Neuroscience Terms

Flashcards for Neuroscience Vocabulary

Basal Ganglia

A group of structures linked to the thalamus in the base of the brain and involved in coordination of movement.

Globus Pallidus

Part of the basal ganglia involved in motor control.

Caudate Nucleus

Part of the basal ganglia involved in motor control and procedural learning.

Parahippocampal Gyrus

A brain region that surrounds the hippocampus and is involved in memory encoding and retrieval.

Ventricles

Fluid-filled spaces in the brain.

Occipital Cortex

The visual processing center of the brain.

Optic Nerve

Transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

Vagus Nerve

A cranial nerve that regulates internal organ functions.

Dorsal Stream

Deals with 'where' and motion

Ventral Stream

Deals with 'what' and color/form

Putamen

Part of the basal ganglia; involved in motor control and learning

Hindbrain

The posterior part of the brain, including the cerebellum, pons, and medulla.

Medulla

The part of the hindbrain that controls vital functions like breathing and heart rate.

Cerebellum

A brain structure that coordinates movement and balance.

Pons

A part of the brainstem involved in motor control and sensory analysis.

Broca’s Area

Brain area associated with speech production.

Wernicke’s Area

Brain area associated with language comprehension.

Central Sulcus

A major groove in the cerebral cortex that separates the frontal and parietal lobes.

Olfactory Nerve

Transmits smell information to the brain.

Lateral Sulcus

A groove in the cerebral cortex that separates the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes.

Primary Motor Cortex

The area of the cerebral cortex responsible for voluntary movement.

Premotor Cortex

The area of the cerebral cortex involved in planning and sequencing movements.

Corpus Callosum

A large bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.

Insular Cortex

A region of the cerebral cortex located deep within the lateral sulcus, associated with emotion and self-awareness.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex

A region of the cerebral cortex involved in emotional processing, decision-making, and attention.

Hypofysen

The pituitary gland.

Hippocampus

A brain structure involved in the formation of new memories.

Somatosensory Cortex

The area of the cerebral cortex that processes sensory information from the body.

Auditory Cortex

The area of the cerebral cortex that processes auditory information.

Amygdala

A brain structure involved in emotional processing, especially fear and aggression.

Motor Cortex

Area of the brain responsible for motor function.

Fusiform Face & Body Area

Brain area specialized for the recognition of faces and bodies.

Hypothalamus

Brain region that regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and hormonal balance.

Thalamus

A brain structure that relays sensory and motor information to the cerebral cortex.