Unit 2- ways to study the brain

EEG

a non-invasive method used to measure electrical activity in the brain by placing electrodes on the scalp. It records and analyzes brain waves, providing insights into brain functioning and activity shows function

CT/CAT Scan

a radiographic x-ray technique for quickly producing detailed, three-dimensional images of the brain or other soft tissues. shows structure

MRI

a type of imaging technology that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues within the body. Shows structure

PET scan

are a neuroimaging technique that uses radioactive tracers to measure brain activity. (injects liquid into brain) function+Structure

FMRI

can show which areas of your brain are most active. Tracking and comparing that activity to what you were doing at the time can help “map” your brain activity. Structure+Function

Brain Stem

responsible for several vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, sleep, and even consciousness. (Base of the whole of the brain and consists of midbrain, pons and medulla)

Medulla

controls automatic (involuntary) functions of the body, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Reticular Activating system (Reticular Formation)

responsible for sensation, consciousness, attention, and the sleep-wake cycle. transmits the sensory messages to different areas of the cerebral cortex through the thalamus.

Pons

It regulates several functions including hearing, equilibrium, taste and facial sensations and movements.

Cerebellum

responsible for coordinating and regulating muscular activity, particularly fine motor skills, balance, and coordination.

Cerebral Cortex

plays a crucial role in higher cognitive functions such as perception, memory, language, and decision-making. It is responsible for processing sensory information and initiating voluntary movements.

Limbic System

a set of structures in the brain that deal with emotions and memory. It regulates autonomic or endocrine function in response to emotional stimuli and also is involved in reinforcing behavior .

Thalmus

relaying and processing signals for sensory perception, such as sight and sound, and also regulates sleep and consciousness

Hypothalmus

contains nuclei with primary control of the autonomic (involuntary) functions of the body. It also helps integrate autonomic activity into appropriate responses to internal and external stimuli.

Pituitary gland

controls other glands in your body making it a key player in regulating vital bodily functions and general wellbeing.

Hippocampus

vital for long-term memory formation, particularly declarative memories, or memories that can be purposely recalled like facts and events. Loss of function to the hippocampus results in the inability to form new memories

Amygdala

part of the limbic system and plays a significant role in emotional memory, fear, and aggression (volatile emotions)

Corpus Callosum

a bundle of nerve fibers that allow your brain's left and right hemispheres to communicate. It plays a role in how you think, remember and coordinate your movements

Occipital lobes

home to the primary visual cortex and the central area for visual processing, visual perception, and color recognition

Temporal Lobes

Its primary function is processing auditory sensory input and is the location of the primary auditory cortex and Wernicke's area. However, it also plays a role in interpreting meaning from visual stimuli and object recognition.

Parietal lobes

It consists of the somatosensory cortex and is responsible for integrating sensory information from different parts of the body, especially visual information related to navigation and spatial orientation

Association Areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

Somatosensory Cortex

the part of the brain within the cerebral cortex that receives all sensory information from various parts of the body

Frontal Lobes

responsible for higher cognitive functions including reasoning, problem-solving, judgment, and motor function

Prefrontal Cortex

the area of the brain that helps to control and regulate many higher-level cognitive functions ex. personality, emotions, behaviors, decision making

Motor Cortex

an area in the brain where nerve signals are generated and sent to the muscles in the body that control movements.

Brocas Area/ Brocas Aphasia

-responsible for speech production and language comprehension

-Aphasia: you know what you want to say, but when you say it, it does not make sense

Wernickes Area/ Wernickes Aphasia

-plays a key role in language comprehension

-Aphasia: the inability to understand speech and speak coherently

Grey Matter Vs White matter

Grey Matter: largely functions to receive information and regulate outgoing information, as it contains the cell bodies of neurons

White Matter: largely composed of axons, serves to transmit signals to other regions of the brain, spinal cord, and body.

Linguistic processing

the cognitive activities involved in understanding and producing language

Higher-order thinking

going beyond basic observation of facts and memorization

Executuive functioning

neurocognitive skills involved in goal-directed problem solving, including working memory, inhibitory control, and set shifting/flexibility

Left hemisphere

controls the right side of the body and is typically more involved in tasks involving logic, language, and analytical thinking.

right hemisphere

responsible for controlling the left side of the body and processing tasks related to creativity, spatial ability, artistic and musical skills

Plasticity

he brain's ability to change and adapt as a result of experience. It can reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

H.M.

Henry Molaison, a patient who underwent bilateral medial temporal lobe resection to treat his severe epilepsy. As a result of the surgery, HM experienced profound anterograde amnesia, which helped researchers understand the role of the hippocampus and other structures in memory formation.

Synaptic Pruning

The process in which the brain removes neurons and synapses that it does not need