Brain Structure and Function - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key brain structures, functions, and related concepts from the lecture notes.

Central nervous system

The brain and spinal cord; it makes all the big decisions for the body.

Brain localization

The idea that different areas of the brain control different parts of behavior.

Hindbrain

The oldest part of the brain; evolved first and governs basic biological functions.

Brain stem

The central connection between the spinal cord and the skull within the hindbrain.

Medulla

Part of the hindbrain that controls involuntary actions such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate.

Pons

Hindbrain structure that passes neural information between brain regions and helps coordinate movements such as facial expressions.

Reticular activating system (RAS)

Part of the hindbrain that controls arousal or alertness.

Thalamus

Receives and relays sensory information in the brain.

Cerebellum

Little brain; coordinates muscle movement, balance, and emotions; attached beneath the hindbrain.

Midbrain

Located above the spinal cord and below the forebrain; coordinates simple movements using sensory information; contains tectum and tegmentum.

Tectum

The brain's roof; a major part of the midbrain.

Tegmentum

The brain's floor; a major part of the midbrain.

Forebrain

Contains the limbic system and cerebral cortex; responsible for higher functions and emotion.

Limbic system

Emotional center of the brain within the forebrain.

Hippocampus

Involved in processing new learning and new memories.

Amygdala

Involved in the expression of emotions such as anger and frustration.

Hypothalamus

Regulates body temperature, water balance, hunger; controls the sympathetic nervous system, endocrine system, sex drive, and sleeping patterns.

Cerebral cortex

Gray matter covering the brain; densely packed neurons responsible for higher-order processing.

Hemispheres

Left and right halves of the cerebral cortex, each with specialized functions and connected by the corpus callosum.

Corpus callosum

Band of nerve fibers between the hemispheres that allows them to work together (can be cut in split-brain surgery).

Split-brain

A condition in which the corpus callosum is severed to treat seizures, causing the two hemispheres to operate independently.

Frontal lobe

Higher-level thinking region; includes the prefrontal cortex and language center in the left hemisphere (Broca’s area).

Prefrontal cortex

Front part of the frontal lobe; involved in executive thought processing, planning, and emotional control.

Broca's area

Language production center; damage causes expressive aphasia (difficulty speaking).

Parietal lobe

Contains the somatosensory cortex; processes touch, temperature, and body position.

Somatosensory cortex

Receives touch sensations and information about body temperature and position.

Occipital lobe

Contains the visual cortex; processes visual information.

Visual cortex

Part of the occipital lobe that interprets visual input; info from the right eye is processed by the right occipital lobe and from the left eye by the left occipital lobe.

Temporal lobe

Processes sound; contains language areas like Wernicke's area.

Wernicke's area

Language comprehension center; damage can cause receptive aphasia (inability to understand speech).

Association areas

Regions of the cerebral cortex involved in higher-order thinking such as learning, memory, and creativity.

Brain plasticity

Brain’s ability to adapt, grow, and heal itself.

EEG

Electroencephalography; measures electrical activity of the brain.

PET scan

Positron emission tomography; shows brain function by measuring metabolic activity.

fMRI

Functional MRI; shows brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Phineas Gage

1848 case where a frontal lobe injury altered personality, supporting brain localization of function.