Brain Structure & Function psychology exam revision

Flashcards on Brain Structure and Function

Structure of the brain

The arrangement and organisation of the brain.

Function of the brain

The way the brain operates.

Hindbrain

Lower-level brain structures including the cerebellum, medulla, and pons. Controls motor functions and vital autonomic responses.

Cerebellum

Located below the cerebrum at the rear of the skull, responsible for coordination of movement, balance, and muscle activity. Involved in learning and memory.

Medulla

Located in the lower part of the brain stem, responsible for regulating life-sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate.

Pons

Acts as a 'bridge' connecting parts of the brain. Regulates sleep, dreaming, arousal, and some muscle movement.

Midbrain

Located in the central part of the brain. Involved with movement, processing of visual and auditory information, and tactile sensory information.

Reticular Formation

Complex network of neurons in the brainstem that regulates consciousness, sleep, and wakefulness. Helps screen incoming information.

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

A part of the reticular formation that regulates arousal by increasing or dampening it in response to feedback from upper and lower brain areas.

Forebrain

Upper-level structures including the hypothalamus, thalamus, and cerebrum. Regulates cognitive processes, emotion, and personality.

Hypothalamus

Section of the brain responsible for the production of essential hormones. Governs functions such as temperature regulation, thirst, hunger, sleep, and mood.

Thalamus

Filters information from the senses (except smell) and transmits it to relevant parts of the brain. Plays a role in attention.

Cerebrum (Cerebral Cortex)

Largest part of the human brain, associated with higher brain function such as thought and action. Divided into frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes.