AP Psychology Brain Parts And Functions

Temporal Lobe

Temporal Lobe

Auditory cortex receptive language, understanding language, and has to do with hearing

Frontal Lobe

Has to do with controlling motor, behavior, expressive language, judgment, decision making.

Parietal Lobe

Lobe involved in the processing of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain

Occipital Lobe

, interception of visual information

Thalamus

The brain's central "relay station" situated just a top the brainstem. Nearly all the messages going into or out of the brain go through the thalamus.

Cerebral Cortex

The thin gray-matter covering of the cerebral hemispheres. It covers major portion of mental processing and thinking.

Broca's Area

One of the main areas of the cerebral cortex responsible for producing language.

Medulla Oblongata

A brain-stem structure that controls autonomic activities, such as heartbeat and respiration.

Amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression

Midbrain

A portion of the brain located just above the medulla. Controls pons and contains thalamus and hypothalamus.

Motor Cortex

A narrow vertical strip of cortex in the frontal lobes, lying just in front of the central fissure; controls movement

Reticular Formation

A structure at the core of the brainstem that arouses the cortex to keep the brain concious and alert.

Angular Gyrus

- A region of the inferior parietal lobe of the brain that is involved in the processing of auditory and visual input and in the comprehension of language.

Corpus Callosum

The band of nerve cells that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.

Brainstem

Sits beneath cerebrum and in front of cerebellum. It connects the rest of the brain to spinal cord and in charge of all functions that you need to stay alive. It is composed of three sections in descending order: the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

Hippocampus

A component of the limbic system, involved in establishing long-term memories

Forebrain

Has to do with learning and memory, language and speaking, emotional responses, planning, and decision making.

Spinal Cord

Part of body's central nervous system. It’s the pathway for messages sent from the brain to body and from body to brain

Hypothalamus

A limbic structure that serves as the brain's blood testing laboratory, constantly monitoring the blood to determine the condition of the body. Also controls body temperature, appetite and metabolism.

Limbic System

The middle layer of the brain, involved in emotion and memory. It includes the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and other structures. Also called the “Emotional Brain”.

Wernicke's Area

Located in the left temporal lobe. Processing of words that we hear being spoken.

Pons

Regulates states of arousal and conciousness, including sleep and dreaming

Cerebellum

The "little brain" attached to the brain stem. It’s responsible for coordinated movements.

Hindbrain (Brainstem)

Includes cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata, medulla joined to spinal cord and controls unconscious body functions.

Somatosensory Cortex

A strip of the parietal lobe lying just behind the central fissure. It’s involved with sensations of touch.