AP Psychology: Modules 11-14

MEG

Brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's electrical activity.

CT scan

Series of X-ray photographs combined by computer to create a composite representation of a brain slice's structure.

PET scan

Visual display of brain activity using a radioactive form of glucose.

MRI

Technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create computer-generated images of soft tissue.

fMRI

Technique for revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

Brainstem

the central core of the brain responsible for autonomic functions.

Medulla

Base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing.

Thalamus

Brain's sensory control center located at the top of the brainstem.

Pons

Connects upper and lower parts of the brain, involved in facial expressions, sleeping, and dreaming.

Reticular formation

Nerve network that controls arousal and ability to focus attention.

Cerebellum

Processes sensory input, coordinates movement, and enables nonverbal learning and memory.

Limbic system

Located below the cerebral hemispheres, associated with emotions and drives.

Amygdala

Neural clusters linked to fear and emotions.

Hypothalamus

Pea-sized structure that directs maintenance activities, governs the endocrine system, and serves as the reward center.

Hippocampus

Neural center involved in memory processing.

Cerebral cortex

Divided into eight lobes, responsible for higher brain functions.

Frontal lobe

Involved in speaking, muscle movements, making plans and judgments, behavioral control, and personality.

Parietal lobe

Receives sensory input for touch and body position, involved in perception and arithmetic.

Occipital lobe

Receives visual information from the visual fields.

Temporal lobe

Includes auditory areas and is involved in memory, understanding, and language.

Association areas

Areas of the cerebral cortex involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, and thinking.

Motor cortex

Controls voluntary movements.

Sensory cortex

Registers and processes touch and movement sensations.

Neuroplasticity

Brain's ability to change and reorganize after damage or based on experience.

Neurogenesis

Brain's ability to generate new neurons.

Corpus callosum

Structure that attaches the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex.

Consciousness

Subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Dual processing

Information processing that occurs on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

Blindsight

Ability to respond to visual stimuli without conscious awareness.

Parallel processing

Simultaneous processing of multiple aspects of a problem or learned concepts.

Sequential processing

Processing one aspect of a problem at a time, best for solving new problems.

Multitasking

Serial tasking that involves jumping from one task to another, inefficient for focused attention.