Psych: brain structures and functions

cerebal cortex

region of the brain located in the frontal lobe, responsible for higher level cognitive functions and executive functioning

motor cortex

region of brain located in the frontal lobe, responsible for planning, executing, and controlling voluntary movements

parietal lobes

located at the top of the brain and are primarily responsible for processing sensory information from the body, such as touch, temperature, and spacial awareness

somatosensory

region of the brain located in the parietal lobe, responsible for processing sensations from the skin, muscles, and joints

cerebral cortex

outer layer of the brain, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions, including thinking, perceiving, and decision-making

lobes of the brain

lobes of the brain refer to the four main regions or sections into which the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain, is divided

association areas

parts of the brain that take information from all over the place- what you see, hear, smell, and touch- and put it all together to help us understand the world around us

frontal lobes

located at the front of the brain and are involved in higher-level cognitive functions, decision-making, problem solving, planning, and personal expression

occipitial lobes

located at the back of the brain and is primarily responsible for processing visual information received from the eyes

temporal lobes

located at the sides of the brain and are involved in processing auditory information, language comprehension, and memory formation

corpus callosum

think band of nerve fibers that connects the left and the right hemispheres of the brain

brainstem

oldest and most primitive part of the brain, responsible for basic life-sustaining functions such as breathing heart rate, and sleep-wake cycle

medulla

vital structure located at the basic of the brainstem, regulating essential autonomic functions such as heart beats, breathing, and blood-pressure

reticular activating system

network of neurons located in the brainstem that plays a critical role in regulating arousal, attention, and consciousness

cerebellum

located at the back of the brain, below the cerebral hemispheres responsible for coordinating movement, balance, and posture

limbic system

located beneath the cerebral cortex, is a set of brain structures involved in emotions, memory, and motivation

reward center

network of brain structures, primarily located in the limbic system, that processes pleasurable experiences and reinforces behavior associated with them

thalamus

relay station in the brain that processes and relays sensory information, such as sight, sound, touch, taste, to the cerebral cortex

hypothalamus

small but powerful structures located below the thalamus, responsible for regulating various essential bodily functions, including hunger, thirst, body temperature, and the sleep-wake cycle

pituitary gland

small, pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain, often referred to as the “master gland” due to its central role in regulating hormone production and secretion throughout the body

hippocampus

curved structure located within the brain’s temporal lobes, primarily responsible for forming and consolidating new memories

amygdala

small, almond-shaped structure located deep within the brain’s temporal lobes, involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression