AP Psychology 1.4

Thalamus

Sensory switchboard; relays every sense except smell

Medulla

Controls heartbeat and breathing

Brainstem

Oldest part of the brain; newer parts are built on top of it; handles automatic survival functions

Reticular Formation

Controls arousal

Cerebellum

Coordinates voluntary movement and balance

Amygdala

Linked to fear and aggression (limbic system)

Hippocampus

Involved in learning and memory (limbic system)

Hypothalamus

Reward center; regulates hunger, thirst, and sexual arousal; works with the pituitary gland

Pituitary Gland

The "master gland"; works with the hypothalamus

Limbic System

Brain system that includes the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus; involved in emotion, memory, and drives

Cerebral Cortex

Outer layer of the brain; the body's control and information-processing center

Cerebrum

The large "beefy" main portion of the brain

Frontal Lobe

Higher-order thinking (what makes us human)

Parietal Lobe

Receives sensory input for touch and body position

Occipital Lobe

Receives visual information

Temporal Lobe

Receives auditory information

Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movement; the left hemisphere's controls the right side of the body and the right hemisphere's controls the left side

Sensory Cortex

Area at the front of the parietal lobe that registers and processes body senses

Association Areas

Cortex areas not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; handle higher mental functions

Wernicke's Area

Association area responsible for language comprehension

Broca's Area

Association area that controls speech production

Plasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself; higher in younger people, helping them compensate for damage

Corpus Callosum

Band of fibers in the middle of the brain that connects the left and right hemispheres

Why sever the corpus callosum?

To reduce frequent, severe epileptic seizures

Split Brain

Condition where the hemispheres are disconnected because the corpus callosum was severed

Contralateral control

Opposite hemispheres control opposite sides of the body

Right side of body / right visual field

Processed by the left hemisphere

Left side of body / left visual field

Processed by the right hemisphere

Left Hemisphere

Analytical thought, math/science, language and speech

Right Hemisphere

Emotion and artistic/creative tasks

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Acetylcholine malfunction

ACh-producing neurons deteriorate in Alzheimer's disease

Dopamine

Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

Dopamine malfunction

Oversupply linked to schizophrenia; undersupply linked to tremors and decreased mobility in Parkinson's disease

Serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Serotonin malfunction

Undersupply linked to depression; drugs that raise serotonin are used to treat depression

Norepinephrine

Helps control alertness and arousal

Norepinephrine malfunction

Undersupply can depress mood

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter

GABA malfunction

Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

Glutamate malfunction

Oversupply can overstimulate the brain, causing migraines or seizures

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that influence perception of pain or pleasure

Endorphin malfunction

Oversupply from opioid drugs can suppress the body's natural endorphin supply

Substance P

Involved in pain perception and immune response

Substance P malfunction

Oversupply can lead to chronic pain