AP Psych Notes

For Test Day

The Brain Stem

Responsible for automatic survival functions(breathing,heartbeat,eating and sleeping)

-Oldest Part and Central Core of the Brain

-Also refered to as the Reptilian Brain

-Beggining where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull

Brain stem Anatomy

Made up of 5 parts

-Thamalus

-Medulla

-Spinal Cord

-Pons

-Midbrain

Thamalus

The brain’s sensory switchboard located on top of the brainstem'

All sensory (except smell) is directed to the thalamus first

-it discerns what type of sensory input is present and then directs it to the appropiate destination to the brain

takes in stimuli from the OPPOSITE side of the body

Medulla

Breathing

-Think Of Olympic Medals because you need to lungs/breathing to win a medal

-Also other autonomic functions like swallowing,coughing,sneezing and vomiting

Cerebellum

The “little brain” attached to the rear of the brain-stem

-Processes sensory input coordinates movement output and balance

-An injured cerebellum would cause difficulty walking and keeping balance (jerky movements)

Reticular Formation

“Reticular” definition: characterized by a fine network or net-like structure

-It resides in the brainstem responsible for drowsiness and sleep

-Arousal consciousness circadian rhythms and heart rate breathing

The Limbic System

A group of brain structures responsible for EMOTIONS MEMORIES and SMELL

-Also Called the Mammalian Brain

Hippocampus,Amygdala and Hypothamalus

Hippocampus

Memory

Amnesia can result from injury to the hippocampus

Study Aid: You’d remember if you saw a hippo on campus

Amygdala

Two almond sized structures above the hippocampus that influence fear aggression pleasure sadness among others

-size is positively correlated with aggression across species

-proportionally larger in human males-more agression

-emotional problems result from which part of the Amygdala is stimulated/damaged

Hypothalamus

Below the thalamus directs maintenance (homeostasis) activities: eating/drinking,body temperature and the four F’s fight/flight/feed/mate

Controls the pituitary gland Interprets emotions and tells the pituitary gland which glands need to secrete hormones

Reward/pleasure center many dopamine producing neurons

The Cerebral Cortex

outermost layer of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities

Fissures represent complexity -8o% of the brain is Cortex had to develop confined inside skull

Like a bark on a tree a thin surface that covers the brain hemispheres