psych vocab quiz 2

Amygdala

part of the limbic system that borders the midline of the brain, is involved with emotional evaluation of sensory stimuli, and emotional evaluation of memory

Aphasia

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding)

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions

Broca's area

region of the brain that contains neurons involved in speech function

cerebellum

the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; it helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance

cerebral cortex

what makes us uniquely human, makes us anxious about the future and sad about the past, which other animals can’t experience. the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information

cognitive neuroscience

the interdisciplinary scientific investigation of the mind and intelligence

consciousness

individual awareness of your unique thoughts, memories, feelings, sensations, and environments

corpus callosum

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

CT scan

combines a series of X-ray images made using a form of tomography in which a computer controls the motion of the X-ray source and detectors, processes the data, and produces the image.

Dual Processing

when we’re making decisions, we use two different systems of thinking. System 1 is our intuition or gut

electroencephalogram (EEG)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface

fMRI

a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. MRI scans show brain anatomy; fMRI scans show brain function.

frontal lobes

located behind the forehead, at the front of the brain, main functions are typically associated with ‘higher’ cognitive functions, including decision and morality.

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.

hypothalamus

helps manage your body temperature, hunger and thirst, mood, sex drive, blood pressure and sleep, a structure deep within your brain

lesion tissue destruction

change such as an infection, tumor, or injury that causes the death of a tissue or organ

limbic system

neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

medulla

part of the brain stem that connects the spinal cord and the brain, regulates breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure

motor cortex

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

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues of your body.

Neurogenesis

formation of new neurons

occipital lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field

parietal lobe

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

PET scan

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

plasticity

the brain’s ability to adapt, the brain's capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development

reticular formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal (alertness)

sensory cortex

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

split brain

a condition where the corpus callosum (the bridge that connects the two hemispheres of the brain) is severed

temporal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information primarily from the opposite ear

thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard, 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

Wernicke's area

controls language reception