the brain- psychology

the brain areas and its functions + brain experiments

broca’s area

assists with speech by determining movement needed for vocalisation

cerebellum

manages coordination and balance and helps with posture and fine motor movements

broca’s aphasia

the inability to speak after damage to broca’s area

wernicke’s area

located in temporal lobe, responsible for interpreting and creating meaningful speech

wernicke’s aphasia

the inability to understand sounds or create meaningful speech after damage to wernicke’s area

hindbrain

includes the pons, medulla, cerebellum, allows us to survive by controlling our basic biological structure

medulla

hindbrain structure that is a continuation of the spinal cord, connecting it to the brain. controls breathing, heart rate and blood pressure

pons

hindbrain structure that regulates sleep, dreaming and arousal and works with cerebellum to assist with movement

spinal cord

nerves extend from spinal cord to the rest of the body allowing the brain and body to communicate

midbrain

visual and auditory information is sent here and then sent to the appropriate structures of the brain, includes the reticular formation and reticular activating system

reticular formation

brain area that helps screen incoming information most importantly involved in arousal, alertness and sleep-wake cycles

reticular activating system

filters incoming stimuli and relays important information to higher centers of the brain

forebrain

allows us to have complex thoughts and behaviours, includes cerebrum and cerebral cortex, all the lobes, thalamus and hypothalamus

cerebrum

largest part of the brain, with the cerebral cortex as its outer layer. involved in all brain processes that arent just for survival

cerebral cortex

outer layer of the brain that is ¼ inch thick and made up of grey matter and associated with higher cognitive functions

grey matter

neuron cell bodies that are not encased in myelin, and therefore have a grey appearance

corpus callosum

arch-like structure extending from the front to the back of the brain, made up of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres to facilitate communication, sensory intergration and cognitive function

frontal lobe

a portion of the cerebral cortex, located behind the forehead. main function is higher order thinking, includes prefrontal cortex, motor cortex. where broca’s area is located

prefrontal cortex

anterior portion of frontal lobe, specializing in foresight, judgement and memory. also where broca’s area is located

motor cortex

area of the fronta love that controls voluntary movement, located at the back of frontal lobe and runs from ear to ear

left motor cortex

controls movement on right side of body and vice versa

parietal lobe

located in the upper back area of the brain between the frontal and occipital lobes. recieves sensory information and helps with touch, pain, temperature and spatial awareness

somatosensory cortex

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

occipital lobe

one of the four lobes located in the rearmost area of each cerebral hemisphere, involved in enabling vision and contains several visual areas

primary visual cortex

recieves and processes visual information from the eyes

temporal lobe

a portion of the cerebral cortex that is located above the ears on both sides. main function is hearing but also helps you recognise faces, smell, hear noises, balance and assist with memory.

thalamus

two egg shaped masses of grey matter that directs sensory information to the correct parts of the brain

hippocampus

structure surrounding the thalamus inside of the temporal lobe that functions to create memories and enables you to learn

amygdala

almond shaped structure located at both ends of the hippocampus that are important with emotional regulation, fear, anxiety and aggression

hypothalamus

the part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland, maintains homeostasis by regulating temperature, hunger, thirst and hormones

neuroplasticity

the ability of the brain to change in response to experience

acquired brain injury

any type of brain damage or injury that occurs after birth

traumatic brain injury

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

experience-expectant plasticity

brain changes in response to environmental experience that is already present

experience-dependant plasticity

brain change that modifies some parts of its neuronal structure that is already present

localisation of brain function

specific areas of the brain being responsible for particular behaviours, processes or cognitive abilities

electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)

using an electrode to stimulate a specific area of the brain to assess what function that area controls or is involved in

brain leisoning

disrupting or damaging the normal structure or function of part of the brain

brain ablation

the destruction or removal of part of the brain

split-brain surgery

severing the corpus callosum to either partially or fully disconnect the cerebral hemispheres

phrenology

a theory linking specific abilities or personality traits to specific areas of the brain, especially bumps and hollows on the skull surface

biopsychosocial model

an approach to describing and explaining how biological, psychological and social factors combine and interact to influence an individuals behaviour and mental processes, including mental wellbeing

synapse

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

white matter

neural tissue largely composed of nerve cell bodies and their local connections to eachother

brain vs heart debate

the issue of whether the brain or the heart was the source of human thoughts, feelings and behaviour

mind-body problem

questions about the relationship between brain activity and conscious experience

traumatic acquired brain injury

damage to the brain caused by an external force

aphasia

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

sprouting

existing neurons form new axons terminals and dendrites to allow new connections to be made

rerouting

healthy neurons create alternative neural pathways when existing connections are lost

non traumatic brain injury

damage to the brain caused by internal factors

neurogenesis

the process of creating new neurons (nerve cells) in the brain

ventricies

a network of four interconnected, fluid-filled cavities (two lateral, third, and fourth) that produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

stroke

an interruption to the blood supply in the brain or bleeding in the brain resulting in deterioration of brain cells

neurodegenerative disease

chronic, progressive, and incurable disorders characterised by the gradual loss of structure, function, and death of neurons in the brain

insideous onset (ABI)

damage to the brain that occurs after birth, developing gradually over time, rather than suddenly

ischaemic stroke

a stroke caused by a blocked blood vessel that stops blood flow to part of the brain.

hemorrhagic stroke

a stroke caused by a burst blood vessel that bleeds into the brain.

neurological disorder

any disease or disorder of any part of the nervous system

epilepsy

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

seizure

uncontrolled, excessive electrical activity of neurons in the brain

strokes are diagnosed by

physical examination, blood test results, studying neuroimages

seizures can be

provoked or unprovoked

possible experiences during a seizure

convulsions, loss of consciousness, staring, confusion/ no memory of seizure

focal seizures

start in one area, usually last less than 2 mins, may spread to both hemispheres, affect certain body parts

generalised seizures

start in both hemispheres, affect the whole body, involves loss of consciousness

unknown onset seizures

onset unknown or unclear due to limited information or unusual symptoms

seizures can be treated by

anti-epileptic medication, diet therapy, brain stumulation devices, surgery

seizures can be diagnosed by

neurological examination, CT or MRI scans

concussion

a temporary, trauma-induced disturbance of brain function caused by a sudden jolt, blow, or shake to the head or body

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

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