Biopsychology

cerebral cortex

outer layer with 4 lobes that handle thinking and voluntary actions. Contains 2 hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum.

Subcortical Structure

areas of the brain located beneath the cerebral cortex that are involved in various functions such as emotion, memory, and regulation of automatic behaviors. (limbic system)

Pruning

reorganizing the brain to be more efficient by removing some synaptic connections

Hindbrain

the lower part of the brain, consisting of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum, responsible for vital bodily functions like sleeping, eating, breathing and coordination.

Medulla

Regulates heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure.

Pons

Regulates sleep, and dreams.

Cerebellum

Regulates motor coordination

Reticular Activating System

Key in arousal and directing attention. It is dysregulated in brains with ADHD

Midbrain

Responsible for processing visual and auditory information.

Forebrain

Manages complex cognitive activities, voluntary movement and sensory associative functions. It contains the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes.

Frontal Lobe 

higher order functions like planning and processing. Contains Brocas area (language production).

Parietal Lobe

integrates sensory information like touch, temp., pain and pressure and understanding the body’s position in space.

somatosensory cortex

processes information in the parietal lobe

Temporal Lobe

process auditory information and language comprehension (Wernickes area)

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for visual information and interpretation.

Limbic System

regulates emotion and behaviour

Amygdala

processing emotions especially fear, anxiety and anger.

hippocampus

stores memories and can convert short term memory into long term ones.

hypothalamus

maintains homeostasis by regulating body temperature, endocrine system and autonomic nervous system.

thalamus

relay station for motor signals