Psych 275 Chapter 3 Midterm

The organization and functions of the nervous system

what does the central nervous system consist of

Brain and spinal cord

Neuron

a single neural cell

Nerve

A bundle of axons running together, outside the brain

Tract

a bundle of axons running together in the CNS

Nucleus

group of cell bodies in CNS

Ganglion

Group of cell bodies in PNS

Major structures of the forebrain

Two cerebral hemispheres, thalamus, hypothalamus

Cerebral hemispheres

Large, wrinkled structures dominating brains appearance

Longitudinal fissure

Division running length of the brain separating cerebral hemispheres

Gyrus

Bumpy ridges in the surface of the brain

Sulcus

Groove or space between two gyri

Fissure

Large groove or space between two gyri

Cortex

Outer surface of the brain, mostly made up of cell bodies and neurons

Dorsal

Towards the back

Ventral

Towards the stomach

Anterior

Towards the front

Posterior

Towards the rear

Superior

Above another structure

Inferior

below another structure

Lateral

Toward the side

Medial

toward the middle

What is separating the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe, and what is seperating the frontal lobe from the temporal lobe

central sulcus, lateral fissure

Where is the frontal lobe located

anterior to the central sulcus, and superior to the lateral fissure

What is another name for the Precentral gyrus

Motor cortex

What are the functions of the prefrontal cortex

Decision making, personality, most human parts of the brain

What are the functions of Broca’s area and what side of the brain is it located on

Controls speech production, left hemisphere

Psychosurgery

Use of surgical intervention to treat cognitive and emotional disorders

Lobotomy

Severing connections in the brains prefrontal cortex

Corpus Callostomy

Cutting the corpus callosum to limit spread of epileptic activity between hemispheres

what is this part of the brain called (It has two names)

Postcentral gyrus, somatosensory cortex

What does the postcentral gyrus/somatosensory cortex do

Process all of our skin senses. Gives info about body’s movement and position

Name all of these parts of the brain (Starting in the left corner and working counter clock-wise

Primary motor cortex (Voluntary movement), Frontal lobe, Broca’s area (Speech formation), Primary auditory cortex (Surrounded by higher order auditory cortex (hearing)), Temporal lobe, Brain stem, Spinal cord, Cerebellum (Motor control), Primary visual cortex (Surrounded by higher-order visual cortex (sight)), occipital lobe, Wernicke’s area (Speech understanding), Parietal lobe, Somatic sensory cortex (Body sensations)

Association Areas

Areas that carry out further processing beyond what the primary area does, often combining information from other senses

Neglect

A disorder in which the person ignores objects, people, activity on the side opposite the damage

When does neglect occur most often

When the posterior parietal cortex is damaged, particularly if the damage occurs in the right parietal lobe

What is Wernicke’s area

The language area of the brain, it interprets language, and understanding what you’re reading, it is only on the left side of the brain

What are the Temporal lobes

Regions containing the auditory projection area, visual and auditory association areas, an additional language area, and structures important in learning and memory

What is the inferior temporal cortex

Plays major role in visual identification of objects

What is the function of the thalamus

receives information from all sensory systems except olfaction (Smell)

What is the hypothalamus

Plays major role in controlling emotion and motivated behaviours

What is the pineal gland

Secretes melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep

Corpus Callosum

Band of fibers that carry information between brain hemispheres

Label the pineal gland, thalamus, hypothalamus from the left side to the right in the right order

Hypothalamus, thalamus, pineal gland

What are ventricles

Cavities in the brain which develop from the hollow interior of the nervous system

Cerebrospinal fluid

Carries material from blood vessels to the CNS and transports waste materials in the other direction

Midbrain

Structures have secondary roles in vision, hearing, and movement

Superior colliculi

help guide eye movements and fixation of gaze

Inferior colliculi

Help locate the direction of sounds

Spinal cord

cable of neurons that carries commands from the brain to muscles and organs, and sensory information into the brain

Dorsal root

A region of each spinal nerve where sensory neurons enter the spinal cord

Ventral root

The region in which axons of motor neurons pass out of the spinal cord

What is a reflex

simple, automatic movement in response to sensory stimulus

Meninges

Protective three-layered membrane

Blood brain barrier

limits passage between bloodstream and the brain, provides constant protection from toxic substances and from neurotransmitters circulating in the blood

Afferent

Towards the CNS

Efferent

Away from the CNS

Cranial Nerves

Nerves which enter and leave the underside of the brain

Spinal Nerves

Nerves which connect to the sides of the spinal cord at each vertebra

Proliferation

The cells that will become neurons divide and multiply rapidly

Migration

Newly formed neurons move from the ventricular zone to their final location

What is circuit pruning

The elimination of excess neurons and synapses

Plasticity

Ability of synapses to be modified

Reorganization

Shift in connection that changes function of an area of the brain

Stroke

Condition caused by loss of blood flow to the brain

Regeneration

Growth of severed axons

Neurogenesis

Birth of new neurons

Stem cells

undifferentiated cells that can develop into specialized cells, such as neurons, muscle, or blood cells