Brain Structures

IB Psychology SL- Brain structures

Motor cortex

Area responsible for voluntary movement of muscles.

Somatosensory cortex

Processes sensory information such as touch and body position.

Prefrontal cortex

Involved in executive functions like decision-making and self-control.

Visual cortex

Processes visual information from the eyes.

Auditory cortex

Processes auditory information such as sound and speech.

Frontal lobe

Associated with reasoning, planning, movement, and problem-solving.

Parietal lobe

Integrates sensory information related to touch, temperature, and spatial awareness.

Occipital lobe

Main center for visual processing.

Temporal lobe

Involved in hearing, memory, and language comprehension.

Hypothalamus

Regulates body functions like hunger, thirst, and hormone release.

Hippocampus

Essential for memory formation and spatial navigation.

Nucleus accumbens

Involved in reward, motivation, and addiction.

Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

Produces dopamine and contributes to the brain’s reward system.

Sympathetic nervous system

Activates the body’s arousal response (“fight or flight”).

Parasympathetic nervous system

Restores the body to a calm state (“rest and digest”).

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and muscle movement.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter regulating mood, sleep, and emotion.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter linked to pleasure, motivation, and learning.

fMRI

Technique measuring brain activity through changes in blood flow.

MRI

Technique producing detailed images of brain structure using magnetic fields.

Right hemisphere

Specializes in spatial processing, creativity, and control of the left body.

Left hemisphere

Specializes in language, logic, and control of the right body.

Cerebellum

Coordinates movement, balance, and fine motor control.

Wernicke’s area

Area responsible for language comprehension.

Broca’s area

Area responsible for speech production.

Plasticity

The brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections after experience or injury.

Amygdala

Regulates emotions, especially fear and aggression.

Hormones

Chemical messengers secreted by glands that influence behavior and physiology.