4.1b THe Brain: brain regions and structures + 4.1c The Brain: Damage Response and Brain Hemispheres

hindbrain

consists of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum; directs essential survival functions, such as breathing, sleeping, and wakefulness, as well as coordination and balance

midbrain

found atop of the brainstem; connects the hindbrain with the forebrain, controls some motor movement, and transmits auditory and visual information

forebrain

consists of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hyopthalamus, manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions and voluntary motor activities

brainstem

the central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival function

medulla

the hindbrain structure that is the brainstem’s base; controls heartbeat and breathing

thalamus

the forebrain’s sensoruy countrol center, located on top of the brainstem, it deirects messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

reticular formaiton

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus; it filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal

cerebellum

the hindbrain’s little brain as the rear of the brainstem; it functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, adn enabling nonverbal learning and memory

limbic system

neural system located mostly in the forebrain-below the cerebral hemispheres-that includes teh anagdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus and pituitary gland, associated with emotions and drives

amygdala

two lima-bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

hypothalamus

a limbic system neural structure below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp), helps govern the endocrine system, and is linked to emotion and reward

hippocampus

a neural center in the limbic system that helps process explicity (conscious) memories— of facts and events— for storage

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain’s cerebral hemisphere; the body’s ultimate contorl and information processisng center

frontal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead. They enable linguistic processing muscle movements, higher-order thinking, and executive functioning (such as making plans and jugements)

parietal lobes

the portion of cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head antoward the rear0 it receives sensory input for touch and body position

occipital lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; it includes areas that receiving information from the visual fields

temporal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; it includes the auditory areas, each of which receivs information primarily from the opposite ear. They also enable language processing

motor cortex

a cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lboes and controls voluntary movements

somatosensory cortex

a cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions, but rather are involved in higher metal functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

split brain

a condition reuslting from surgery that separates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them