CABD Exam 1 Brain Structures/Functions

medulla oblongata

vital functions (breathing, heart rate)

pons

bridge for brain and spinal cord; regulates sleep and breathing

cerebellum

Motor coordination and balance

tectum

Visual and auditory reflexes (Superior and Inferior colliculi)

tegmentum

Homeostasis, reward pathways (includes substantia nigra)

diencephalon

Thalamus (sensory relay) and Hypothalamus (hormonal regulation)

basal ganglia

Motor control, learning, emotions

limbic system

Emotions, memory (includes amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate gyrus)

left hemisphere

Speech, logic, details, familiar tasks

right hemisphere

Intuition, spatial skills, novel tasks

frontal lobe

Motor output, attention, planning

parietal lobe

Tactile senses, spatial processing

temporal lobe

Auditory processing, emotions, memory

occipital lobe

vision

dorsal

back

ventral

Toward the belly/underside

rostral

toward the beak (front)

caudal

toward the tail (rear)

anterior

front

posterior

back

superior

upper

inferior

lower

medial

inner

lateral

towards the outside

saggital

left to right slices

horizontal (axial)

bottom to top slices

coronal

front to back slices

brocas area

expressive language, frontal lobe of brain

wernickes area

receptive language, temporal lobe of brain

dura mater

tough outer layer

arachnoid mater

middle layer with CSF-filled subarachnoid space

pia mater

thin inner layer covering the brain

neurogenesis

neurons form from stem cells

migration

Neurons travel to final locations; abnormal migration may cause developmental disorders

differentiation

Neurons and glia form specialized structures

synaptogenesis

Synaptic connections form; key to learning

arborization

Dendrites branch to connect neurons ("neurons that fire together, wire together")

selection and pruning

Unused neurons die (apoptosis) to refine circuits

myelination

Myelin sheaths form, speeding signal transmission (continues into mid-life)

selection

includes determination of which cells will be glia cells and which will be neurons

glial cells

non-neuronal cells in the Central Nervous System (and PNS) that do not produce electrical impulses; they support neuronal development and signaling

neurons

communication network of the body whereas (neuro)glia cells facilitate the functioning of that network

Neuron Types

Motor (efferent), Sensory (afferent), Interneurons (relay signals)

Parts of a Neuron

Soma, dendrites (receive signals), axon (transmits signals), synapse (signal transfer site)

Neuron Firing

Electrical impulse (action potential) travels down the axon; neurotransmitters across synapses

Glial Cells

Support neurons

apoptosis

programmed cell death (refining connections in the brain)

critical period

Narrow window when certain experiences are necessary for normal development (e.g., visual acuity, phoneme learning). Missing stimuli during this time leads to irreversible deficits

sensitive period

A broader window when the brain is more receptive to certain learning but can still adapt outside this window, though less efficiently (e.g., second language acquisition, emotional development)

Prenatal Period

This is a critical period for the development of the brain and other organs. Proper nutrition and the absence of harmful substances (like alcohol and drugs) are crucial

First 1,000 Days (Conception to Age 2)

This is a critical period for brain development, including cognitive, motor, language, and emotional growth

Early Childhood (Ages 2-7)

This is a sensitive period for language acquisition, social skills, and emotional regulation

Adolescence

This is a sensitive period for the development of higher cognitive functions, identity formation, and emotional regulation

Visual System

Birth to 6 months for visual acuity; sensitive period for eye patching to prevent amblyopia extends to 3-5 years

Language

Children are most attuned to their native language sounds between birth and 5 years; later phoneme learning is harder (e.g., Genie's late language development)

Social Bonds

Formed from birth to preschool, with some flexibility in later years for improving social bonds