Overview of Brain Structures and Their Functions Flashcards Learn Test Match Q

Brainstem

The center core of the brain, begins where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; is responsible for automatic survival functions.

Medulla

The hindbrain structure which is the brainstem's base; controls heartbeat and breathing.

Pons

Handles unconscious processes and jobs, such as your sleep-wake cycle and breathing.

Reticular Formation

A nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus; it filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal.

Thalamus

The forebrain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

Cerebellum

The hindbrain's 'little brain' at the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

Limbic system

Neural system is located mostly in the forebrain- below the cerebral hemispheres- and includes the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and pituitary gland; associated with emotions and drives.

Hypothalamus

A limbic system neural structure lying below the thalamus, it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system, and is linked to emotion and reward.

Pituitary gland

Senses the body's needs and sends signals to different organs and glands throughout the body to regulate their function and maintain an appropriate environment.

Amygdala

Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories of facts and events for storage.

Cerebral cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain's cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

Frontal lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead. They enable linguistic processing, muscle movements, higher-order thinking, and executive functioning (such as making plans and judgments).

Parietal lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; it receives sensory input for touch and body position.

Temporal lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; it includes the auditory areas, each of which receives information primarily from the opposite ear. They also enable language processing.

Occipital lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; it includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.

Primary motor cortex

A cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

Primary sensory cortex

A cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

Auditory cortex

Receives information from your ears.

Visual cortex

Any visual information you are receiving now is going to the this.

Association area

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

Broca's area

Region of the brain that contains neurons involved in speech function.

Wernicke's area

The posterior segment of the superior temporal gyrus in the dominant hemisphere, the area is responsible for the comprehension of written and spoken language receives information and functions to assign word meanings

Angular gyrus

Supports the retrieval of detailed information from episodic memory.

Corpus callosum

A bundle of nerve fibers that allow your brain's left and right hemispheres to communicate.