Unit 1 - Part 3 - Examining and Parts of the Brain, Consciousness, and Sleep

This flashcard set covers 60 key terms related to brain anatomy, imaging techniques, psychological processing models, and sleep physiology as presented in the lecture notes.

Lesion

A damaged or destroyed area of brain tissue, either from injury, disease, or surgical removal.

EEG

Records electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp to study sleep, epilepsy, and brain activity patterns.

MEG

Measures the magnetic fields produced by neural activity to provide precise information about brain function.

CT

Uses X-ray technology to create detailed cross-sectional images of the brain for detecting injuries and tumors.

PET

Measures brain activity by tracking the consumption of a radioactive glucose substance.

MRI

A brain-imaging technique that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of brain structures.

fMRI

A specialized type of MRI that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow during specific tasks.

Hindbrain (63)

The lower part of the brainstem that includes the medulla, pons, and cerebellum.

Midbrain (63)

Located between the hindbrain and forebrain; involved in motor movement, auditory/visual processing, and reflexes.

Forebrain (65)

The largest/most complex part of brain, including the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, and limbic system.

Medulla (65)

Part of the brain that controls heartbeat and breathing.

Thalamus (65)

The brain's sensory relay center.

Reticular Formation (65)

A structure in the midbrain that regulates arousal and attention.

Cerebellum (65)

Part of the brain that coordinates movement and balance.

Pons

Structure involved in sleep and facial movements.

Basal Ganglia

Brain structures that help control movement.

Limbic System

A brain system involved in emotions and memory.

Amygdala (66)

Regulates emotions, especially fear and aggression.

Hypothalamus (67)

Regulates hunger, thirst, and body temperature.

Hippocampus (69)

Brain area involved in memory formation.

Cerebral Cortex (70)

Outer layer of the brain responsible for higher functions.

Frontal Lobe (71)

Controls reasoning, planning, and voluntary movements.

Parietal Lobe (71)

Part of the brain that processes sensory information.

Occipital Lobe (71)

Part of the brain that processes visual information.

Temporal Lobe (71)

Part of the brain that processes auditory information.

Motor Cortex (72)

Controls voluntary muscle movements.

Somatosensory Cortex (74)

Processes touch and body position.

Association Areas (75)

Regions of the cerebral cortex not directly involved in sensory or motor functions; crucial for higher-order thinking and integration.

Corpus Callosum (81)

The structure that connects the two brain hemispheres.

Broca’s Area (368)

Brain region that controls speech production.

Wernicke’s Area (368)

Brain region that controls language comprehension.

Michael Gazzaniga (82)

A neuroscientist known for his research on split-brain patients.

Split Brain (82)

A condition resulting from surgery for epilepsy treatment in which the corpus callosum is severed.

Consciousness (87)

An individual’s awareness of thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and the environment.

Cognitive psychology (88)

A branch of psychology that studies mental processes such as perception, thinking, memory, language, and problem-solving.

Dual processing (90)

The theory that the brain processes information on conscious/deliberate and unconscious/automatic levels simultaneously.

Blindsight (90)

A condition where individuals with visual cortex damage respond to stimuli without consciously seeing them.

Parallel processing (91)

The brain’s ability to process multiple aspects of a situation, such as color and shape, simultaneously.

Sequential processing (91)

The processing of information in a step-by-step, orderly manner for problem-solving or learning.

Hypnosis

A trance-like state of heightened suggestibility.

Circadian Rhythm (94)

The body's natural 24-hour cycle.

Sleep Cycle

Repeating stages of sleep throughout the night.

REM Sleep (94)

Rapid eye movement sleep associated with vivid dreams.

REM Rebound (112)

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following periods of sleep deprivation.

Alpha Waves (95)

Brain waves present in a relaxed, awake state.

NREM Sleep (95)

Non-rapid eye movement sleep stages.

Hallucinations (96)

False sensory experiences that occur without external stimuli.

Hypnagogic Sensation (96)

Bizarre sensory experiences, such as falling, during the transition from wakefulness to sleep.

Delta Waves (96)

Slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.

Insomnia

A disorder characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by sudden sleep attacks.

Sleep Apnea

A disorder causing breathing interruptions during sleep.

Sleep Paralysis

Temporary inability to move upon waking.

Night Terrors

Episodes of intense fear during sleep.

Sleepwalking/Somnambulism

Performing activities while asleep.

Dream Theories

Various explanations for why we dream.

Manifest Content

The actual storyline of a dream.

Latent Content

The hidden meaning of a dream.

Activation-Synthesis Theory

The theory that dreams result from brain activity during sleep.

Restorative Sleep Theory

The theory that sleep restores the body and mind.