AP Psych Brain Structures and Functions

Brocas Area

An ares in the left frontal lobe that is associated with the ability to speak

Brocas Aphasia

the inability to speak after damage to the Brocas area

Wernickes Area

An area in the left temporal lobe that is associated with interpreting and creating language

Wernickes Aphasia

the inability to understand sounds or create meaningful speech after damage to the Wernickes Area

Medulla

Controls autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure

Pons

consists of bundles and nerves that help with voluntary movements and sleep/ dreams

Cerebellum

Manages coordination and balance

Brainstem

includes medulla, pons and midbrain

Spinal Cord

A tubular structure of nerves that goes from the base of the brain to the lumbar section of the vertebral column

Reticular Formation

involved in arousal, alertness and sleep-wake cycles

Reticular Activating System

the reticular formation and the function of nerves that extend to the thalamus

Cerebrum

85% off the brain, including all four lobes, the two hemispheres and the cerebral cortex

Corpus Callosum

made up of nerve fibers that connect the two cerebral hemispheres

Frontal Lobe

located behind the forehead, higher level thinking

Prefrontal Cortex

the anterior portion of the frontal lobe, which specializes in foresight, judgment and memory

Motor Cortex

voluntary movement, runs from ear to ear, back part of the frontal lobe

Parietal Lobe

behind the frontal lobe, receives sensory information and processes all the senses

Somatosensory Cortex

parallel to the motor cortex, registers touch and movement sensations

Occipital Lobe

makes it possible for you to see, (theyve got eyes in the back of their head= in the back)

Visual cortex

part of the occipital lobe, receives visual input and sends it to other visual areas in the cortex

Temporal Lobe

right above your ears

Angular Gyrus

Allows you to read words on paper and transfer that information as an auditory form

Auditory Cortex

This is in the temporal lobe and processes what you hear

Association Areas

allows the cerebral cortex top communicator with multiple parts

Thalamus

egg shapes masses of grey matter that serve as a relay station for nerve impulses traveling between the body and the brain

Limbic System

emotions, learning and memories

Hippocampus

allows you to create memories, CREATED BUT NOT STORED

Nucleus Accumbens

area in the forebrain that functions in the pleasure and reward circuit and motivation

Basal Ganglia

involved in intentional bodily movement