Biopsychology: Parts of the Brain

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts regarding the structure and functions of the brain as discussed in the lecture.

Forebrain

The part of the brain involved in motivation, emotion, complex thought, and planning movement.

Midbrain

A region of the brain primarily responsible for movement and dopamine production.

Hindbrain

The part of the brain controlling survival functions and movement.

Medulla

Located at the top of the spinal cord, it regulates survival functions like heart rate and breathing.

Pons

Located above the medulla, it regulates sleep, arousal, and coordinates movements of the body.

Cerebellum

Located at the back of the brain stem; essential for coordinated movement and balance.

Substantia nigra

Region in the midbrain crucial for initiation of voluntary motor activity and dopamine production.

Thalamus

Acts as the gateway for almost all incoming sensory information before it reaches the cortex.

Hypothalamus

Regulates bodily functions and influences basic motivated behaviors.

Hippocampus

Associated with the formation of memories.

Amygdala

Vital for processing emotional significance, especially fear.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the forebrain, divided into left and right hemispheres.

Occipital Lobe

Part of the cerebral cortex responsible for vision.

Temporal Lobe

Regions involved in processing auditory information and object recognition.

Frontal Lobe

Regions important for movement and complex processes like rational thought.

Parietal Lobe

Regions critical for the sense of touch and spatial awareness.

Lateralization

The concept that certain brain functions are localized to one hemisphere.

Broca's area

Crucial for speech production, located in the left frontal region.

Wernicke's area

Plays a vital role in language comprehension, located in the left temporal region.

Hemineglect

A condition in which a person is unable to attend to one side of their body or space, often due to right hemisphere damage.

Split Brain

Condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain cannot communicate.