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BIG BRAIN NOTES Flashcards

for 12 point quiz (57 cards)

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1
Q

What are the two major divisions of the nervous system?

A

Central nervous system (CNS)
Peripheral nervous system

CNS is encased in bone (skull and spine) and includes the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system consists of all other neurons outside the bone.

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2
Q

What structures are included in the hindbrain?

A

Spinal cord
Medulla
Reticular activating system
Cerebellum

The hindbrain is responsible for basic life support functions and is an evolutionary old part of the brain.

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3
Q

What is the function of the medulla?

A
  • Breathing
  • Heart rate
  • Digestion
  • Vital reflexes

The medulla is crucial for maintaining basic life functions.

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4
Q

What does the reticular activating system (RAS) control?

A
  • Arousal
  • Wakefulness
  • Alertness

RAS is metaphorically described as the brain’s volume control and is involved in sleep and stress.

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5
Q

What is the role of the cerebellum?

A
  • Coordination of movement
  • Muscle cooperation

The cerebellum helps with activities like walking and touching your nose, and is affected by alcohol.

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6
Q

What are the two parts of the forebrain?

A
  • Limbic system
  • Cortex

The forebrain is the highest part of the brain and is involved in complex functions.

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7
Q

What structures are part of the limbic system?

A
  • Hypothalamus
  • Hippocampus
  • Amygdala

These structures are involved in emotions and memory systems.

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8
Q

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

A
  • Controls hormone release
  • Mind-body connection
  • Motivation (fight, flight, food, sex, sleep)

The hypothalamus connects the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

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9
Q

What does the amygdala help with?

A
  • Emotion perception
  • Fear and anger
  • Memory for emotional events

The amygdala is located at the tip of the hippocampus.

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10
Q

What is the function of the hippocampus?

A
  • Storing new long-term memories
  • Declarative memories
  • Spatial memories

The hippocampus has limited neurogenesis and is crucial for memory formation.

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11
Q

What are the two kinds of long-term memory?

A
  • Explicit memory
  • Implicit memory

Explicit memory involves word-based memories, while implicit memory includes muscle memories and emotional reactions.

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12
Q

What are the two types of amnesia?

A
  • Anterograde
  • Retrograde

Anterograde amnesia prevents storing new memories, while retrograde amnesia affects retrieving old memories.

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13
Q

What is the role of the thalamus?

A
  • Sensory relay area

Nerves from sense organs go to the thalamus before reaching higher brain regions.

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14
Q

What are the four lobes of the cortex?

A
  • Frontal lobe
  • Parietal lobe
  • Occipital lobe
  • Temporal lobe

Each lobe has distinct functions related to processing information.

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15
Q

What is the primary function of the frontal lobe?

A
  • Thinking
  • Planning
  • Decision making
  • Self-control

The frontal lobe is involved in emotional control and executing actions.

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16
Q

What does the primary motor cortex do?

A
  • Sends outgoing movement signals to specific body parts

It is located at the back of the frontal lobe, adjacent to the parietal lobe.

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17
Q

What is the function of the parietal lobe?

A
  • Processes incoming somatic information
  • Maps spatial awareness

The somato-sensory cortex within the parietal lobe receives input from sensory neurons.

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18
Q

What type of information does the temporal lobe process?

A
  • Auditory information
  • Language and word meaning

The temporal lobe is crucial for processing sounds and understanding language.

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19
Q

What does the occipital lobe process?

A
  • Visual information

The occipital lobe is responsible for interpreting visual stimuli.

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20
Q

Nerves from the sense organs such as eyes and ears first go to the _____________.

A

Thalamus

The thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory information.

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21
Q

The limbic area __________ triggers the release of adrenaline and cortisol for the fight/flight response.

A

Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in the body’s stress response.

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22
Q

The most evolutionarily old, primitive brain structures are located here: __________.

A

Hind brain

The hindbrain includes structures essential for survival.

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23
Q

The small limbic area called the __________ is key to learning to fear certain situations or stimuli.

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A

Amygdala

The amygdala is involved in emotional processing.

24
Q

The brain stem area known as the __________ performs basic ‘life support’ functions such as breathing and heart rate.

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A

Medulla Oblongata

The medulla oblongata is vital for autonomic functions.

