Brain Structures -Functions & Mnemonic Devices

Hippocampus

If you saw a hippo on campus, you would remember it.

F: Processes explicit memories (such as personal experiences,helps restore memories

Pituitary Gland

"Arm Pit"-Master Gland

Controls growth rate & activates other endocrine glands

What are the four lobes?

1-Parietal

2-Frontal

3-Occipital

4-Temporal

Freud Took his Pants Off

Occipital Lobe

The occipital lobe processes visual

information

Occ- think octopus; Picture

eyeballs instead of

suckers on the

tentacles.

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory

information

Use a

"piranha" fish as your

mnemonic. The

piranha bites you on

the top of the head

(where the parietal

lobe is located)That's a sensation the

parietal lobe would

process.

Frontal Lobe

The

frontal lobe is where

complex thinking

occurs. Use "front

door" as your

mnemonic. Put the

front door on your

forehead and put

Einstein (complex

thinker) behind the

door.

Temporal Lobe

is

where auditory

processing occurs.

Use "tempo" as your

mnemonic and picture

a metronome above

your ear (where the

temporal lobe is

located)

Hypocampus

involved in

memory. Use

"compass":

picture someone

(perhaps

yourself) who is

lost and can't

remember how to

get home, so you

need a compass.

Amygdala

involved in your

fear responses.

Picture a scary

wig (rhymes with

"myg") with

dollars in the hair

(similar to

"dala").

Thalmus

the

thalamus relays

information from

the body to

different areas of

the brain for

processing.

The Secretary

Cerebellum

involved in

helping you maintain

balance. Picture a tight walker using bells for

balance. Or picture your

favorite athlete trying to

balance a bell on his/her

head.

Hypothalamus

the

hypothalamus regulates

many of the body's

metabolic processes,

thirst, hunger and body

temperature. Use "hypo

-

the

-llamas" as your

mnemonic. Picture a

hypo spraying two thirsty

llamas with water to

quench their thirst and

cool them down.

What are the parts of the brain stem?

Pons,Reticular Formation and Medulla

Pavlov's Really Frikin' Mad!

Pons

the pons is the part of the

brain that regulates waking and

relaxing. Put a "d" in pons and

you have "ponds". Ponds are

relaxing to look. Your pons is

activated when you look at a

calm, relaxing pond.

Reticular Formation

is involved

in motivation and alertness.

Use "tickle" as your mnemonic.

If you (or your roommate) were

asleep and someone tickled

you, your reticular formation

would wake you up.

Medulla

regulates

the autonomic activity of the

heart and lungs. Use medals as

your mnemonic and stick the

medals in a bloody heart and

lungs. Or picture an Olympic

athlete wearing gold medals

around her neck and covering

her heart and lungs.

The parts of neurons

Dendrites,Soma,Axon,Myelin Sheath,Nodes of Ranvier, Synaptic Vescles,Synapse

Dang! Skinner Ate Mice? Not Very Smart.

Dendrites

Signals from muscles and other neurons enter the neuron through branches

"Rites" rhymes w. kites. Kites

often fly into tree branches, and

lightening can strike kites, so

picture lightening striking kites

which are attached to the branches

of the soma.

Soma

is the cell body of the neuron

Use "ma" or "someone's ma"

Axon

Extends out from the soma; use "ax" & picture an ax that has been stuck into "someone's ma".

Myelin Sheath

Protects the axon & speeds the signal down the axon. (Picture sheep sitting on the axon, keeping it warm and also yelling at the signal to move it along the axon; "my yelling sheep"

Nodes of Ranvier

Are the spaces between the myelin sheath. As the signal travels down the axon it actually jumps from one node to another. Go with "noses' and picture noses between the "sheep" the signal jumps from one nostril to another.

Synapse

found at the end of the

axon. It is the space

between one neuron and

another or between one

neuron and a muscle.

Use the "naps" part of

synapse and picture

someone taking a nap

between two neurons.

What are the types of neurotransmitters?

Dopamine, Acetylcholine ,Serotonin,and Endorphins - also there's GABA,Substance P & Acetylcholine(ACh)

THINK; DASE

Serotonin

"Sir Rotten" - always in a rotten mood; affects mood,sleep,appetite,impulsivity, aggression

GABA

Facilitates neural inhibition in the CNS - assoc. w. anxiety & seizure disorders

Substance P

Sends pain messages, it's after the endorphinsend

Dopamine

Associated with Parkinson's disease,Schizophrenia & ADHD

Glutamate-amino acid

Active in areas of the brain involved in learning,thought and emotion; associated w. BIPOLAR DISORDER & MIGRAINES