Structures and Functions of the Central Nervous System

Central Nervous System (CNS)

the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

the sensory and motor nerves that connect the brain and the spinal cord to the rest of the body

Somatic Nervous System

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

Autonomic Nervous System

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs; its subdivision are the sympathetic (arousing) division and the parasympathetic (calming) division

Sympathetic division

the part of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body to deal with perceived threats

Parasympathetic division

the part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body

Brain Stem

the oldest part and central core of the brain; it begins where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull and is responsible for automatic survival functions. (Lower Brain)

Thalamus

the brain's sensory switch board, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex. (Lower Brain)

Reticular Formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling wakefulness and arousal (Lower Brain)

Medulla

located at the base of the brainstem, it controls basic life-support functions like heartbeat and breathing (Lower Brain)

Hemispheric Differences

Left is language ....

Phineas Gage

railroad worker who survived a severe brain injury that dramatically changed his personality and behavior; case played a role in the development of the understanding of the localization of brain function

CAT scan

a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body.

fMRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields ad radio waves to produce computer generated images that distinguish among types of soft tissue; this allows us to see structures within the brain.

EEG

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface; these waves, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp, are helpful in evaluating brain function. Helps for diagnosing sleep disorders and seizures.

PET scan

Visual display of brain activity.. Researchers inject a radioactive glucose into a person and the PET scan detects where it goes in the brain.

PET and fMRI

track flow of blood to help identify which part of the brain are active during a particular task.

Hypothalamus

it helps regulate many of the body's maintenance activities, such as eating, drinking, and body temperature, and is linked to emotion. (Limbic System)

Amygdala

an almond-shaped neural cluster in the limbic system that controls emotional responses, such as fear and anger.

Hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic system that wraps around the back of the thalamus; it helps process new memories for permanent storage.

Limbic System

a ring of structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral cortex; it helps regulate important functions such as memory, fear, aggression, hunger, thirst, and it includes the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala -- Emotional center of the brain

Cerebral Cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neurons that form the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

Fissure

the separation between hemispheres

Corpus Collosum

the large band of neural tissue that connects the two brain hemispheres and allows them to communicate with each other

Motor Cortex

its what processes the message of movement -- they are crossed with left and right

Somatosensory Cortex

a strip of brain tissue at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensations

Broca's Area

a brain area of the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech

Wernicke's Area

a brain area of the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression

Right Hemisphere

Usually handles nonverbal processing, included visual-spatial and musical tasks, and the perception of others' emotions.

Left Hemisphere

Usually handles verbal processing, including language, speech, reading, and writing.

Frontal lobes

Are involved in voluntary movement, thinking, personality, and responses.

Occipital lobes

Function in vision.

Temporal lobes

Have an active role in hearing, language processing, and memory.

Parietal lobes

portion posterior to the frontal lobe, responsible for sensations such as pain, temperature, and touch