Brain Cheat Sheet

Acetylcholine (ACh) Neurotransmitter that enables muscle action, learning, and memory. Undersupply is associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Dopamine Neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion. Oversupply is linked to schizophrenia; undersupply is linked to Parkinson's disease.

Serotonin Neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal. Undersupply is linked to depression.

Norepinephrine Neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal. Undersupply can depress mood.

GABA A major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Undersupply is linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia.

Glutamate A major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory. Oversupply can overstimulate the brain, causing migraines or seizures.

Endorphins Neurotransmitters that influence the perception of pain or pleasure.

Substance P Neurotransmitter involved in pain perception and immune response. Oversupply can lead to chronic pain.

Thalamus Sensory switchboard that processes every sense except smell.

Medulla Part of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing.

Brainstem The oldest part of the brain; controls automatic survival functions.

Reticular Formation Network in the brainstem that controls arousal and alertness.

Cerebellum Processes and coordinates voluntary movement and balance.

Limbic System A group of brain structures involved in emotions, motivation, learning, memory, and basic drives.

Amygdala Part of the limbic system involved in fear and aggression.

Hippocampus Part of the limbic system involved in learning and memory.

Hypothalamus Part of the limbic system involved in hunger, thirst, sexual arousal, and reward.

Pituitary Gland The body's master gland; works with the hypothalamus to control hormone activity.

Cerebral Cortex The brain's outer layer; serves as the main control and information-processing center.

Cerebrum The large, "beefy" portion of the brain containing the cerebral cortex and its major lobes.

Frontal Lobe Brain lobe involved in higher-order thinking, planning, decision-making, and voluntary movement.

Parietal Lobe Brain lobe that receives and processes sensory information, including touch and body position.

Occipital Lobe Brain lobe that receives and processes visual information.

Temporal Lobe Brain lobe that receives and processes auditory information.

Motor Cortex Area of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movement. Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body.

Sensory Cortex Area at the front of the parietal lobe that registers and processes sensory information.

Association Areas Areas of the cerebral cortex involved in higher mental functions rather than primary sensory or motor functions.

Wernicke's Area Brain area involved in language comprehension.

Broca's Area Brain area involved in producing and controlling speech.

Plasticity The brain's ability to reorganize and adapt itself, especially after damage; generally greater in younger people.

Corpus Callosum Large bundle of neural fibers connecting the left and right brain hemispheres.

Split Brain A condition in which the corpus callosum has been severed, preventing normal communication between the two hemispheres.

Contralateral Control The principle that each brain hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body.

Visual Field An area of vision processed by the opposite brain hemisphere: right visual field goes to the left hemisphere, and left visual field goes to the right hemisphere.

Left Hemisphere Brain hemisphere generally more involved in analytical thinking, math, science, and language.

Right Hemisphere Brain hemisphere generally more involved in emotion and spatial/artistic processing.