The Role of the Brain in Mental Processes and Behaviour

Flashcards covering vocabulary related to brain structures, the nervous system, neuron anatomy, and early psychological research techniques as described in the lecture notes.

Ablation

A surgical procedure in which parts of the brain are removed or destroyed to study brain function.

Phrenology

The now discredited study of the shape of the skull as an indicator of the extent of one’s mental faculties and character traits, initiated by Franz Joseph Gall.

Localisation of function

The principle that different parts of the brain play a significant role in different functions.

Brain-heart debate

Early historical discourse (BCE) regarding whether the heart or the brain decides thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

Mind-body problem

The discussion about how the mind (consciousness) and body (brain) may or may not be different things.

Computerised tomography (CT)

A neuroimaging technique that combines x-ray images taken from different angles to create cross-sectional images of the body.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A technique that uses magnetic fields to activate atoms in the brain, allowing a computer to generate detailed images used to diagnose structural abnormalities.

Positron emission tomography (PET)

A technique providing full-colour images of brain activity and function by observing the use of glucose by cells in the brain while the patient engages in an activity.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A technique that shows brain activity by measuring oxygen consumption by cells; it is preferred in research due to its safety and accuracy.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord; its primary function is to process and integrate information and coordinate responses.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Includes all the nerves outside the CNS and is responsible for transmitting signals to and from the rest of the body.

Somatic Nervous System

A division of the PNS that controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles and transmits sensory information to the CNS.

Autonomic Nervous System

A division of the PNS responsible for involuntary communication between the CNS and non-skeletal muscles (smooth and cardiac) and glands.

Sympathetic Nervous System

An emergency system that becomes active in times of danger or stress, leading to the 'fight or flight' response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Operates to calm the body and maintain day-to-day functions like digestion and heart rate at a stable level (homeostasis).

Sensory neurons (Afferent neurons)

Neurons that receive and carry information from both external and internal environments to the CNS via the afferent tract.

Motor neurons (Efferent neurons)

Neurons that carry messages from the CNS to skeletal muscles, organs, and glands to stimulate activity via the efferent tract.

Interneurons

Neurons found primarily in the CNS that relay impulses between sensory and motor neurons and enable simple reflexes.

Dendrites

The part of the neuron that receives information from other neurons and transmits it to the soma.

Soma (Cell body)

The part of the neuron that integrates neural information received from dendrites and sends it to the axon.

Axon

A tube-like extension that transmits neural information away from the soma to other neurons or cells.

Myelin

A white, fatty substance that coats and helps insulate the axon to speed up neural impulses.

Axon terminals

Structures at the end of the axon; the terminal buttons store and secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Synaptic gap (Synapse)

The tiny, very small space between an axon terminal of one neuron and a dendrite of another where message transmission occurs.

Presynaptic neuron

The neuron that fires a message into the synapse.

Postsynaptic neuron

The neuron that receives the message from the synapse.

Lock and key process

A process where neurotransmitters (keys) must match the specific shape of receptor sites (locks) on a postsynaptic neuron to trigger a response.

Spinal reflex

An automatic, unconscious response to sensory stimuli initiated by interneurons in the spinal cord rather than the brain.

Cerebral cortex

The folded outer layer of tissue covering the cerebrum, responsible for higher cognitive abilities such as planning and intelligible conversation.

Corpus collosum

A highway of neurons connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain to allow coordinated movement and processing.

Frontal Lobe

The lobe responsible for voluntary movement, language, planning, problem solving, personality, and emotions.

Parietal Lobe

The lobe involved in spatial awareness, spatial reasoning, and processing somatosensory information like touch, pressure, and temperature.

Temporal Lobe

The lobe responsible for processing auditory information (hearing), memory, and interpreting the meaning of language.

Occipital Lobe

The lobe primarily responsible for receiving and processing visual information from the eyes.

Broca's area

A region in the left frontal lobe responsible for the production of speech and the structure of sentences.

Wernicke's area

A region in the temporal lobe that serves to interpret the meaning of language.

Hindbrain

The lower back part of the brain supporting vital bodily processes, consisting of the cerebellum, medulla oblongata, and pons.

Cerebellum

A hindbrain structure involved in coordinating voluntary movements, balance, posture, and learning motor skills.

Medulla (oblongata)

A hindbrain structure involved in autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing, swallowing, and sneezing.

Midbrain

The center of the brain involved in auditory and visual processing, motor control, and reward-based learning.

Substantia nigra

A collection of neurons in the midbrain producing dopamine; damage to this area is associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Thalamus

A forebrain structure that regulates arousal, filters sensory information, and assists in focusing attention.

Hemispheric specialisation

The concept that the left and right hemispheres of the brain have different jobs but work together; for example, the left is often analytical/logical while the right is creative/spatial.