Brain Structure and Function

Flashcards covering key concepts related to brain structure and function, nervous system, and endocrine system.

Primary Areas

Regions in the brain lobe involved in processing motor or sensory information.

Visual Cortex

Located in the occipital lobes, responsible for processing visual information.

Auditory Cortex

Located in the temporal lobes, responsible for processing auditory information.

Sensory Cortex

Also known as the somatosensory cortex, located in the parietal lobes, processing touch, pain, temperature and information from the skin, muscles, and joints.

Motor Cortex

Located in the frontal lobes, it controls voluntary movements and is organized such that adjacent body parts are represented by adjacent areas in the brain.

Association Areas

Regions in the brain linked to higher and more complex mental functions, involved in processing complex motor or sensory information.

Frontal Lobes

Brain regions primarily tasked with decision making, planning, attention, impulse control, emotions, and some aspects of language and memory.

Wernicke’s Area

An association area in the temporal lobes associated with understanding language.

Broca’s Area

An area in the frontal lobes associated with language production.

Split-brain Patients

Individuals who have undergone surgery to sever the corpus callosum, often as a treatment for severe epilepsy, resulting in improved control of seizures.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Comprises all the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord and connects the body to the central nervous system.

Somatic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that controls voluntary movements and transmits sensory information to the CNS.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Regulates involuntary functions like heartbeat and digestion and consists of sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)

Part of the ANS, responsible for the body's 'fight or flight' response during stressful situations.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the ANS that conserves energy and restores the body to a state of calm after stress.

Endocrine System

A major communication network consisting of glands that release hormones into the bloodstream, influencing physical and mental functioning.

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain stable internal conditions, managed in part by hormonal balance.

Pituitary Gland

Referred to as the 'master gland,' it controls other glands in the endocrine system and regulates various functions including stress responses.

Hypothalamus

Controls the pituitary gland and secretes hormones like oxytocin, influencing bonding and emotional responses.

Melatonin

A hormone released by the pineal gland that regulates sleep-wake cycles.