Anatomy of the Brain/Function

Forebrain

controls what we think of as thought and reason

Midbrain

located just above the spinal cord, coordinates simple movements with sensory information

Hindbrain

structures in the top part of the spinal cord; it controls the basic biological functions that keep us alive

Wernicke's Area

interprets both written and spoken speech; damage to this area would affect our ability to understand language

Broca's Area

located in the frontal lobe and responsible for controlling the muscles involved in speech; damage to this area might leave us unable to make muscle movements needed to speak

Frontal Lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

Brain Plasticity

the ability of other parts of the brain to take over functions of damaged regions. Declines as hemispheres of the cerebral cortex lateralize.

Temporal Lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information primarily from the opposite ear

Occipital Lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field

Parietal Lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

Lesions

removal or destruction of the brain

MRI Scan

uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue

CAT or CT Scan

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles of the the brain and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body

EEG

device that detects brain waves

PET Scan

measures how much of a certain chemical parts of the brain are using

fMRI

a form of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain that registers blood flow to functioning areas of the brain

Association Areas

any area of the cerebral cortex that is not associated with receiving sensory information or controlling muscle movements

Motor Complex

brain tissue in frontal lobe represents and controls different skin and body areas and muscle movements

Endocrine System

system of glands that secrete hormones, affects many different biological processes in our bodies

Sensory Cortex

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

Cerebral Cortex

outside covering out the brain; complex thinking

Corpus Callosum

connects the two halves of the brain (right and left hemispheres); fibers allow the two halves to communicate

Thalamus

controls the sensations where to go in the brain in order to be processed

Hippocampus

involved in memory

Hypothalamus

regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst and sexual arousal

Amygdala

regulates emotion/sense of fear

Pons

regulates relaxation

Cerebellum

involved with balance and motor control

Reticular Formation

located in the midbrain and controls the general body arousal and the ability to focus attention

Medulla

regulates heart and lungs