L.2.1 - The Brain

Frontal Lobe

Involved in thinking, speaking, memory, and movement.

Parietal Lobe

Associated in the notes with language, touch, and taste.

Occipital Lobe

Associated with vision, color, letters, and left/right processing.

Temporal Lobe

Associated with hearing, learning, feelings, and fear.

Cerebellum

Helps with balance and coordination.

Brain Stem

Associated with breathing, heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure.

Gyri / Gyrus

Raised, "macaroni-looking" parts of the brain.

Sulci / Sulcus

Lines and depressions in the brain.

Limbic System

Brain system associated in the notes with emotional and higher functions.

Amygdala

Involved in motivation, emotional control, fear response, and nonverbal emotional expression.

Hypothalamus

Regulates fear, thirst, sexual drive, and aggression.

Thalamus

Relays sensory information from sensory organs to the cerebral cortex.

Cingulate Cortex

Cortical component of the limbic system involved in emotional and cognitive processing.

Hippocampus

Involved in learning, memory, and comparing sensory information with expectations.

Basal Ganglia

Involved in motor control and movement.

Cerebral Cortex

Involved in complex thought processes.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the left and right brain hemispheres.

Cerebrum

Largest brain region; involved in higher functions such as learning, reasoning, speech, sight, and hearing.

Diencephalon

Brain region above the brainstem containing the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland.

Brainstem

Connects/anchors the brain to the spinal cord and controls important bodily functions.

Pons

Part of the hindbrain that relays messages between the cerebellum and cortex.

Midbrain

Contains structures involved in movement and auditory and visual processing.

Medulla Oblongata

Controls vital functions such as cardiac activity, respiration, digestion, and sleep.

Pituitary Gland

Regulates other endocrine glands.

Blood-Brain Barrier

Semipermeable barrier that allows only specific chemicals from the bloodstream to enter the brain.

Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movements.

Somatosensory Cortex

Processes incoming sensations.

Glial Cells

Non-neuron cells that surround, insulate, and nourish neurons.

Brain

The most complex organ in the human body and part of the nervous system.

Brain Weight

About 3 lbs. in adult humans, according to the notes.

Brain's Main Function

Coordinates all bodily functions.

Four Brain Regions

Cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, and diencephalon.

Cerebrum Size

About 3/4 of the brain's volume.

Cerebellum

Second-largest brain region; coordinates muscle movements, balance, and posture.

"10% of the Brain" Myth

False; nearly every brain region becomes active even during simple tasks.

Brain Energy Use

The notes state that the brain requires about 20% of the body's energy.

Russian Nesting Doll Analogy

New brain systems are built upon older brain systems.

Old Brain

Older brain systems anchored by the brainstem that keep basic bodily functions running.

Cerebral Hemispheres

Two halves of the cerebrum involved in thinking, speaking, and perceiving.

Cerebral Cortex

Thin outer layer covering the brain hemispheres.

Broca's Area

Frontal-lobe region responsible for speech production.

Broca's Aphasia

Difficulty producing speech while comprehension is generally preserved.

Wernicke's Area

Temporal-lobe region responsible for speech comprehension.

Wernicke's Aphasia

Lack of comprehension; speech production is generally unaffected.