AP Psychology - In-Depth Overview of Brain Structures and Functions

Brainstem

Part of brain that connects cerebrum with the spinal cord. Involved in control of visceral activity (salivation, respiration, heartbeat, digestion, etc.)

Medulla

Part of lower brain that helps control processes like heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, muscle tone, sneezing, coughing, etc.

Pons

Meaning "bridge", part of brainstem that lies between midbrain and medulla. Works with cerebellum to control equilibrium and with the cerebral cortex to smooth and coordinate voluntary movements.

Cerebellum

part of lower brain that controls movement and coordination. (first structure to be permeated by alcohol, spreads over blood brain barrier)

Reticular Formation

Extensive network of nerve cell bodies and fibers within the brainstem involved in arousal, alertness, and sleep-wake cycles.

Thalamus

Relays sensory, motor, and autonomic signals.

Limbic System

Made up of the amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. Involved in autonomic and visceral processes + mechanisms of emotion, memory, and learning.

Hypothalamus

Controls involuntary functions such as appetite, thirst, sleep, sexuality, and responds to external/internal stimuli.

Hippocampus

Part of the forebrain in the temporal lobe that's important for declarative memory and learning.

Amygdala

Almond-shaped structure in the temporal that is important for memory, emotion, threat perception, and learned fear responses.

Nucleus Accumbens

Plays a key role in feeding, sexual, reward, stress-related, and drug self-administration behaviors, etc.

Cerebral Cortex

Associated with cognitive functions such as language, learning, perception, planning, and storage of long term memories

Corpus Callosum

Tract of nerve fibers that run across the longitudinal fissure and connect the two hemispheres.

Occipital Lobe

Receives and processes visual stimuli and is involved in basic visual functions such as the perception of color, form, and motion.

Primary visual cortex

Part of the occipital lobe that receives, segments, and integrates visual information.

Parietal lobe

Involved in sensory, visual (visually guided actions), and auditory activities (speech perception).

Somatosensory cortex

Part of the parietal lobe that perceives sensory information like touch, pressure, pain, temperature, etc.

Temporal lobe

Plays a key role in understanding and producing language, and sense of smell.

Auditory cortex

part of the temporal lobe that processes auditory information

Frontal lobe

Manages higher cognitive functions including memory, emotions, impulse control, problem solving, social interaction, and motor function.

Motor cortex

Part of the frontal lobe involved in the planning, controlling, and execution of voluntary movements

Wernicke's area

In the temporal lobe and the center for understanding language

Broca's area

In the frontal lobe and the center for expressing/producing language.

What part of the brain sends sensory messages to other parts of the brain?

Thalamus

What part of the hindbrain controls walking, balance, and coordination?

cerebellum

If this part of the brain was damaged your life would be in danger because it controls blood flow and breathing.

medulla

You would use this part of your brain when deciding where you want to go to college or what kind of car to buy.

frontal lobe/cerebral cortex

if you are craving Doritos or thirsty for a coke this part of the brain is influencing you.

hypothalamus

What structure connects the right and left hemispheres?

corpus callosum

When you listen to music it is processed here.

auditory cortex

when you watch a movie this area allows you to process the info

occipital lobe, primary visual cortex

Why you are able to remember that October 31 is halloween.

hippocampus

If you are bitten by a dog you will most likely fear dogs in the future because of this structure.

amygdala

Your tongue and lips are very sensitive, we would know this by looking at surface area of this

Parietal lobe, somatosensory cortex

During puberty this structure triggers the release of hormones and it also stimulates milk production in pregnant people.

Pituitary gland

My facial muscles and fingers can move in a variety of complex ways as a result of the numerous neural connections they have to the

motor cortex

When I smell cookies baking I feel nostalgic and have vivid memories of my mom and I cooking together in my childhood home. It often feels as if it were yesterday. This complex interplay of emotions and memories is as a result of my

limbic system