Brain Structures and Functions

Vocabulary flashcards covering key brain structures and their corresponding functions.

Medulla

Controls heartbeat and breathing

Cerebellum

Controls voluntary movement and balance, nonverbal learning and memory, judges time, modulates emotions, and processes sensory input

Thalamus

The brain's sensory control center that processes information and directs it to the correct part of the brain

Hypothalamus

Directs activities and controls the endocrine system

Pituitary Gland

Produces and releases hormones

Hippocampus

Processes explicit memories of facts and events

Amygdala

Effects emotion, specifically aggression and fear

Corpus Callosum

Carries messages between hemispheres

Occipital lobe

Receives info from the visual fields

Temporal lobe

Effects auditory signals

Parietal lobe

Receives sensory input for touch and body position

Somatosensory cortex

Processes body touch and movements sensations

Frontal lobe

Controls speaking and muscle movements

Motor cortex

Controls voluntary movements

Broca's Area

Responsible for speech production and articulation

Wernicke's Area

Effects critical language, affecting written and spoken language

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Records waves of electrical activity across the brain

MEG

Measures magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electrical activity

CT Scan

Series of X-rays combined by a computer into a composite representations of a slice of the brain’s structure

PET Scan

Detects radioactive glucose location in the brain during tasks

MRI

Measures magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a computer-generated soft tissue image

fMRI

reveals blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans

Associated Area

Controls learning, thinking, speaking, and remembering

Reticular Formation

Nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and helps control arousal

Glial Cells

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Synapse

The gap between axons and dendrites

Central Nervous System

Brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

Arousal, calming, motor output, sensory input

Connects the CNS to the rest of the body

Somatic Nervous System

Controls skeletal muscles

Section of PNS

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls glands and muscles of internal organs

Section of PNS

Sympathetic Nervous System

Controls arousal; mobilizes energy

Section of ANS

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calms the body; conserves energy

Section of ANS

Endocrine System - Definition

The body’s “slow” communication system

Set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Controlled by the hypothalamus

Endocrine System - Parts

Hypothalamus, Pituitary gland, Thyroid gland, Parathyroids, Adrenal glands, Pancreas, Testis & Ovary

Limbic System - Definition

Controls emotions and drives

Limbic System - Parts

Amygdala, Hippocampus, Hypothalamus

Depressants - Definition

Calms neural activity, slows body functions

Depressants - Examples

Alcohol, Cannabis, Marijuana

Barbiturate - Definition

Depresses CNS activity

Reduces anxiety and impairs judgment and memory

Barbiturate - Examples

Sleeping pills

Opiates - Definition

Depress neural activity

Temporarily lesson pain and anxiety

Opiates - Examples

Morphine, Heroin, Opium

Stimulants - Definition

Excites neural activity

Speeds up body function

Stimulants - Examples

Ecstasy, Marijuana, MDMA, Nicotine, Cocaine, Meth

Hallucinogen - Definition

Psychedelic drug that distorts perceptions of reality

Hallucinogen - Examples

LSD, THC, Marijuana

Right Hemisphere

Makes inferences, modulates speech, and orchestrates self-awareness

Left Hemisphere

Processes language and controls speech

GABA

Neurotransmitter that lessens a nerve cell’s ability to receive, create or send chemical messages