Comprehensive Brain Structures, Functions, and Neurotransmitters Overview

Medulla

Nonconscious processes, breathing, respiration, smooth muscle contractions, digestion

Pons

Posture and movement, bodily temperature, circadian rhythm

Cerebellum

Motor/muscle movement

Ras (reticular activating system)

Lets you know when you're tired/when you've had enough sleep

Thalamus

Processing of emotions, relay center for all sensory information from the brain to the body, and from the body to the brain

Hypothalamus

Hunger, thirst, sex drive, arousal

Amygdala

Fear, anxiety, aggression

Hippocampus

Formation of new memories

Limbic System

Emotional center of the brain

Cerebrum

Includes all of the lobes and cortexes

Corpus Callosum

Allows both hemispheres of the brain to communicate with each other

Sensory Cortex

Somatosensory cortex. When a certain body part is stimulated, this

receives the information and processes it.

Motor Cortex

Allows you to move. Has all the body parts on it.

Frontal Lobe

Voluntary motor movement. Executive function, HOTS. Decision making, thinking, planning, production of speech.

Parietal Lobe

Sensation of touch and feel.

Occipital Lobe

Vision

Temporal Lobe

Receiving information through the ears, understanding and processing the information, and responding.

Broca's Area

For speaking. Also called Expressive Aphasia.

Wernicke's Area

Receptive Aphasia, also called Wernicke's aphasia.

CT (CAT) Scan

Computerized axial tomography. Takes pictures from multiple angles, so can show better images.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Magnets that spin fast to create images.

fMRI

Functional MRI. Looks at functional damage while performing cognitive tasks.

PET Scan

Positive Emission Tomography. Used to find out how active a tumor is.

Split Brain Patients

People with epilepsy have their corpus callosum severed to minimize seizures.

Endocrine System

System of glands that secrete hormones affecting human behavior.

Hypothalamus (Endocrine)

King of the endocrine system. Releases all pituitary glands.

Pituitary Gland

Breast milk production, metabolism, stress, perspiration, uterine contractions.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers.

Serotonin

Affects mostly mood, hunger, sleep, arousal.

Dopamine

Influences movement, learning, attention and emotion.

Acetylcholine (ACH)

Enables muscle action, learning and memory.

Norepinephrine

Controls arousal and alertness.

GABA

Major inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Glutamate

Major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory.

Endorphins

Natural pain killer, increase during long distance running.

Genetics

Chromosomes, DNA, Genes.

Heritability Estimates

Relative likelihood that genetics played a role in how the person is.

Nature vs Nurture

Nature: DNA, Nurture: behavior, how you grew up.

Punnett Squares

Dominant/recessive traits.

Parts of a Neuron

Dendrite, Terminal Button, Synapse, Synaptic Vesicles.