has been severed, helping scientists learn how the two hemispheres specialize in different functions
Broca’s Area
What is its function?
Found in the LEFT hemisphere
Is responsible for speech production
Wernicke’s Area
What is its function?
Also in the left hemisphere
Responsible for speech COMPRHENSION
Aphasia
A language disorder that results from damage to the Broca’s or Wernicke’s areas
Contralateral Hemispheric Organization
The concept that each hemisphere of the brain controls the opposite side of the body
