Unit 2 Topic 1.4

The Brain

Brain Stem

The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; it is responsible for automatic survival functions.

Brain's Reward Center

A neural network, heavily reliant on dopamine pathways, that reinforces behaviors essential for survival by producing feelings of pleasure.

Hemispheres (2)

The left and right halves of the cerebrum, each controlling the opposite side of the body and specializing in different cognitive functions.

Hypothalamus

A small neural structure lying below the thalamus that directs eating, drinking, and body temperature, while helping govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

Hippocampus

A curved structure located within the limbic system that is essential for processing and forming new explicit memories.

Lobes (Occipital, temporal, parietal, frontal)

The four major geographic regions of the cerebral cortex, responsible for processing vision, hearing, sensory input, and executive decision-making, respectively.

Split brain research

Studies examining individuals who have undergone surgery to sever the corpus callosum, revealing how the two cerebral hemispheres function independently.

Split brain patient

An individual whose corpus callosum has been surgically severed to treat severe epilepsy, resulting in the functional isolation of the left and right hemispheres.

Brain scans

Neuroimaging techniques, such as MRI, CT, and PET scans, used to visualize the structure or functional activity of the living brain.

Medulla

The base of the brainstem that automatically controls vital, involuntary life-support functions like heartbeat and breathing.

Cerebellum

The "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem that coordinates voluntary muscle movements, balance, and posture.

Limbic system

A doughnut-shaped neural network located below the cerebral hemispheres associated with emotions, drives, and memory formation.

Hypothalamus (Alternative)

A critical structure regulating biological drives, homeostasis, and the endocrine system through the pituitary gland.

Amygdala

Two almond-shaped neural clusters in the limbic system that are deeply linked to emotional processing, particularly fear and aggression.

Somatosensory cortex

An area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch, movement, and temperature sensations.

Broca's area

An area in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere that controls the muscle movements required for speech production.

Aphasia

An impairment of language, usually caused by left-hemisphere brain damage, affecting either speech production or comprehension.

Lesioning (brain surgical procedure)

The intentional, surgical destruction or removal of specific brain tissue to treat medical conditions or study structural functions.

Reticular activating system

A network of nerve pathways in the brainstem that plays a crucial role in regulating sleep, wakefulness, and overall physiological arousal.

Cerebral cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres, serving as the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

Thalamus

The brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem, which directs incoming sensory messages to the cortex (except for smell).

Pituitary gland

The endocrine system's most influential gland, which regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands under the direction of the hypothalamus.

Corpus callosum

The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres, allowing them to communicate and share information with each other.

Motor cortex

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements by sending signals to the body's muscles.

Wernicke's area

A region in the left temporal lobe involved in the comprehension and understanding of written and spoken language.

Brain plasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life, especially following damage or new experiences.