Neuroscience Key Terms: Brain Structures and Functions

affernt

info traveling towards the brain

amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

arachnoid membrane

middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord

brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

broca's area

Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

central nervous system

consists of the brain and spinal cord

cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.

cerebral cortex

outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain

cerebrospinal fluid

Fluid in the space between the meninges that acts as a shock absorber that protects the central nervous system.

cerebrum

Area of the brain responsible for all voluntary activities of the body

choroid plexus

A highly vascular portion of the lining of the ventricles that secretes cerebrospinal fluid.

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

crainal nerves

12 pairs of nerves that emerge from the brain- most of these connecting with areas in your head, such as eyes, ears, nose and face

dura mater

Outermost layer of the meninges

efferent

conveying away from the center

fusiform gyrus

brain area of the inferior temporal cortex that recognizes faces

gray matter

Brain and spinal cord tissue that appears gray with the naked eye; consists mainly of neuronal cell bodies (nuclei) and lacks myelinated axons.

gyrus

A ridged or raised portion of a convoluted brain surface.

hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

olfactory bulb

a brain structure located above the nasal cavity beneath the frontal lobes

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

pia mater

thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges

pineal gland

secretes melatonin

prefrontal cortex

the frontmost portion of the frontal lobes, especially prominent in humans; important for attention, working memory, decision making, appropriate social behavior, and personality

visual cortex

The visual processing areas of cortex in the occipital and temporal lobes.

auditory cortex

the area of the temporal lobe responsible for processing sound information

spinal cord

Nerves that run up and down the length of the back and transmit most messages between the body and brain

somatosensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

spinal nerves

31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord

sulcus

groove

thalamus

the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

ventricles

channel through which CSF fills

wenikes area

language comprehension (temporal lobe)