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hemispheres
brain has two sides (left controls right side and right controls left)
lateralization
there is evidence that each brain hemisphere has its own distinct functions
corpus callosum
bundle of nerves fibers that connects the 2 hemispheres messages more from one side of brain to the other
“the super highway”
left hemisphere
specializes in language, speech, handwriting, calculation, ANALYSIS
right hemisphere
appears to specialize in more widespread processing, involving perception, visualization, spatial perception, visualization, EXPRESSION OF EMOTION
Cerebrum cortex
“gray matter” outer layer of brain, tissue is folded in on itself, the folding and wrinkling allows for more surface area of cortex to fit into the skull
humans have higher traits
consciousness thinking and advance
frontal lobe
area of the cortex located in the front and top of the brain, associated with reasoning, motor skills, high level cognition and expressive language
prefrontal cortex
planning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision making and moderating social behavior
motor cortex
receives info from various lobes of the brain and utilizes this info to carry out involuntary body movements
broca’s area
located in the lower portion of the left frontal lobe, controls motor functions involved with speech production
parietal lobes
section of the brain located at the top and back of each cerebral hemisphere containing the centers for processing sensory signals
five senses
somatosensory cortex
part of the parietal lobe and receives sensory information from the entire body
occipital lobe
section of the brain bottom of each cerebral hemisphere containing the visual center of the brain
info from left half of visual field of both eyes processed in right occipital lobe vice versa
visual association cortex
recognize lines, angles, shapes, shadows and movement
temporal lobe
located behind the temples contain the neurons responsible of hearing and meaningful speech
auditory cortex takes in sound to wernicke’s area
wernicke’s area
located in the temporal lobe on the left side of the brain and its responsible for the comprehension of speech
plans for meaningful speech created in wernike’s area
brainstem
most primitive part of brain, base of brain connects to the spinal cord includes midbrain pons and medulla
controls the flow of messages between the rest of the body
controls basic body functions
medulla
located at the top of spinal cord and controls life sustaining functions= autonomic functions
pons
transfers info between the cerebellum and other parts of the brain
reticular formation
contributes to the attention and conscious state by filtering incoming stimuli and selectively relaying info
thalamus
relays signals from other parts of the briain to the cerbral cortex and regulates sleep and consciousness, appetite and alertness
cerebellum
helps control posture, balance, and coordination of voluntary movement
limbic system
regulates emotions and drives
hypothalamus
regulates variety of drives (hunger, thirst, sexual arousal, temp)
controls secreting hormones
hippocampus
formations of long term memories
amygdala
primarily involved in processing emotions and survival responses → fear, anger, agression
brain autopsy
examination of brain tissue after death is currently the only definitive way to diagnose the specific neurodegenerative disorder
lesioning studies
a research method in which areas of the brain are removed or disabled in order to determine their specific functions.
prefrontal lobotomy
#1 treatment for epilepsy
-operation that removes part of the brain to control behavior disconnects, the prefrontal cortex from the rest of the brain
hemispherectomy
brain surgery used to treat behavioral disorders or illnesses removal of one half of brain
control seizures
deep brain stimulation
newer, less invasive method of altering the brain to eliminate behavioral symptoms
make an opening in the brain inserting a electrode to stimulate an area of brain
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
non invasive technique that alters brain activity
brain scanning
not used to treat disorders but used to provide info about the structure of the brain or the activity of the brain
x ray
primarily show bones and other solid structures
electroencephalograph (EEG)
device that uses electrodes on the scalp to detect and record brain waves
computer tomography (CT scan)
uses x-rays to create 3d images of brain structure
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce high resolution images of the brain structure
magnetoencephalography (MEG)
imaging technique used to measure the magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain by extremely sensitive devices
functional MRS (fMRI)
measures blood oxygen levels to determine brain function
PET scan
uses a radioactive dye injected into the bloodstream to detect neurological activity
neuroplasticity
ability to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in the brain in response to experience and trauma
brain is resistant to change!
younger you are= more plasticity
functional plasticity
stronger when we are young and reduces with age
brain’s ability to move functions from a damaged area to the brain to other undamaged areas
structural plasticity
brain’s ability to actually change its physical structure as a result of learning
split brain
two hemispheres of the brain communicate extensively through corpus callosum when the hemispheres cant communicate each side of the brain seems to act independently “split” without awareness of the other
the nervous system
body’s communication network that consists of all nervous cells
central nervous system
coordinates withe action and interactions of the brain and spinal cord, the body’s main control center
larger of the nervous system
information highway connecting the peripheral nervous system to the brain
peripheral nervous system
includes the sensory nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
connect the cns to the organs limbs and skin
motor pathway
signals from brain to muscles / glasnds
signals muscles to pick things up
sensory pathway
signals from sensory receptors to the brain
using your sense to relay info to your brain
somatic nervous system
responsible for carrying our sensory and motor info to and from cns
afferent neurons (Aiding brain)
carries info from the nerves to the central nervous system
take in sensory info and send it to the brain and spinal cord
efferent neurons (exit brain)
carries info from the brain and spinal cord to muscle fibers throughout body
allows us to take physical action in responsible to stimulus in environment
interneuron
neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
reflex arc
not voluntary
signals sent from a sensory organ to the spinal cord which processes the info instead of passing it to the brain (activated)
autonomic nervous sytem
regualtes involuntary and uncnocisous actions
sympathetic nervous system
activates your fight or flight response
parasympathetic
functions to calm the person “rest and digest”
glial cells
provide physical support for the neurons to grow on and areound (glue)
resting potential
neurons at rest
action potential
message recieved from dendrites, send message to nucleus, axon depolarizes and message gets sent
refractory period
period of. time after a neuron fires when it cant fire again wait for potential to build
neurotransmitter
chemical messengers that carries cells in body
act like a key and receptors are the lock
excitatory neurotransmitters
excite connecting neurons and cause them to fire, more action potentials are triggered
inhibitory neurotransmitter
inhibit the next neurons from firing
acetylcholine
involved in activating muscle action and memory (speech)
excitatory
serotonin
connected to feelings of wellbeing and happiness, regulates sleep cycle and melatonin
inhibitory
dopamine
pleasure chemical of the brain (slot machines, shopping, addiction)
inhibitory
norepinephrine
response to danger “fight or flight”
excitatory
GABA
body’s natural tranquilizer", calming the central nervous system
inhibitory
increase sleepiness and decreases anxiety and muscle tension
glutamate
thinking, long term memory, learning
excitatory
endorphins
body’s natural pain killer, relieve pain and stress, feelings of pleasure
inhibitory