AP Psychology - Brain Structures

Cerebral Cortex

the outer layer of the brain, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions, including thinking, perceiving, and decision-making.

Frontal Lobes

 located at the front of the brain and are involved in higher-level cognitive functions, including decision-making, problem-solving, planning, and personality expression.

Prefrontal Cortex

 a region of the brain located in the frontal lobe, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions and executive functioning.

Executive Functioning

a set of cognitive processes that enable individuals to plan, organize, strategize, focus attention, regulate emotions, and manage time effectively.

Motor Cortex

region of the brain located in the frontal lobe, responsible for planning, executing, and controlling voluntary movements of the body.It sends signals to the muscles, enabling us to perform actions such as walking, talking, and grasping objects.

Parietal Lobes

located at the top of the brain and are primarily responsible for processing sensory information from the body, such as touch, temperature, and spatial awareness.

Somatosensory Cortex

region of the brain located in the parietal lobe, responsible for processing sensations from the skin, muscles, and joints. It interprets touch, pressure, temperature, and pain signals from different parts of the body, allowing us to perceive and respond to sensory stimuli.

Occipital Lobes

 located at the back of the brain and is primarily responsible for processing visual information received from the eyes. It contains the primary visual cortex, which interprets visual stimuli and helps us perceive shapes, colors, and motion.

Temporal Lobes

located on the sides of the brain and are involved in processing auditory information, language comprehension, and memory formation. They contain the auditory cortex, which interprets sound signals from the ears.

Corpus Callosum

thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, facilitating communication and information sharing between the two hemispheres.

Brainstem

the oldest and most primitive part of the brain, responsible for basic life-sustaining functions such as breathing, heart rate, and sleep-wake cycles. It serves as a pathway for neural signals traveling between the brain and the rest of the body, connecting the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord.

Medulla

vital structure located at the base of the brainstem, regulating essential autonomic functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure. It serves as a relay station for nerve signals traveling between the brain and the spinal cord, controlling involuntary bodily processes crucial for survival.

Reticular Activating System

a network of neurons located in the brainstem that plays a critical role in regulating arousal, attention, and consciousness. It filters sensory information and modulates overall brain activity, helping to maintain wakefulness and alertness.

Cerebellum

located at the back of the brain, below the cerebral hemispheres, responsible for coordinating movement, balance, and posture. It receives input from sensory systems and other parts of the brain to fine-tune motor movements and ensure smooth coordination.

Limbic System

The limbic system, located beneath the cerebral cortex, is a set of brain structures involved in emotions, memory, and motivation.

Reward Center

network of brain structures, primarily located in the limbic system, that processes pleasurable experiences and reinforces behaviors associated with them.

Thalamus

a relay station in the brain that processes and relays sensory information, such as sight, sound, touch, and taste, to the cerebral cortex. It acts as a gateway for sensory input, directing signals to the appropriate areas of the brain for further processing.

Hypothalamus

a small but powerful structure located below the thalamus, responsible for regulating various essential bodily functions, including hunger, thirst, body temperature, and the sleep-wake cycle. It serves as a control center helping to maintain homeostasis in the body. 

Pituitary Gland

Small pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain, often referred to as the "master gland" due to its central role in regulating hormone production and secretion throughout the body. Plays a critical role in coordinating hormonal activity and maintaining homeostasis in the body.

Hippocampus

curved structure located within the brain's temporal lobes, primarily responsible for forming and consolidating new memories.

Amygdala

small, almond-shaped structure located deep within the brain's temporal lobes, involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression. It plays a central role in the brain's threat detection system, triggering the body's fight-or-flight response in response to perceived danger.