Behavioral Science (Neurology)

Cerebral Cortex

The Brain’s Thinking, Calculating, Organizing, and Creative Center.outer layer of the brain which makes up 2/3 of your total brain.consists of the right and left cerebral hemispheres, each with 4 lobes

Dura

skin like pouch that covers the cerebral cortex

Corpus Callosum

100 million neural cells that pass information between the two hemispheres.

Occipital Lobe

located in the back of the brain and used to

interpret visual

imagery sent from

the eyes.

(Achromatopsia)

Color blindness

Alexia

loss of the ability to read or understand written words

Dyslexia

alters the way the brain processes written material

Parietal Lobe

Located at the top of the brain.

- Some memory is found here, but not the conscious manipulation of memory

Somatosensory Cortex (Sensory Strip)

Processes sensory information from all parts of the body.

Registers touch, pressure, pain and temperature.

Frontal Association Area - “Executive Center”

This is the area of the brain “that makes you, uniquely you.” - personality, temperament, sense of humor, self awareness… Sometimes referred to as the Prefrontal Cortex.

Motor Cortex (Motor Strip)

area of the brain that regulates conscious motor movement.

Broca’s Area

area responsible for the physical aspect of speech, found only in the left hemisphere.

Broca’s Aphasia

inability to speak coherently

- stutters, slurs words

- may be mute

- patient is aware they have a speaking problem

Temporal Lobe

Area responsible for hearing and processing auditory sensory information from the ears

Wernicke’s Area

area responsible for processing written and spoken language, found only in the left hemisphere

Wernicke’s Aphasia

patient speaks in confused sentences

- patient uses extra words and

sometimes made-up words

- patient does not know they have

a problem and can become angry

Medulla (oblongata)

regulates basic life functions; such as heart rate, breathing, blood pressure.

Also controls reflexes; such as swallowing, vomiting gagging, coughing and sneezing.

Pons

regulating states of wakefulness and sleep.

Cerebellum

controlling coordination and balance as well as controlling voluntary movement such as raising one’s arm

MidBrain

Contains nerve pathways that connect the hindbrain with the forebrain

Midbrain structures perform important roles

e.g., control of automatic movements of the eye muscles (eyes stay focused as you head turns)

Reticular Formation

plays key role in regulating states of attention, alertness, and arousal

Sometimes referred to as the Reticular Activating System or RAS

Thalamus

Relays sensory information to appropriate

parts of the cerebral cortex (sight, touch,

taste, hearing, but not smell)

Basal Ganglia

regulates voluntary movement such as walking.

Hypothalamus

Regulates many vital bodily functions such as hunger and thirst.Regulates emotional states such as, one’s response to stress. “Fight” or “Flight” reactions

Amygdala

Helps regulate states of emotional arousal, such as fear and aggression.

Hippocampus

Plays an important role in the formation and retrieval of memories.

Deep Brain Stimulation

Used to alter

the electrical impulses of the brain.

- used to treat Parkinson's, depression,

and anxiety disorders (and maybe weight loss)

Cell Body and Nucleus (also called the Soma)

contains the DNA and carries out the life sustaining functions of the cell

Dendrite

root like structures that branch off the soma, dendrites receive chemical message known as

neurotransmitters released by neighboring cells

Axon

tubelike part of the neuron that carries electric impulse messages away from (sends) the cell body/soma to terminal buttons and the synapse.

Synapse

small fluid filled gap between neurons through which neurotransmitters carry chemical messages, known as neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that transport nerve impulses from one neuron to another across the synapse

Terminal Buttons

located at the end of the axon

- area of the axon where the electrical impulse is transferred to a chemical signal (neurotransmitter)

Vesicles

sack like containers located at the terminal buttons that release neurotransmitters into the synapse

Reuptake (Transport)

the process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the terminal buttons to clear the synapse so the cell can fire again.

Dendrite Receptor Sites

a site on the receiving neurons dendrite in which neurotransmitters dock to continue the message

Acetylcholine (Ach)

the first and most well understood neurotransmitter

Pituitary Gland

the “master gland,” it produces growth

hormones, and triggers the sex glands to

release their hormones which trigger puberty