Brain Structures- AP Psych Diagram | Quizlet

Medulla Oblongata

Medulla Oblongata

control vital functions; breathing, heart beating, ect

Pons

Involved in sleeping and wakefulness. Controls arousal and respiration. REM regulation

Cerebellum

Coordinates fine muscle movements (above medulla). Symmetrical movements

Reticular Formation

Controls attention and alertness- literal center of the brain

Thalamus

Central Switchboard of the brain. Most senses goes through this structure before sent off to rest of brain.

Limbic System

Basic primal emotions: fear, anger, hunger, sex drive

Hypothalamus

(limbic system) regulates body temperature, sexual arousal, hunger, thirst, endocrine system 4 F's

Hippocampus

Storage of new memories beginning in Senory Memory to STM to LTM. Often emotionally activated.

Amygdala

Fight or Flight response.- volatile emotions with attached memories.

Cerebral Cortex

Outside neutral cells = grey matter.
Analyze data, form memories, make decisions, and thoughts.
Glial cells- nourishes brain cells and makes up 50% mass

Corpus Callosum

Connector between the right and left hemispheres of the cerebral cortex. Evidence of inhibiting synapse as well as facilitiating.

Contralaterated Control

Left = language, logic, sequencial tasks; right body
Right = social and creative; left body

Frontal Lobes

Abstract thought and emotional control. Judgement part of brain not developed until adulthood.

Motor cortex

Sends signals to help with voluntary movement

Broca's area

Control of muscles for speech production.

Parietal Lobes

Sensory Association areas.

Sensory Cortex

Receives touch, pain, temp. sensations from the rest of the body

Occipital Lobes

Processes beginning of vision signals, visual cortex interprets messages from eyes detecting lines, shapes, and colors.

Temporal Lobes

Processes auditory signals; timber, pitch, intonationi

Wernicke's Area

Interprets written and spoken language; language comprehension

Aphasia

Inability to express or recieve language

Frontal Association areas

Executive Functions; personality; higher order mental functions- learning, remembering, thinking, speaking, connecting, evaluating, prioritizing, valueing.

Brain Plasticity

neural pathways are rerouted when one neighboring area of the brain is damaged

fMRI

technology to measure the oxygen within the brain in order to measure the functioning with magnetic energy.

CAT Scan

Technology that uses X-Rays to create in depth measurements of brain structures.

EBS

Technology that generates electrical impulses to stimulate underactive brain areas that could cause dysfunctional behavior.

Dopamine

a neurotransmitter that regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal

Acytelcholine

activates and inhibits skeletal muscles; regulates the parasympathetic nervous system, increases memory

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Reduces excitatory response.
Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger, sleep, arousal, and mood. Contributes the "happy" to emotional well being and satisfaction.

Cortisol

stress hormone released by the adrenal cortex; elevated levels shown to increase depression & anxiety, and shown to decrease resilience.