Brain structure & function

Myelencephalon

The medulla, comprising tracts between the brain and spinal cord.

Metencephalon

Includes the pons and cerebellum.

Mesencephalon

Comprises the tectum and tegmentum.

Diencephalon

Includes the thalamus and hypothalamus.

Telencephalon

Consists of the cerebral cortex, limbic system, and basal ganglia.

Cerebral Cortex

Made of grey matter and responsible for higher cognitive functions.

Gray Matter

Areas of the brain composed primarily of neuronal cell bodies.

White Matter

Areas of the brain composed mainly of myelinated axons.

Convolutions

Grooves in the cerebral cortex that increase surface area.

Fissures

Large convolutions in the cerebral cortex.

Sulci

Small convolutions in the cerebral cortex.

Gyri

Ridges located between fissures and sulci.

Longitudinal Fissure

Divides the brain into left and right hemispheres.

Neocortex

The newest part of the cerebral cortex with six layers.

Allocortex

Part of the cerebral cortex that includes the hippocampus.

Frontal Lobe

One of the four lobes of the cerebral cortex, involved in executive functions.

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory information including touch and spatial orientation.

Temporal Lobe

Involved in processing auditory information and memory.

Occipital Lobe

Home to the primary visual cortex.

Phrenology

A historical theory proposing that specific mental functions are localized in different brain areas based on skull shape.

Franz Joseph Gall

Proponent of phrenology and the localization of brain functions.

Broca's Area

Localized area in the left frontal lobe associated with speech production.

Broca's Aphasia

Deficit in speech production caused by damage to Broca's area.

Wernicke's Area

Area in the left temporal lobe associated with language comprehension.

Wernicke's Aphasia

A condition characterized by poor comprehension of language and nonsensical speech.

Brodmann Areas

Regions of the cerebral cortex defined by their cytoarchitectural organization.

Motor Homunculus

A representation of the body's sensory areas in the primary motor cortex.

Somatosensory Cortex

Part of the parietal lobe responsible for processing somatosensory information.

Auditory Cortex

Part of the temporal lobe responsible for processing auditory information.

Primary Visual Cortex

Located in the occipital lobe, it receives input from the thalamus for vision.

Scotoma

A localized area of blindness in the visual field due to damage in the visual cortex.

Dorsal Stream

Part of the visual system that processes spatial information and object movement.

Ventral Stream

Part of the visual system that processes object characteristics like color and shape.

Prosopagnosia

Inability to recognize faces, typically due to damage in the fusiform gyrus.

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

Part of the brain that processes tactile sensory information from the body.

Asomatognosia

Failure to recognize parts of one’s own body, typically resulting from brain damage.

Astereognosis

Inability to recognize objects by touch, typically in the absence of sensory deficits.

Functional Neuroanatomy

Study of the relationships between brain structures and their functions.

Prefrontal Cortex

Region responsible for complex cognitive behavior, planning, and decision making.

Lobotomy

A surgical procedure involving severing connections to the prefrontal cortex.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A non-invasive method of brain stimulation that uses magnetic fields.

Neuroimaging

Techniques used to visualize the structure and function of the brain.

BOLD Signal

Blood Oxygen Level Dependent signal used in fMRI to measure brain activity.

Cerebral Lateralization

The division of labor between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Functional Connectivity

Analysis of how different areas of the brain interact during specific tasks.

Monoamine Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine that affect mood.

Neuroplasticity

The capacity of the brain to adapt and reorganize in response to learning or injury.

Cognitive Function

Higher-level mental processes including attention, memory, and perception.

Executive Functions

Cognitive functions involved in reasoning, problem-solving, and planning.

Hemispheric Dominance

The tendency for one hemisphere of the brain to be more involved in particular functions.

Surface Electromyography (sEMG)

A technique for measuring the electrical activity of muscles.

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)

A technology that enables direct communication between the brain and external devices.

Lesion Studies

Research involving the study of brains with damaged areas to understand brain functions.

Cerebral Commissures

Bundles of nerve fibers that connect the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

Secondary Sensory Cortex

Region that processes input from primary sensory cortical areas and higher association areas.

Association Cortex

Part of the brain that integrates information from different sensory modalities.

Emotional Processing

Brain functions that govern how emotions are experienced and expressed.

Neuroscience

The scientific study of the nervous system, including the brain and its functions.

Brodmann’s Areas

Cytoarchitecturally defined areas of the cerebral cortex identified by Korbinian Brodmann.

Functional MRI

An imaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Philosophy of Mind

Study of the nature of the mind, mental events, and consciousness.

Brain Plasticity

The ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization.

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A method of recording electrical activity of the brain via electrodes placed on the scalp.

Subcortical Structures

Areas of the brain that lie beneath the cerebral cortex, such as the thalamus and amygdala.

Neuronal Communication

The process through which neurons transmit signals to one another through synapses.

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.