Ch 1. Brain Basics

A comprehensive set of Q&A flashcards covering anatomy, physiology, evolution, neural circuits, neurotransmission, and genetics from the Brain Basics chapter.

What are the billions of information-carrying cells in the brain called?

Neurons

Which brain structure is the bridge of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres?

Corpus callosum

Name the deeply folded outer layer of the cerebrum that contains most of the brain’s neurons.

Cerebral cortex

Which lobe coordinates voluntary movement, speech, planning, problem-solving, memory, emotion, and personality?

Frontal lobe

Which lobe integrates sensory signals from skin, processes taste, and some visual information?

Parietal lobe

Which lobes at the back of the brain process visual information such as color and shape?

Occipital lobes

Which lobes interpret auditory information and contain the hippocampus and amygdala?

Temporal lobes

What temporal-lobe structure encodes new memories?

Hippocampus

Which structure integrates memory with emotion and is located in the temporal lobe?

Amygdala

The hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, and hypothalamus are all part of which system?

Limbic system

Which limbic structure relays sensory information to the cortex?

Thalamus

Which limbic structure sends hormonal signals via the pituitary gland?

Hypothalamus

Which midbrain function explains why you jump at a sudden loud noise?

Reflexes to sounds coordinated by midbrain nuclei

What collection of forebrain and midbrain structures helps regulate complex body movements?

Basal ganglia

Name the second-largest brain structure (by volume) that coordinates voluntary movement and motor learning.

Cerebellum

Which hindbrain structure influences breathing and posture?

Pons

Which hindbrain structure controls swallowing, heart rate, and breathing?

Medulla

Together, the midbrain, pons, and medulla are called the _.

Brainstem

From what simple structure did the human brain evolve during embryonic development?

A neural tube

In early vertebrates the brain developed three bulges that became which three major regions?

Forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain

What term describes bundled long-distance axons such as the corpus callosum?

Nerve tracts

What is a linear chain of tracts connecting several brain regions called?

Neural network

Which photoreceptive cells start the visual processing pathway?

Photoreceptors in the retina

Visual signals pass from the optic nerve to the optic tract and then to which relay structure?

Thalamus

Which lobe houses the primary visual cortex?

Occipital lobe

In visual processing, which lobe’s pathway identifies objects?

Temporal lobe

Which lobe’s pathway detects spatial location of objects?

Parietal lobe

What EEG-detectable rhythmic patterns arise from thalamocortical loops?

Brain waves

Which brain waves (8-13 Hz) appear when relaxed with eyes closed?

Alpha waves

Which waves (14-30 Hz) dominate during active thinking and sensory processing?

Beta waves

Which slow waves (4-7 Hz) are typical of light sleep?

Theta waves

Which very slow, high-amplitude waves (<3.5 Hz) occur in deep sleep?

Delta waves

About what percentage of cortical neurons are excitatory?

Approximately 80 percent

What cone-shaped excitatory neuron is common in the cortex?

Pyramidal cell

Imbalances between excitatory and inhibitory activity can lead to which neurological disorder?

Epilepsy (seizure disorders)

Name the three main parts common to most neurons.

Cell body (soma), dendrites, and axon

Which glial cell type wraps axons in myelin in the central nervous system?

Oligodendrocytes

Which glial cells act as the brain’s immune defenders and phagocytes?

Microglia

What is the typical resting membrane potential of a neuron?

About –70 mV

An electrical impulse traveling down an axon is called what?

Action potential

Chemical messengers released into the synaptic cleft are called _.

Neurotransmitters

What are the two main classes of postsynaptic receptors?

Ionotropic and metabotropic receptors

Which neurotransmitter is the brain’s primary excitatory messenger?

Glutamate

Which two glutamate receptor types are critical for learning and memory?

AMPA receptors and NMDA receptors

Which neurotransmitter is the brain’s main inhibitory messenger?

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Ionotropic GABA receptors allow influx of which ion to hyperpolarize neurons?

Chloride (Cl⁻) ions

What process recovers neurotransmitters back into the axon terminal?

Reuptake

Endocannabinoids and prostaglandins are examples of what kind of signaling molecules?

Neuromodulators

What term describes the selective use of genes by a neuron to produce specific proteins?

Gene expression

Chemical changes to DNA-protein complexes that regulate gene accessibility are called _ modifications.

Chromatin

Which fatal neurodegenerative disease results from mutant alleles of the beta-hexosaminidase A gene?

Tay-Sachs disease