AP Psych parts of the brain

self explanatory

Brainstem

Oldest part of central core of brain, automatic survival functions

Pons

Sorts and relays messages between diff. sections of the brain

Medulla

Controls heartbeat/breathing, base of brainstem

Thalamus

Brain's sensory switchboards, located on top of brainstem

directs messages to sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to cerebellum/medulla --> all senses except smell

Reticular Formation

Nerve network that travels through brainstem and thalamus, plays important role in controlling arousal

Cerebellum

processing sensory input and coordinating movement / balance, enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

amygdala (limbic)

lima bean sized neural clusters in limbic system, FEAR

Hypothalamus

lies below thalamus, reward, governs endocrine system via pituitary gland

Hippocampus

formation of new norms, learning/emotions

Cerebral cortex

intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemisphere; body's ultimate control/information processing center

glial cells

billions of cells that protect nerve cells from deterioration

Frontal lobe

part of cerebral cortex lying just behind forehead - speaking, plans, judgements, muscle movements

Pre-frontal cortex

front part of frontal lobe - inhibitions, cognitive control functions

motor cortex

area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Broca's area

left frontal lobe, involved in strokes, damage to it causes inability to speak, hard to get words out

Parietal Lobe

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

somatosensory cortex

area at the front of parietal lobe, registers and processes body touch and movement

wernicke's area

damage to it disrupts understanding, jarbled mess of words, located in rear of left hemisphere

Occipital lobe

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head

visual cortex

includes areas that receive info from the visual fields

temporal lobe

portion of cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears - auditory information, receives info from opposite ear

Auditory cortex

auditory, speech/speech comprehension. each hemisphere receives info from the opposite ear

association areas

areas of cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions. Involved in higher mental functions like learning, speaking, thinking, cognition

brain plasticity

brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or building new pathways based on experience

neurogenesis

formation of new neurons