1.4 AP Psych - The Brain

for brainiacs nationwide

Neuroplasticity

the brain’s ability to change and adapt by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways

Lesion

Tissue destruction. Naturally, from trauma, or iatrogenic

Electroencephalogram - EEG

Recording of waves of electrical activity on brain surface.

Magnetoencephalography - MEG

Recording of magnetic fields from electrical activity from brain.

Computed Tomography Scan - CT

X-ray photos from diff. angles for composite of brain structure

Position Emission Tomography - PET

Detecting brain activity by monitoring movement of radioactive glucose

Magnetic Resonance Image - MRI

Uses magnetic fields & radio waves for images of brain tissue

Functional Magnetic Resonance Image - fMRI

Revealing blood flow and activity by comparing MRI scans

Hindbrain

essential auto functions: breathing, sleep, coordination, balance

Midbrain

Connection between fore and hind brain. Sensory processing, transmission, and dopamine creation = movement

Forebrain

Thinking, planning, complex functions

sensory association

cerebrum, thalamus, hypothalamus

Brainstem

Sensory relay, preforming auto functions

Medulla

Auto: breathing, heartbeat

Thalamus

Sense routed through and sends to rest of brain, filters input, grand central station

Reticular Formation

Arousal, alertness, reflexes

Cerebellum

Coordinating and adapting to movement, balance

Cerebral Cortex

Ultimate control and processing center

Frontal Lobes

Decision making, process memories, environment, emotions. Attention

Parietal Lobes

somatosensation, proprioception, bodily and object awareness

Occipital Lobes

Interprets visual signals: perception, positioning

Temporal Lobes

Linguistic processing, Recognition

Broca’s Area

Production and coordination of speech

Wernicke’s Area

speech and language comprehension

Limbic System

motovation, learning, memory, emotions, arousal

Amygdala

long term memory creation, fear-learning

Hypothalamus

links CNS and endocrine systems. regulate hunger, thirst, body temp

Hippocampus

Long term memory formation

Pituitary Gland

Secretes hormones for functions, regulations, endocrine system

Neurogenesis

formation of new neurons

corpus callosum

large band of neural fibers connecting 2 brain hemispheres 

split brain

iatrogenic condition separating brain’s 2 hemispheres by cutting corpus callosum and other connecting fibers

Left hemisphere

language, logic, math, controls right side

Right Hemisphere

spatial awareness, facial recognition, emotion processing, controls left side