Psych - Brain Terminology

Early Adolescents

Ages 10 - 13 (Jr. High or Middle School)

Middle Adolescents

Ages 14 - 17 (High School)

Late Adolescents

College and Young Adults

Cerebral Cortex

Outer layer of the brain, the tissue is folded in on itself, the folding and wrinkling allows for more surface area of cortex to fit into the skull

Hemispheres

The brain has two hemispheres, the left controls the right side of the body, the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body

Lobes

Areas of the cerebral cortex, location and primary function, each with a specialty

Occipital Lobes

Section of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral cortex containing the visual centers of the brain

Temporal Lobes

Lying roughly above the ears, include the auditory (sound) processing of the brain

Parietal Lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear, containing the centers for processing sensory signals and information

Frontal Lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead that is involved in planning and judgement

Prefrontal Cortex

“Executive Function of the Brain”

Prospective Memory

One of the frontal lobes’ executive functions, ability to hold in your mind the intention to perform a certain action at a future time

Brain Stem

Most primitive part of the brain, Base of brain connected to the spinal cord

Cerebellum (“Little Brain”)

Attached to the rear of the brainstem; it helps coordinate voluntary movements and balance

Limbic System

Ring of structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral cortex; The limbic system gets involved in memories and also emotions

Thalamus

Processes and transmits movement and sensory information. Considered the sensory “relay station” of the brain, passing information on to the cerebral cortex

Hippocampus (Memory)

It helps process new memories for permanent storage

Amygdala

Controls emotional responses, such as fear and anger

Crisis Situations

The amygdala will signal danger but frontal lobes may not respond

Stress

Adolescents, whose amygdala are less under control by their frontal lobes, are prone to responding to situations of stress with more extreme emotions than adults