Brain terms

Cerebral cortex

outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain

Temporal lobe

lobe that houses memories, emotions, and language comprehension

Wernicke's area

part of the left temporal lobe that allows language comprehension, both written and spoken

Cingulate cortex

inner part of the cerebrum involved in processing the emotional distress of pain; considered to be part of the limbic system

Meningeal layers

3 membranes that lie underneath the skull: the dura mater (tough mother), arachnoid (spider web-like), and pia mater (tender mother); arteries and veins bring blood to and from brain and heart in this area

Brain stem

directs heart rate and breathing; involved in sleep-wake cycle, attention, temperature regulation, vision, hearing, and motor control of muscles in the face and neck; divided into 3 structures: midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata, and the reticular formation

Midbrain

cluster of dopamine-producing cells in the brain stem that help regulate movement

Pons

part of the brain stem that contains the locus ceruleus, an area important for attention

The Human Brain

organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals; weights 3 lbs; consumes 20% of the body's oxygen supply; it consists of 86 billion neurons and 85 billion glial cells

Neuron

specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell

Right & Left cerebral hemispheres

the two sides of the cerebrum joined by the corpus callosum; comprised of 4 lobes; some functions shared by redundant areas, while others (e.g. speech--Broca's area) are focused on one side

Frontal lobe

lobe that includes behavioral traits (personality, decision making), motor control, and makes sense of information about the environment, memories, and emotions

Motor cortex

part of frontal lobe that ensures movements are intentional, precise and coordinated with sensory perception

Broca's area

part of the left hemisphere of the frontal lobe responsible for production and coordination of speech

Occipital lobe

lobe that decodes visual signals from the retina via the thalamus

Parietal lobe

lobe that integrates information from our senses

Somatosensory cortex

part of the parietal lobe that receives information from touch receptors

Medulla oblongata

part of the brain stem that controls breathing

Reticular formation

part of brain stem that has a central role in states of consciousness like alertness and sleep

Spinal cord

bundle of nerves that run through the backbone from the medulla oblongata to the lower back

Limbic system

consists of group of structures responsible for motivation, emotion, learning and memory; includes: the olfactory bulb, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cingulate gyrus/cortex

Amygdala

small, almond-shaped part of the limbic system that links fear, aggression, and anxiety to knowledge of people or places; ensures that threats can be recognized and avoided in the future

Hippocampus

part of the limbic system responsible for short and long-term memory; produces new neurons even when the rest of the brain stops growing early in childhood; creates mental maps of places (spatial memory)

Hypothalamus

part of the limbic system that links the brain and spinal cord (the CNS or central nervous system) with the endocrine system (glands that release hormones); controls the pituitary gland; regulates body temperature, thirst, hunger, circadian rhythms; promotes bonding between family members; bridges subconscious signals from brain stem with signals from the cerebral cortex

Thalamus

"grand central station" located in middle of brain; relays information about most of our senses (vision, hearing, touch, proprioception--awareness of body position, and taste) with the rest of the brain

Ventricles

4 cavities; contain cerebrospinal fluid which protects, nourishes, and cleans up after brain; supports weight of brain

Pituitary gland

produces & releases hormones controlling bodily functions and behaviors; relays signals from hypothalamus to glands throughout body

Basal ganglia

group of structures in the limbic system (including the caudate nucleus which is associated with pursuing rewards) that control voluntary movements, habitual behaviors, and emotions

Cerebellum

the "little brain" which coordinates muscular activity, maintains equilibrium; important in honing practices talents; contains 70 billion neurons (5x cerebral cortex);

Corpus callosum

thick wide bundle of neural connections linking the left and right hemispheres

Olfactory bulb

specialized area of the cortex that processes sense of smell; closely tied to emotion and memory due to direct connections with amygdala and hippocampus

Cranial nerves

group of 12 fiber bundles that transmit impulses of sensation; control muscles in the neck and head; 10 originate in the brain stem, 2 originate in the cerebral cortex

Optic nerve

cranial nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

Optic chiasm

point at which optic nerve fibers cross in the brain

Sulci

shallow grooves that separate gyri

Gyri

ridges of the brain

Glial cells

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

Cerebrum

largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, memory

Prefrontal cortex

part of the the frontal lobe that exercises executive function--the ability to make complex & socially mindful decisions based on memories and predictions