The Brain and Neuropsychology

brain

the organ made up of nerves that processes information and controls behaviour

hemisphere

a half of the brain

cerebrum

the largest part of the brain where higher processing happens, it includes the cortex

cortex

the outer layer of the brain

spinal cord

a pathway of nerves inside the spine, which connects the brain to the rest of the body through the peripheral nervous system

brainstem

the part of the brain that connects the spinal cord to the upper brain

reflexes

actions that are automatic and do not require conscious thought

frontal lobe

the area at the front of the brain responsible for decision-making and impulse control

temporal lobe

the area on the side of the brain that controls hearing and memory

parietal lobe

the area at the top of the brain that plays an important role in sensations of touch

occipatal lobe

the area at the back of the brain that controls vision

cerebellum

an area at the brain near to the brainstem that controls motor movements

lateralisation of function

different jobs that are done by each half of the brain; each hemisphere will have different specialist roles that it performs

asymmetrical

the two hemispheres of the brain are not equal in terms of what they do, each hemisphere controls different functions, or plays a larger or smaller role in a particular behaviour

corpus callosum

thick bundle of nerve fibres connecting the two hemispheres of the brain so they can communicate with each other

broca's area

a part of the left hemisphere of the brain that controls speech production

spatial awareness

ability to negotiate space and navigate our way and around our environment

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord, which relays messages from the brain to the rest of the body to instruct it what to do

peripheral nervous system

the system of nerves that connect the central nervous system to the skin, muscles and organs in the body

neurotransmitters

chemicals found within the nervous system that pass messages from one neuron to another across a synapse

neuron

a nerve cell that transmits information

synaptic transmission

the process through which neurotransmitters are released by one neuron, cross the synaptic gap, and affect adjoining neurons

synapse

a gap between two neurons that allow messages in the form of neurotransmitters to pass from one cell to another

axon

the long structure that connects the cell body of a neuron to the terminal button at the end of the cell

terminal button

the end of a neuron

vesicles

small sacs containing neurotransmitter (chemical) molecules

receptors

special sites on neurons that are designed to absorb neurotransmitter molecules

neurological damage

damage to the body's central and peripheral nervous system

visual agnosia

an inability to recognize things that can be seen

prosopagnosia

face blindness, inability to recognize faces

pre-frontal cortex

the area of the brain's cortex at the front of the frontal lobe, behind the forehead

agnosia

an inability to interpret sensations thus recognize things

fusiform face area

part of the temporal lobe, close to the occipital lobe, that is thought to help face recognition

white matter

brain and spinal cord tissue, consisting of mainly nerve fibres

neuroscience

the scientific study of the brain and nervous system

post mortem

an examination of a body after death, often to work out why the person died

EEG (electroencephalograph)

a method of measuring brain activity using electrodes placed on the scalp

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

a method of studying the brain using electromagnets

PET (positron emission tomography)

imagery showing the amount of energy being used throughout the brain