The Brain and Behavior

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

produces a very detailed image of structure of the brain

magnetic field aligns the atoms in the brain and a radio wave disorients them, image is produced when atoms return to normal

fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)

a bunch of MRI scans are taken over a few seconds, you can see the blood flow light up in some areas (more activity means more oxygen and more blood)

shows structure and function

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

shows brain function

substance that tags glucose is added to the brain, neurons love glucose so wherever there is activity the neurons eat up the glucose and those areas will be lit up

cerebral cortex

outer layer of gray matter of the cerebrum/cerebral hemispheres

responsible for higher brain functions - sensation, voluntary muscle movement, thought, reasoning, memory

limbic system

primarily responsible for processing emotions, memory, and motivation

contains:

• thalamus

• hypothalamus

• pituitary gland

• hippocampus

• amygdala

• cerebellum

brain stem

oldest part of the brain

responsible for basic life functions and relaying sensory information to the cerebrum

contains:

• pons

• medulla oblongata

• reticular formation

• thalamus (not really?)

left brain specialty

academic stuff

language

math

science

logic

right brain specialty

creative stuff

spatial reasoning

art

music

imagination