AP Psych Brain Functions

Temporal Lobe

Auditory cortex receptive language, understanding language, and has to do with hearing

Frontal Lobe

Has to do with controlling motor, behavior, expressive language, judgment, decision making.

Parietal Lobe

Involved in the processing of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain

Occipital Lobe

, interception of visual information

Thalamus

The brain's central "relay station" situated just a top the brainstem. Nearly all the messages going into or out of the brain go through the thalamus.

Cerebral Cortex

The thin gray-matter covering of the cerebral hemispheres. The cerebral cortex covers major portion of mental processing and thinking.

Broca's Area

One of the main areas of the cerebral cortex responsible for producing language.

Medulla Oblongata

A brain-stem structure that controls breathing and heart rate.

Amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression

Midbrain

A portion of the brain located just above the medulla. Controls pons and contains basic vision and hearing functions.

Motor Cortex

A narrow vertical strip of cortex in the frontal lobes, lying just in front of the central fissure; controls movement

Reticular Formation

A pencil-shaped structure forming the core of the brainstem and it arouses the cortex to keep the brain alert.

Angular Gyrus

• A region of the inferior parietal lobe of the brain that is involved in the processing of auditory and visual input and in the comprehension of language.

Corpus Callosum

The band of nerve cells that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.

Brainstem

Sits beneath cerebrum and in front of cerebellum. It connects the rest of the brain to spinal cord and in charge of all functions that you need to stay alive.

Hippocampus

A component of the limbic system, involved in establishing long-term memories

Forebrain

The forebrain has to do with learning and memory, language and speaking, emotional responses, planning, and decision making.

Spinal Cord

The body's central nervous system. The Spinal cord is the pathway for messages sent by brain to body and from body to brain

Hypothalamus

A limbic structure that serves as the brain's blood testing laboratory, constantly monitoring the blood to determine the condition of the body. Also controls body temperature, appetite and metabolism.

Limbic System

The middle layer of the brain, involved in emotion and memory. The limbic system includes the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and other structures

Wernicke's Area

Located in the left temporal lobe. Processing of words that we hear being spoken.

Pons

Regulates states of arousal, including sleep and dreaming

Cerebellum

The "little brain" attached to the brain stem. The cerebellum is responsible for coordinated movements.

Hindbrain

Includes cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata, medulla joined to spinal cord and controls unconscious body functions.

Somatosensory Cortex

A strip of the parietal lobe lying just behind the central fissure. The somatosensory cortex is involved with sensations of touch.