The Brain

Notes from Chapter 2.4 of Pysch textbook

What does the brain need to function and how much?

20% of the oxygen and calories we consume goes towards our brain function

(T/F) Neurons can inhibit the action of other neurons

True, when one neuron fires it can suppress the firing of other nearby neurons

What structures are included when we refer to the ‘brain stem’?

the medulla, pons, midbrain, and diencephalon( thalamus and hypothalmus)

What is the brain stem responsible for?

Regulation of our respiration, heart rate, and digestion as well as sleep-wake cycle, growth, some sensory and motor functions, and other hormonal behaviors

What is the cerebellum important for?

Coordinated movement and posture, known as the “little brain” by Aristotle to distinguish it from the cerebral hemispheres

(T/F) the cerebral hemispheres are responsible for our cognitive abilities, higher level functions, and conscious experience

True

Cerebral cortex

The outermost gray matter of the cerebrum; the distinctive convoluti characteristic of the mammalian brain

Subcortical structures contained in the cerebral hemispheres

basal ganglia, amygdala, hippocampi

(T/F) The frontal lobe, in front of the central sulcus, houses the somatosensory cortex

False. The frontal lobe houses the motor cortex, while the somatosensory cortex is found in the parietal lobe directly behind the central sulcus

Lateralized

Specific functions may reside in only one hemisphere or the other (for the majority of individuals, the left hemisphere is most responsible for language)

Split-brain patient

A patient who has had most or all of his or her corpus callosum severed

Visual hemifield

The half of visual space (what we see) on one side of fixation. The left hemisphere of the brain (responsible for language) processes visual input from the right visual hemifield and vice-versa

Frontal lobe

The anterior part of the cerebrum responsible for motor output and planning, language, judgement, and decision-making

Myelin

fatty tissue produced by glial cells that insulates the axons of neurons. myelin is necessary for normal conduction of electrical impulses among neurons

Occipital lobe

the posterior portion of the cerebrum, involved in vision

Parietal lobe

the part of the cerebrum between frontal and occipital lobes; involved in bodily sensations, visual attention, and integrating senses. houses the somatosensory cortex

Temporal lobe

The part of the cerebrum anterior to the occipital lobe and below the lateral sulco. Involved in vision, auditory processing, memory and integration of vision and auditory