Psych 001 - Chapter 3 Pt II: The Brain and Endocrine System

Flashcards covering key neuroanatomical structures, brain research methods, the nervous system divisions, and the endocrine system based on Psych 001 Chapter 3 Part II notes.

Franz Gall

Developer of Phrenology, which is the analysis of personality based on the location and size of skull bumps.

Paul Broca

Identified Broca’s area, a small portion of the left frontal region of the brain crucial for producing speech.

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A measurement tool useful because different behavioral states produce different and predictable EEG patterns.

Computerized axial tomography (CT or CAT scanning)

A process that passes x-ray through the head while dye is present in the bloodstream to view anatomical structures; it does not allow the viewing of brain activity.

Positron emission tomography (PET)

Provides a high-resolution picture of brain activity using radioactivity from chemicals injected into the bloodstream, where the color indicates activity level.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Uses magnetic detectors outside the head to measure the amounts of hemoglobin and oxygen, showing highly active areas.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

A technique using a very fast and powerful magnetic field to momentarily disrupt activity in a specific brain region.

Neural tube

A simple tube with three lumps from which the vertebrate nervous system forms during the embryonic stage.

Forebrain

An embryological lump that becomes the cerebral cortex and other higher structures; it is especially dominant in human beings.

Midbrain and hindbrain

Embryological lumps that eventually become the brainstem.

Spinal cord

Responsible for communication between the brain and the rest of the body and for generating reflexes.

Brainstem

Composed of the hindbrain and midbrain; houses basic survival programs like breathing and heart rate.

Medulla Oblongata

A hindbrain structure that controls autonomic functions and relays nerve signals between the brain and spinal cord.

Pons

A hindbrain structure involved in arousal, sleep, controlling autonomic functions, and relaying sensory information between the cerebrum and cerebellum.

Cerebellum

A structure at the back of the brainstem essential for coordinated movement, balance, shifting of attention, and discrimination between stimuli.

Reticular activating system (reticular formation)

A structure within the medulla, pons, and midbrain that regulates levels of arousal in the brain.

Substantia nigra

A midbrain structure involved in the initiation of voluntary motor activity.

Hippocampus

A limbic system structure responsible for the consolidation of new memories, emotions, navigation, and spatial orientation.

Hypothalamus

An area that drives the endocrine system, regulates hunger, thirst, and sexual desire, and controls autonomic functions.

Amygdala

A structure important for generating emotional and motivated behaviors.

Thalamus

A structure that receives auditory, somatosensory, and visual sensory signals and directs them to the appropriate part of the brain.

Basal ganglia

Structures involved in motor planning, movement, and reward.

Corpus callosum

A thick bundle of axons crossing between the left and right hemispheres that allows them to communicate.

Cerebral cortex

The outer covering of the forebrain made up of gray matter (cell bodies of cortical neurons).

White matter

The interior of the forebrain made up of axons of cortical neurons; its color comes from the myelin that coats the axons.

Occipital lobe

Located at the rear of the head; contains many specialized areas for interpreting visual sensory information including shape, color, and motion.

Parietal lobe

Located in front of the occipital lobe; contains the primary somatosensory cortex.

Primary somatosensory cortex

The area of the brain specialized for body senses and awareness of the location of body parts.

Temporal lobes

Located on the sides of the head; main processing areas for hearing, complex aspects of vision, and language processing in the left lobe.

Frontal lobes

Located at the front of the brain; contains the primary motor cortex for fine movements.

Prefrontal cortex

The foremost part of the frontal lobes responsible for organization, planning of action, and aspects of memory.

Split-brain patients

Individuals whose hemispheres are specialized and require the corpus callosum for tasks like naming objects in the right hemisphere's visual field or synthesizing details into a whole picture.

Somatic nervous system

A component of the peripheral nervous system made up of nerves that communicate with the skin and muscles.

Autonomic nervous system

A component of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary actions of the heart, stomach, and other organs.

Sympathetic nervous system

The crisis management center of the autonomic nervous system; increases heart and respiration rate for fight or flight.

Parasympathetic nervous system

The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system in charge of long-term survival functions, nutrition, energy conservation, and rest.

Hormones

Chemical substances released from endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream to targeted tissues.

Epinephrine

A neurotransmitter that is called adrenaline when it acts as a hormone in the bloodstream.

Gonads

The testes in males and ovaries in females; they produce androgens and estrogens and influence sexual behaviors.

Pancreas

An endocrine gland that produces insulin to lower blood sugar and glucagon to release sugar into the bloodstream.

Adrenals

Glands that produce adrenaline and influence metabolism, salt retention, and the immune system.

Thyroid

A gland that produces thyroxin to regulate metabolic rate.

Pineal gland

Gland responsible for the onset of puberty and the production of melatonin.

Pituitary gland

Contains an anterior 'master gland' that produces growth hormone (GH) and a posterior section that produces Oxytocin and Vasopressin.