VCE Psych Unit 1 AOS 2

Association area

surround sensory and motor areas in the brain's cerebral cortex and deal with more complex functions that require integration of inputs of information from different areas

Brain

The mass of nerve tissue that is the main control center of the nervous system

Broca's area

area in the brain's left frontal lobe with a crucial role in clear and fluent speech production

Cerebellum

the cauliflower-shaped structure located at the base of the brain that coordinates fine muscle movements and regulates posture and balance; also involved in learning and memory

Cerebral cortex

outer layer of the brain involved in complex mental abilities, sensory processing and voluntary movements; roles in a diverse range of activities

Cerebral hemisphere

one of two almost symmetrical brain areas (comprising cerebral cortex) running from the front to the back of the brain and referred to as the right and left hemispheres

Cerebrum

largest part of the brain with the cerebral cortex as its outer layer

Corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Cortical lobe

one of four areas of the cerebral cortex associated with different functions

Forebrain

a collection of upper level brain structures that include the hypothalamus, thalamus and cerebrum; involved in complex cognitive processes, emotion and personality

Frontal lobe

one of four critical lobes located in the upper forward half of a cerebral hemisphere

Hemispheric specialisation

the concept that one hemisphere has specialised functions or exerts greater control over a particular function

Hindbrain

a collection of structures at the base of the brain that include the cerebellum, medulla and pons

Hypothalamus

vital role in maintaining the body's internal environment by regulating release of hormones and influences various other behaviours

Medulla

a hindbrain structure that is a continuation of the spinal cord, connecting it to the brain; controls vital bodily functions required for survival

Midbrain

connects upper and lower brain areas and houses structure involved with movement, processing of visual, auditory and tactile sensory information, sleep and arousal

Neocortex

the largest and most recently evolved part of the cerebral cortex

Occipital lobe

one of the four critical lobes located in the rearmost area of each cerebral hemisphere

Parietal lobe

one of four critical lobes located in the upper back area of the brain between the frontal and occipital lobes

Pons

hindbrain structure involved in sleep, dreaming, arousal from sleep and control of breathing and coordination of some muscle movements

Primary auditory cortex

receives and processes sounds from both ears

Primary motor cortex

a strip of cortex at the back of each frontal lobe that initiates and controls voluntary movements

Primary somatosensory cortex

a strip of cortex located at the front of each parietal lobe that receives and processes sensory information from the skin and body parts

Primary visual cortex

receives and processes visual information from the eyes

Reticular formation

brain area that helps screen incoming information, alerts higher brain centres to important information, helps maintain consciousness, and regulates arousal and muscle tone

Sensory area

the part of the cortex that is largely responsible for processing sensations from the body

Temporal lobe

one of four critical lobes, located in the lower, central area of the brain, above and around the top of each ear

Thalamus

relay station in the brain for incoming sensory information (except smells) and for information from the cerebral cortex to lower brain structures; numerous other roles

Wernicke's area

area of the brain's left temporal lobe involved in speech production and comprehension

Acquired brain injury

any type of brain damage or injury that occurs after birth

Aphasia

a language disorder due to an acquired brain injury to an area responsible for language production or processing

Brain injury

any brain damage or disorder that impairs normal functioning of the brain, either temporarily or permanently

Brain plasticity

the ability of the brain to change in response to experience

Broca's aphasia

a language disorder involving difficulty with speech production

Concussion

a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

a progressive brain degeneration and fatal condition thought to be caused by repeated blows to the head and repeated episodes of concussion

Epilepsy

a neurological disorder involving recurrent, spontaneous seizures brought on by interference in normal brain activity

Experience-dependent plasticity

brain change that modifies some part of its neuronal structure that is already present and is reliant on unique environmental experiences (not universal throughout that species)

Experience-expectant plasticity

brain change in response to environmental experience that is ordinarily expected

Focal seizure

originate in one brain area in one hemisphere

Generalised seizure

originate in both brain hemispheres simultaneously

Insidious onset

when a brain injury gradually develops over a period of time in an imperceptible way, showing few signs and symptoms

Neurogenesis

production of new neurons

Neurological disorder

any disease or disorder of any part of the nervous system

Neuroplasticity

the ability of the brain and other parts of the nervous system to change in response to experience

Seizure

uncontrolled, excessive electrical activity of neurons in the brain

Sudden onset

when a brain injury occurs abruptly, often at a single point in time

Synapse

the site where adjacent neurons communicate by transmitting neural signals to one another

Traumatic brain injury

a type of acquired brain injury caused by an external force, such as a blow to the head

Wernicke's aphasia

a language disorder involving difficulties understanding spoken or written

Neuron

a individual nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Dendrite

the thin extensions of a neuron that receive information from other neurons and transmits it to the soma

Axon

a single, tubelike, extension that transmits neural information away from the soma to other neurons or cells

Myelin sheath

surrounds and insulates the axon. Made up of a white, fatty substance

Axon terminal

The endpoint of a neuron where neurotransmitters are stored and secreted

Neurotransmitter

a chemical substance produced by a neuron that carries a message to other neurons or cells in muscles, glands or other tissue

Synaptic gap

the tiny space between the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron and the dendrite of a postsynaptic neuron