MCAT Soc/Psych: Brain organization/Forebrain/Development

Hindbrain

Cerebellum, medulla oblongata, reticular formation.

Midbrain

Inferior and superior colliculi

Forebrain

Thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, limbic system, cerebral cortex.

Methods of study

Electroencephalography (EEG). Regional cerebral blood flow.

Thalamus

Relay station for sensory information.

Hypothalamus

Homeostasis & the 4 F’s. Integrates with endocrine system.

Hypothalamus ® hypophyseal portal ® anterior pituitary

Basal Ganglia

Smooths movements and helps postural stability.

septal nuclei, amygdala, hipocampus

parts of limbic system

septal nuclei

pleasure and addiction

amygdala

fear and aggression

hippocampus

emotion and memory

cerebral cortex

four lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal

frontal lobe

Executive function, impulse control, speech, motor.

parietal lobe

touch, pressure, temp, pain, spatial processing

occipital lobe

visual

temporal lobe

Sound, speech perception, memory, emotion.

Cerebral hemispeheres

left and right hemispheres

left hemisphere

analytic, language, logic, math. Usually dominant hemisphere

right hemisphere

intuition, creativity, spatial processing hemisphere

neurulation

how does the nervous system develop?

notochord

what stimulates ectoderm to fold over?

neural tube

what is created when the ectoderm folds over?

neural tube

Becomes the CNS

Neural crest cells

Spread out throughout the body, differentiating into many different tissues.

primitive reflexes

Exist in infants and should disappear with age.

rooting reflex (primitive)

turns head toward stimulus

moro reflex

Extends arms, response to falling sensation.

Babinski reflex

Big toe is extended and other toes fan out in response to brushing on sole of foot.

grasping reflex

grabs anything put into hands

Developmental milestones

Gross and fine motor abilities progress head to toe and core to periphery

• Social skills shift from parent-oriented to other-oriented

• Language skills become increasingly complex