Brain Structure and Function Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing key vocabulary and concepts related to brain theories, structure, function, and neurological disorders.

Phrenology

Study of the shapes and size of the human skull to determine personality and mental functioning based on the concept of 'mind organs'.

Brain Ablation

Destruction and surgical removal of a region of brain tissue used to treat neurological and psychological disorders.

Brain Lesioning

Disruption or damage to normal brain structure or function, either surgically created or resulting from illness.

Split Brain Experiment

Experiment involving severing the corpus callosum to study the independent function of each hemisphere.

Hindbrain

Includes the cerebellum (balance, movement memories), medulla (automatic functions), and pons (sleep, arousal).

Forebrain

Includes the hypothalamus (regulates internal environment), thalamus (directs sensory and motor signals), and cerebrum (learning, memory, thinking).

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for reasoning, problem-solving, personality (prefrontal cortex), and motor movements (primary motor cortex).

Broca's Area

Located in the left hemisphere, it coordinates muscle movements required for fluent speech production.

Parietal Lobe

Involved in attention, spatial reasoning, and processing sensory information (primary somatosensory cortex).

Occipital Lobe

Devoted to the sense of vision;

damage can result in visual impairment. primary visual cortex.

Temporal Lobe

Involved in memory, emotional response to sensory information, facial recognition, and object identification. Contains the primary auditory cortex and Wernicke's area.

Wernicke's Area

Located in the left hemisphere, responsible for comprehension and interpreting sounds of human speech.

Hemispheric Specialization

The concept that the left hemisphere controls language and logical reasoning, while the right hemisphere handles non-verbal tasks, spatial thinking, and artistic abilities.

Computerised Tomography (CT)

A structural neuroimaging technique that takes 2D X-rays to show brain structure.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A structural neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic and radio fields to take detailed 2D & 3D images.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A functional neuroimaging technique that involves radioactive glucose injected into the body to indicates areas of brain activity.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A functional neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic and radio fields to track O₂ levels and record brain activity.

Dendrites

Detect and receive information from other neurons and transmit it into the soma.

Axon

Transmits neural information away from the soma to other neurons or cells.

Axon Terminals

Contain terminal buttons which store and secrete neurotransmitters.

Synapse

Point of communication between neurons, including the synaptic gap.

Neuroplasticity

Capacity of the brain to change in response to experience and environmental stimulation.

Synaptogenesis

Formation of synapses between neurons when new axon terminal grows.

Synaptic Pruning

Elimination of unused synapses in the brain.

Brain Trauma

Damage to the brain due to external force.

Aquired Brain Injury

Damage occuring after birth e.g Stroke, Impaction, accident.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Falls, Assault, Vechile accident.

Parkinson's Disease

symptoms: tremor, muscle rigidity, and loss of smell

treatments: levo dopa, dopamine agonist

Epilepsy

A neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures; treatments include medication, ablation, and vagus nerve stimulation.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

A progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by repetitive head injuries, leading to loss of neurons and accumulation of protein tau.

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• for parkinson’s

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Probiotic

• for parkinson’s

• food for good bacteria

what

what’s levo dopa

converts to dopamine

parkinsons treatment

whats dopamine agonist

mimics effect of dopamine

parkinsons treatment