AP Psych Brain Structures and Functions

Flashcards on brain structures and functions for AP Psychology.

Broca's Area

An area in the left frontal lobe that is associated with the ability to speak. Discovered by Paul Broca.

Broca's Aphasia

The inability to speak after damage to Broca's area.

Wernicke's Area

An area in the left temporal lobe that is associated with interpreting and creating language.

Wernicke's Aphasia

The inability to understand sounds or create meaningful speech after damage to Wernicke's Area.

Medulla

Controls autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Pons

Consists of bundles and nerves that help with voluntary movements and sleep/dreams.

Cerebellum

Manages coordination and balance; helps your body remember how to 'practice' actions.

Brainstem

Includes medulla, pons, and midbrain; overall function is autonomic activities.

Spinal Cord

A tubular structure of nerves that goes from the base of the brain to the lumbar section of the vertebral column, allowing body and brain communication.

Reticular Formation

Involved in arousal, alertness, and sleep-wake cycles; coordinates reflexive and autonomic vital functions.

Reticular Activating System

The reticular formation and the function of nerves that extend to the thalamus; filters incoming stimuli and relays important information to higher centers of the brain.

Cerebrum

85% of the brain, including all four lobes, the two hemispheres, and the cerebral cortex; handles brain processes that aren’t just for survival.

Corpus Callosum

Made up of nerve fibers that connect the two cerebral hemispheres.

Frontal Lobe

Located behind the forehead; responsible for higher-level thinking.

Prefrontal Cortex

The anterior portion of the frontal lobe, which specializes in foresight, judgment, and memory.

Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movement; runs from ear to ear, back part of the frontal lobe.

Parietal Lobe

Behind the frontal lobe; receives sensory information and processes all the senses.

Somatosensory Cortex

Parallel to the motor cortex; registers touch and movement sensations.

Occipital Lobe

Makes it possible for you to see.

Visual Cortex

Part of the occipital lobe; receives visual input and sends it to other visual areas in the cortex.

Temporal Lobe

Right above your ears; main function is hearing and also has areas important for memory formation.

Angular Gyrus

Allows you to read words on paper and transfer that information as an auditory form; allows you to process what you read.

Auditory Cortex

Located in the temporal lobe and processes what you hear.

Association Areas

Allows the cerebral cortex to communicate with multiple parts.

Thalamus

Egg-shaped masses of grey matter that serve as a relay station for nerve impulses traveling between the body and the brain; located on top of the brainstem.

Limbic System

Deals with emotions, learning, and memories.

Hippocampus

Allows you to create memories, but does not store them.

Amygdala

Located at the end of each arm of the hippocampus; responsible for emotional reactions: fear, anxiety, and aggression.

Hypothalamus

Controls the pituitary gland and drives such as thirst, hunger, temperature, and sex.

Nucleus Accumbens

Area in the forebrain that functions in the pleasure and reward circuit and motivation.

Basal Ganglia

Involved in intentional bodily movement; links the thalamus with the motor cortex; located in the midbrain and the forebrain.