Introduction to Brain Anatomy and Functionality

These flashcards cover the basic concepts and key vocabulary discussed in the lecture regarding brain structure and function.

Niacin

A vitamin that is being discussed at a surface level in the context of brain complexity.

Cerebral Cortex

The outermost layer of the brain responsible for various higher-order brain functions.

Motor Homunculus

A stylized representation of the body showing the areas of the brain dedicated to motor control of different body parts.

Sensory Homunculus

A stylized map of the brain that represents the sensory processing areas for different body parts.

Frontal Lobe

The region of the brain associated with voluntary motor control, personality, higher intellect, and verbal communication.

Parietal Lobe

The lobe responsible for cutaneous sensations, muscle sensations, understanding speech, and word formation.

Temporal Lobe

The part of the brain primarily involved in auditory sensation and memory storage.

Occipital Lobe

The section of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

Hippocampus

A part of the limbic system associated with the formation of new memories.

Amygdala

A region of the brain involved in emotional responses, including aggression and fear.

Lateralization

The functional specialization of the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Corpus Callosum

The bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Long-Term Memory

Memory that has a longer duration and can be divided into non-declarative and declarative types.

Implicit Memory

A type of long-term memory that involves skills and conditioning that are not consciously recalled.

Explicit Memory

A type of long-term memory that involves facts and events that can be consciously recalled.

Circadian Rhythms

Biological processes that oscillate on a roughly 24-hour cycle, regulating sleep and wakefulness.

Pituitary Gland

An endocrine gland located within the brain that produces and secretes hormones.

Motor Coordination

The ability to control and efficiently execute movements of various body parts.

Visual Reflexes

Automatic responses that orient the eyes towards stimuli in the visual field.

Dopaminergic Neurons

Neurons that release dopamine, which is involved in reward and pleasure systems in the brain.

Niacin

A vitamin that is being discussed at a surface level in the context of brain complexity.

Cerebral Cortex

The outermost layer of the brain responsible for various higher-order brain functions.

Motor Homunculus

A stylized representation of the body showing the areas of the brain dedicated to motor control of different body parts.

Sensory Homunculus

A stylized map of the brain that represents the sensory processing areas for different body parts.

Frontal Lobe

The region of the brain associated with voluntary motor control, personality, higher intellect, and verbal communication.

Parietal Lobe

The lobe responsible for cutaneous sensations, muscle sensations, understanding speech, and word formation.

Temporal Lobe

The part of the brain primarily involved in auditory sensation and memory storage.

Occipital Lobe

The section of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

Hippocampus

A part of the limbic system associated with the formation of new memories.

Amygdala

A region of the brain involved in emotional responses, including aggression and fear.

Lateralization

The functional specialization of the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Corpus Callosum

The bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Long-Term Memory

Memory that has a longer duration and can be divided into non-declarative and declarative types.

Implicit Memory

A type of long-term memory that involves skills and conditioning that are not consciously recalled.

Explicit Memory

A type of long-term memory that involves facts and events that can be consciously recalled.

Circadian Rhythms

Biological processes that oscillate on a roughly 24-hour cycle, regulating sleep and wakefulness.

Pituitary Gland

An endocrine gland located within the brain that produces and secretes hormones.

Motor Coordination

The ability to control and efficiently execute movements of various body parts.

Visual Reflexes

Automatic responses that orient the eyes towards stimuli in the visual field.

Dopaminergic Neurons

Neurons that release dopamine, which is involved in reward and pleasure systems in the brain.

Brainstem

The part of the brain that connects the cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord, controlling vital functions like breathing, heart rate, and sleep.

Cerebellum

A major structure of the hindbrain that is important for motor control, coordination, precision, and accurate timing.

Thalamus

A forebrain structure that acts as a relay station for sensory information (except smell) to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

A small but vital part of the brain that regulates various bodily functions including hunger, thirst, sleep, body temperature, and hormone secretion from the pituitary gland.

Basal Ganglia

A group of subcortical nuclei in the forebrain that are primarily involved in the control of voluntary motor movements, procedural learning, and emotional functions.

Niacin

A vitamin that is being discussed at a surface level in the context of brain complexity.

Cerebral Cortex

The outermost layer of the brain responsible for various higher-order brain functions.

Motor Homunculus

A stylized representation of the body showing the areas of the brain dedicated to motor control of different body parts.

Sensory Homunculus

A stylized map of the brain that represents the sensory processing areas for different body parts.

Frontal Lobe

The region of the brain associated with voluntary motor control, personality, higher intellect, and verbal communication.

Parietal Lobe

The lobe responsible for cutaneous sensations, muscle sensations, understanding speech, and word formation.

Temporal Lobe

The part of the brain primarily involved in auditory sensation and memory storage.

Occipital Lobe

The section of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

Hippocampus

A part of the limbic system associated with the formation of new memories.

Amygdala

A region of the brain involved in emotional responses, including aggression and fear.

Lateralization

The functional specialization of the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Corpus Callosum

The bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Long-Term Memory

Memory that has a longer duration and can be divided into non-declarative and declarative types.

Implicit Memory

A type of long-term memory that involves skills and conditioning that are not consciously recalled.

Explicit Memory

A type of long-term memory that involves facts and events that can be consciously recalled.

Circadian Rhythms

Biological processes that oscillate on a roughly 24-hour cycle, regulating sleep and wakefulness.

Pituitary Gland

An endocrine gland located within the brain that produces and secretes hormones.

Motor Coordination

The ability to control and efficiently execute movements of various body parts.

Visual Reflexes

Automatic responses that orient the eyes towards stimuli in the visual field.

Dopaminergic Neurons

Neurons that release dopamine, which is involved in reward and pleasure systems in the brain.

Brainstem

The part of the brain that connects the cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord, controlling vital functions like breathing, heart rate, and sleep.

Cerebellum

A major structure of the hindbrain that is important for motor control, coordination, precision, and accurate timing.

Thalamus

A forebrain structure that acts as a relay station for sensory information (except smell) to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

A small but vital part of the brain that regulates various bodily functions including hunger, thirst, sleep, body temperature, and hormone secretion from the pituitary gland.

Basal Ganglia

A group of subcortical nuclei in the forebrain that are primarily involved in the control of voluntary motor movements, procedural learning, and emotional functions.

Broca's Area

A region in the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, linked to speech production.

Wernicke's Area

A region in the temporal lobe, typically in the left hemisphere, involved in the comprehension of speech.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a chemical synapse from one neuron to another target neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell.

Neuron

The fundamental unit of the nervous system, responsible for transmitting electrical and chemical signals throughout the body.

Synapse

The junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter.