Brain and Behavior Exam 1

What is the CNS

central nervous system, brain and spinal cord

what is the PNS

peripheral nervous system, cranial and spinal nerves

what does the somatic nervous system control

skeletal muscles

what does the autonomic nervous system control

internal organs and non conscious control

sensory function

integrate information about the world and create a sensory reality

motor function

control movement

brain plasticity

brain adapting to environmental change by changing its physical or chemical properties

anterior

front

posterior

back

superior

up

inferior

down

ventral

belly (belly side or closer to the belly)

dorsal

back side or away from the belly

medial

middle

lateral

sides, away from middle

horizontal plane

cut into up and down pieces

sagittal plane

cut into left and right hemispheres

coronal

cut into front and back slices

how is a dead brain stored

in a fixative solution to make it hard so they can cut into it

what are the seven parts of the forebrain

cortex, corpus callosum, limbic system, basal ganglia, olfactory bulb, thalamus, hypothalamus

what are the parts of the mid brain

tectum and tegmentum

what are the parts of hindbrain

pons, cerebellum, medulla

what forms grey matter in the brain

cell bodies

what forms white matter in the brain

fibers

what are the major anatomical divisions of the cortex

frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes

what is the insula’s major function

decision making based on emotional cues

what are sulcus (sulci)

a groove in the brain matter

what are gyrus (gyri)

protrusion or bump formed by the folding of the cerebral cortex

what is the temporal lobe responsible for

hearing and memory

what is the parietal lobe responsible for

touch and spatial awareness

what is the frontal lobe responsible for

decision making, planning, and movement

what is the occipital lobe responsible for

vision

What is the corpus callosum

tissue that connects the two cerebral hemispheres

why can the corpus callosum be cut

to treat severe epilepsy and stops seizures from spreading throughout the brain

what does the pre-frontal cortex deal with

age and feeling emotion

what is the limbic system

a group of structures between the cortex and the brain stem

what are the principal structures of the limbic system

amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate cortex

what are the functions of the limbic system

emotion- amygdala and memory- hippocampus

what happens if you have a large amygdala

you are highly emotional

what happens if you have a small amygdala

you are more likely to be a sociopath or psychopath

what does the basal ganglia mean

large balls at the bottom

what is a major function of the basal ganglia

motor control

if the basal ganglia is impaired what diseases can you have

parkinson’s or tourettes

What are the structures of the between brain

thalamus, hypothalamus (+pituitary gland), pineal gland

What are the functions of the thalamus

selective sensory signals, visual, auditory

What does the hypothalamus do

regulates the endocrine (hormone) system

What is the function of the pineal gland

releases the hormone melatonin and controls sleep

what are the two parts of the mid brain

tectum and tegmentum

where is the tectum located and what does is do

roof of the mid brain and it is responsible for sensory processing (visual and auditory)

where is the tegmentum located and what does it do

floor of the midbrain and it produces dopamine (NOT a hormone)

what are the components of the hindbrain

cerebellum, pons, medulla

what is the cerebellum responsible for

complex movements of the body

what could happen if you damage the cerebellum

less precise motor control and you don’t have any error correction

what is the medulla responsible for

the respiratory center and regulates vital functions, an monitors the vomiting center. VERY BAD IF IT GETS DAMAGED

what are the three layers of tissue that protect the brain

dura matter, arachnoid layer, pia matter

what is the dura matter

“hard mother”- tough outer layer of fibrous tissue right below the bone

what is the arachnoid layer

“like a spiders web”- thin sheet of delicate connective tissue

what is the pia mater

“soft mother”- moderately tough inner layer that clings to the brain’s surface

what are the meninges

protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cords

what is meningitis

inflammation of meninges, puts pressure on the brain

what is a ventricle

a cavity in the brain that contains cerebrospinal fluid

where are the 4 ventricles

two lateral ventricles on the left and right hemispheres, third is the between brain, fourth is in the hind brain

what does cerebrospinal fluid do

it protects the brain and aids the exchange of nutrients and waste products between brain and blood

what is hydrocephalus

abnormal accumulation of CSF within the brain

what is treatment of hyrdocephalus

surgical implantation of a shunt to drain the excess fluid and relieve pressure

what is the function of the spinal cord

controls most body movements and can act independently of the brain with reflexes but is ultimately always under control of the brain

what are cranial nerves

connect brain with the organs in the head and neck

what are spinal nerves

connect spinal cord with skeletal muscles

what is the function of sensory fibers

to carry information from the body’s sensory receptors

what is the function of motor fibers

to carry information from the spinal cord to the muscles

what are the subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system

sympathetic and parasympathetic

what is the sympathetic division of the ANS

the fight or flight system, dominates during times of stress and excitement

what is the parasympathetic division of the ANS

dominates when energy reserves can be conserved and stored for later use