Ap Psych Quiz 3

Tools for studying the brain

EEG, CT, PET, MRI, fMRI

Phineas Gage Case Study

Phineas Gage: railroad worker who survived a brain injury that changed his personality and behavior;

case study examined the localization of brain function: frontal lobe controls personality and behavior

lesions

areas of tissue that have been pathologically altered by injury, wound, or infection

EEG (electroencephalogram)

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

CAT scan (computerized axial tomography)

Computerized x-ray that produces high-resolution images of the brain, blood vessels, arteries, and veins

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.

PET scan (positron emission tomography)

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

fMRI (functional MRI)

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function.

Hindbrain

medulla, pons, cerebellum

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.

Midbrain

Region between the hindbrain and the forebrain; it is important for hearing and sight.

Reticular Formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

Forebrain

The largest and most complicated region of the brain, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.

Limbic System

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

Thalamus

the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking, body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion

Amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

Cerebral Cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

Plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Hemispheres

we have two, right and left, and some brain functions seem to centered in one or the other

Corpus Callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

brain lateralization/hemispheric specialization

specialization of function in each hemisphere

Left Hemisphere

controls the right side of the body; analytical, language, math

Right Hemisphere

controls the left side of the body; creative, intuitive, spacial

Association Area

any area of the cerebral cortex that is not associated with receiving sensory information or controlling muscle movements

Lobes

frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital

Frontal Lobe

associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving

Broca's Area

controls language expression - an area, usually in the left frontal lobe, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

Motor Cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Parietal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.

Sensory Cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

Temporal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

Wernicke's Area

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

Auditory Cortices

This area of the temporal lobes interprets neural impulses that are sent from the ears. It is not lateralized like the visual cortices. Sound received by the left ear is processed in both hemispheres.

Occipital Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

Visual Cortex

receives written words as visual stimulation

split brain

a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them