W3 notes pt 2

Question 1

cerebellum

Answer 1

The cerebellum is essential for maintaining balance and motor coordination
First to be affected by alcohol
Contains more nerve cells than the rest of the brain combined and richly connected with the rest of the CNS

Question 2

midbrain

Answer 2

The midbrain sits above the pons and contains a number of structures involved in sensory, reflexes, movement and pain

Question 3

reticular formation

Answer 3

The reticular formation, which runs from the upper medulla into the midbrain, manages levels of arousal

Question 4

thalamus

Answer 4

The thalamus is often called the gateway to the cortex, because input from most of our sensory systems travels first to the thalamus, which then forwards the information to the cerebral cortex

Question 5

what do lesions on the thalamus cause

Answer 5

memory loss

Question 6

basal ganglia

Answer 6

The basal ganglia consist of several large structures involved with voluntary movement that curve around to hug the thalamus
Contribute to several psychological disorders
Main overall function is to allow movement and inhibit competing movements
E.g. the nucleus accumbens is a small structure and plays an important role in the brain’s reward
The activity of it is related to a person’s sense of social inclusion

Question 7

hypothalamus

Answer 7

The hypothalamus is involved with motivation and homeostasis, or the regulation of body functions

Described as contributing to the “4F” behaviours: feeding, fleeing, fighting and fornication (sex)

The hypothalamus carries out its motivational and homeostatic tasks by directing the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system and its hormones

Question 8

hippocampus

Answer 8

The hippocampus is essential for the formation of long-term memories

Memories are not stored permanently in the hippocampus, but it’s likely that the hippocampus is involved in the storage and retrieval of memories located elsewhere in the brain

Damage to the hippocampus results in profound impairments in the ability to form new memories, but most memories that occurred before the damage remain intact

Question 9

cingulate cortex

Answer 9

The cingulate cortex forms a fold of tissue on the inner surface of each cerebral hemisphere
Plays significant roles in decision making, emotion, anticipation of reward and empathy

Question 10

amygdala

Answer 10

The amygdala receives sensory info (vision, hearing and smell) and produces emotional and motivational output that’s sent to the cerebral cortex
Best known for its role in identifying, remembering and responding to fear and aggression
The more intense the expression of fear, the more activation is observed in the amygdala

Question 11

corpus callosum

Answer 11

a wide band of nerve fibres connecting the left and right cerebral hemispheres

Question 12

cerebral cortex

Answer 12

The thin layer of cells covering the outer surface of the cerebral hemispheres is the cerebral cortex

Question 13

The degree of cortical convolution positively correlates with the …

Answer 13

general intellectual capacities of a species

Question 14

how is each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex named

Answer 14

Each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex may be divided into 4 lobes, named after the bones of the skull that cover them

Toward the front of the brain, we find the frontal lobe, and directly behind the frontal lobe lies the parietal lobe
At the back of the brain is the occipital lobe
Curving around the side of each hemisphere, is the temporal lobe

Question 15

sensory cortex

Answer 15

Sensory cortex processes incoming info from the sensory systems

Question 16

primary motor cortex

Answer 16

The primary motor cortex provides the highest level of voluntary control over movement

Question 17

association cortex

Answer 17

Areas of the cortex that do not have specific sensory or motor functions are known as association cortex

Question 18

prefrontal cortex

Answer 18

The prefrontal cortex is involved with the planning of behaviour, attention and judgement

Question 19

executive functions

Answer 19

Executive functions refer to the range of cognitive processes that enable self-regulation and the cognitive control of behaviour, including attentional control, inhibition planning and self-monitoring

Question 20

orbitofrontal cortex

Answer 20

The orbitofrontal cortex, a part of the prefrontal cortex located just behind the bony orbits protecting the eyes, plays an important role in our emotional lives

Last part of the brain to mature

Damage to this area demonstrates dramatic deficits in their social behaviour and experience of emotion
-Have difficulty controlling impulses and anticipating negative outcomes of poor decisions

Question 21

occipital lobe

Answer 21

at the back of the brain

Question 22

primary visual cortex

Answer 22

Primary visual cortex begins process of interpreting input from the eyes by responding to basic info

Question 23

A pathway connecting the occipital lobe with the temporal lobe allows you to….

Answer 23

recognize objects you see

Question 24

A 2nd pathway connects the occipital lobe with the parietal lobe and allows you to …

Answer 24

process the movement of objects

Question 25

temporal lobe

Answer 25

The temporal lobe allows us to process incoming sounds and process higher visual system tasks, including the recognition of objects and the faces of familiar people

Question 26

parietal lobe

Answer 26

Helps us localize touch, pain skin temp, and body position Tells us how quickly something is moving toward us Damage to the parietal lobe can produce odd symptoms of neglect syndrome

Question 27

lateralization

Answer 27

A special type of localization of function in the cerebral cortex is known as lateralization, or the localization of a function in either the right or the left cerebral hemisphere Movement and sensation on the right side of the body are processed by the left hemisphere and movement and sensation on the left side of the body by the right hemisphere

Question 28

function of lateralization

Answer 28

The function of lateralization Might provide organisms with the ability to multitask Within populations, may help with social cohesion

Question 29

PNS and endocrine system

Answer 29

PNS can be separated into 2 divisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system

Question 30

somatic nervous system

Answer 30

Includes the peripheral portions of the sensory and voluntary movement systems Transmits commands for voluntary movement from the CNS to the muscles and brings sensory input back to the CNS for further processing

Question 31

autonomic nervous system

Answer 31

Responsible for the actions of many glands and organs Control of tissues other than the skeletal muscle

Question 32

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 32

Sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for situations requiring the expenditure of energy

Question 33

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 33

Parasympathetic nervous system directs the storage of energy

Question 34

enteric nervous system

Answer 34

Enteric nervous system consists of nerve cells embedded in the lining of the gastrointestinal system Communicates with the endocrine system to ensure the release of chemicals essential to digestion

Question 35

endocrine system

Answer 35

Endocrine system is made up of glands that release chemical messengers known as hormones into the blood Responds to input from the nervous system and from the hypothalamus

Question 36

pineal gland

Answer 36

The pineal gland and its release of the chemical melatonin, is important in the maintenance of our sleep-wake cycles

Question 37

pituitary gland

Answer 37

The pituitary gland, located just above the roof of your mouth, is often called the body’s master gland, because many of the hormones it releases activate other glands