HSP 3UI Unit 1 Brain Structure and Function Review

Cerebral cortex

Responsible for complex thinking.

Corpus callosum

Section holding the two parts of the brain together, responsible for allowing communication throughout the brain.

Thalamus

Responsible for sending signals throughout the brain and controlling where the signals go.

Hypothalamus

Controls the temperature and drives of the body.

Hippocampus

Used in memory.

Cerebellum

Maintains control of balance and motor skills in the body.

Amygdala

Responsible for the fear response.

Reticular formation

Responsible for alertness and arousal.

Pons

Responsible for relaxation and the sleep wake cycle.

Medulla

Responsible for the heart and breathing.

Frontal Lobe

Located in the front, responsible for reasoning, planning, some parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem-solving.

Parietal Lobe

Receives all sensory input from the skin, located on the top of the head.

Temporal lobe

Found on the sides of the head above the ears, responsible for reading, speech perception, language, hearing, and some memory.

Occipital Lobe

Receives input from the eyes and processes that, located at the back of the head.

Cerebellum location

Located at the back of the brain, it looks like a structure on itself.

Cerebrum

The largest and most prominent part of the brain, enveloping the rest.

Neurons at birth

85 billion neurons at birth; Hippocampus has evidence of new neuronal growth.

Brain formation by age 6

90% of the brain is formed by age 6.

Neuron

An electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information.

Dendrites

Receive information from other neurons.

Cell body

Main body of the cell, split into the soma and the nucleus.

Axon

Passes on information to other cells.

Axon Terminal

End of the axons that have finger-like projections.

Synapse

A connection between cells that neurons use to communicate.

Neuron communication

One neuron can communicate with 10,000 other neurons.

Dopamine

Reward chemical in the brain

Endorphins

Relieve pain and improve mood

Serotonin

Body temperature and drives

GABA

Motor control and vision

Norepinephrine

Attentiveness, emotions, and learning

Acetylcholine

Wakefulness, attentiveness, anger, aggression, sexuality, and thirst

Glutamate

Learning and memory

Excitatory neurotransmitter

When a neurotransmitter kicks your brain up a notch

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

Slows everything down to a more manageable level

Continuum

A span where two adjacent things are not very different but the extremes are

Brain health requirements

Water, glucose, oxygen, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and lipids (fats)

Best source of glucose

Complex carbohydrates break down slower and give a steady stream of glucose rather than a spike

Bones in the skull

8

Blood Brain Barrier

Tightly packed blood vessels form a semi permeable barrier to protect our brain

Neurotoxins

Substances that are toxic to our brain

Examples of neurotoxins

Exposed in lead paint, and some fish that have consumed mercury

Impact of Marijuana (THC)

Binds to receptors in the neurons; impacts perception of space and time, memory, and coordination

Anandamide

Neurotransmitter in the brain that binds to cannabinoid receptors

Uses of Anandamide

Used to make the body feel excellent

Increase in Anandamide

Increased by chocolate, truffle, and runner's high (flow)

Positive effects of exercise

Increase in cerebral blood flow and cognitive abilities

Impact of cocaine on the brain

Flood the brain with dopamine

Impact of ecstasy on the brain

Floods the brain with serotonin and lowers the resting level of serotonin

Impact of alcohol on the brain

Impacts glutamate, GABA, dopamine, and serotonin

Limbic system functions

Used for generally impulsive behaviour and decisions

Parts of the limbic system

Hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to adapt based on experience

Nucleus Accumbens

A central part in the reward systems in our brain; aids with addiction because it becomes accustomed to raised levels of reward chemicals

Teen brain changes

Brain axon transmission speed increases 100x, dendrites grow twiggier, synaptic pruning, corpus callosum becomes more connected for the brain, stronger link between the hippocampus and frontal lobe, frontal lobe develops increased speed

Concussion

Impact on the brain caused by a sudden stop from high speed, often jarring the brain

CTE

A degenerative disease in the brain that is caused by multiple concussions

Boston University's Brain Bank goals

To study CTE and understand how to diagnose and treat it while the patient is alive