25
The __________ or 'little brain' is located just above the brain stem and coordinates muscles for balance and smooth movements.
Cerebellum ## Footnote The cerebellum is essential for motor control.
26
__________ is a psychological disorder that arises from a problem in the Reticular Activating System.
Narcolepsy ## Footnote Narcolepsy affects sleep regulation.
27
Storing new declarative memories is the job of the __________.
Hippocampus ## Footnote The hippocampus is critical for memory formation.
28
The forebrain has two parts; the limbic system for emotion and memory and the __________.
Neo-cortex ## Footnote The neo-cortex is involved in higher cognitive functions.
29
The limbic system is made of these four: __________.
* Thalamus * Hypothalamus * Amygdala * Hippocampus ## Footnote These structures are interconnected and play roles in emotion and memory.
30
The Reticular Activating System is involved with __________ & __________.
* Arousal * Alertness ## Footnote This system regulates wakefulness and sleep.
31
The small limbic area called the __________ is key to perceiving the emotions others are expressing.
Amygdala ## Footnote The amygdala is crucial for emotional recognition.
32
Of all species, humans have the largest __________ for our body size.
Neo-Cortex ## Footnote The neo-cortex is responsible for complex thought and behaviors.
33
The __________, which is part of the frontal lobe, commands voluntary movement.
Primary Motor Cortex ## Footnote This area is essential for initiating movement.
34
Knowing where an object is and directing one’s eyes there is a primitive function of the __________.
Mid-Brain ## Footnote The mid-brain integrates sensory information.
35
The pituitary gland is controlled by the __________ and spits out __________.
* Hypothalamus * Hormones ## Footnote The pituitary gland is often referred to as the 'master gland.'
36
The __________ Cortex 'maps' each area of the body and helps process sensory input from those areas.
Somatosensory ## Footnote This cortex is crucial for body awareness.
37
Executive control arises from the __________ Lobe.
Frontal ## Footnote The frontal lobe is involved in decision making and planning.
38
Decision making, emotion regulation, and directing attention are three aspects of thought called __________ __________.
Executive Control ## Footnote Executive control is essential for complex cognitive tasks.
39
Both word meaning and hearing are functions of the __________ __________.
Temporal Lobes ## Footnote The temporal lobes are key for auditory processing.
40
Blakemore and Cooper studied neurons that respond to the orientations of lines in the part of kittens’ cortex called the __________ __________.
Occipital Lobe ## Footnote The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for visual processing.
41
What area is adjacent to and right behind (toward the back) the primary motor cortex? __________.
Somatosensory Cortex ## Footnote This area processes sensory information from the body.
42
The __________ Lobe contains the Somatosensory Cortex and other areas involved with locating and mapping the environment.
Parietal ## Footnote The parietal lobe integrates sensory information.
43
__________ is a mnemonic that stands for Frontal, Parietal, Occipital and Temporal, the four lobes of the neo-cortex.
F-POT ## Footnote This mnemonic helps remember the major lobes of the brain.
44
Who studied H.M.?
B. Milner ## Footnote B. Milner's work focused on memory and the hippocampus.
45
Why did they study H.M.?
Study function of the Hippocampus ## Footnote H.M. provided insights into memory processes.
46
What was removed in the surgery?
L & R Hippocampi ## Footnote The removal aimed to alleviate severe epilepsy.
47
Why did the surgeon remove those things from H.M.’s brain?
He had life threatening epilepsy ## Footnote The surgery was a last resort for treatment.
48
How long do short term memories last?
30 seconds ## Footnote Anything stored longer is considered long-term memory.
49
You can store new information in long term memory and then recall it back into short term memory at any time… but what can you do to keep information in short term memory if you don’t want to store it in long term memory? __________.
Repeat it over and over ## Footnote This technique helps maintain information temporarily.
50
After the surgery how was H.M.’s Short Term Memory (STM)?
It was fine. Good, Unimpaired ## Footnote H.M.'s STM remained intact post-surgery.
51
After the surgery how was H.M’s recall of old Long Term Memory (LTM)?
It was fine. Good, Unimpaired ## Footnote H.M. could still recall memories formed before the surgery.
52
After the surgery how was H.M.s ability to store new memories?
It depends, declarative memories- nope; implicit memories- all good ## Footnote H.M. could not form new declarative memories.
53
What is anterograde amnesia?
Inability to store new memories ## Footnote This condition affects memory formation after a specific event.
54
Give an example of an implicit memory task.
* Tower of Hanoi * Mirror star tracing * Skateboard riding ## Footnote Implicit memory tasks do not require conscious recall.
55
According to the case study of H.M. what does the Hippocampus do?
Stores new declarative long term memories ## Footnote The hippocampus is essential for forming new explicit memories.
56
What is a major internal validity issue for the case study of H.M.?
Scoville nicked some other parts like the amygdala and temporal lobe ## Footnote This raises questions about the specific effects of the surgery.
57
Which below is a major ethical concern for the case study of H.M.?
Consent is impossible if you have no memory of consenting ## Footnote Ethical considerations in research involving memory impairment are critical.
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