chapter 3-2: brain behavior network

Question 1

what is neural plasticity?

Answer 1

• ability of our neural networks to change through growth & reorganization
• strong during childhood

Question 2

4 ways neuron networks change during development:

Answer 2

• growth of dendrites and axons
• synaptogenesis (forming new synapses)
• pruning (removing useless connections)
• myelination (myelin sheaths protecting axons so signals travel faster)

Question 3

what is neurogenesis?

Answer 3

the creation of new neurons (possible during adulthood)

Question 4

what is CNS made of?

Answer 4

cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system, cerebellum, brain stem, and spinal cord

Question 5

what is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 5

• outer layer of the cerebrum (outer = gray matter, inner = white matter)
• responsible for thinking and planning

Question 6

what is the corpus callosum?

Answer 6

connector of the two hemispheres (helps them communicate)

Question 7

what is lateralization?

Answer 7

• the idea that each hemisphere serves somewhat different cognitive functions
• both hemispheres communicate
• split-brain subject

Question 8

frontal lobe

Answer 8

• conductor
• executive functioning
• prefrontal cortex, broca’s area, motor cortex
• planning, learning, memory, decisions, motor function, speech
• mood, personality, self awareness (phineas gage)

Question 9

parietal lobe

Answer 9

• spatial perception & tracking
• somatosensory cortex - touch, pain, temperature
• communicates with motor cortex

Question 10

temporal lobe

Answer 10

• hearing, understanding language, autobiographical memory
• wernicke’s area & auditory cortex

Question 11

occipital lobe

Answer 11

sends sensory info to visual cortex

Question 12

basal ganglia

Answer 12

• help controls movement, emotion, language, decision making
• damage = Parkinson’s disease

Question 13

Limbic system

Answer 13

• emotion center of brain
• processes info about internal states (bp, heart rate, etc)

Question 14

4 areas of the limbic system:

Answer 14

• hypothalamus
• thalamus
• hippocampus
• amygdala

Question 15

hypothalamus

Answer 15

• regulates & maintains internal bodily states by influencing hormones

Question 16

thalamus

Answer 16

senses: sense info from sense organs to primary sensory cortex

Question 17

amygdala

Answer 17

emotions: fear, arousal, and excitement

Question 18

hippocampus

Answer 18

key role in forming new memory

Question 19

cerebellum

Answer 19

balance center: balance & coordination

Question 20

brain stem

Answer 20

basic bodily functions keeping us alive
3 parts: midbrains, pons, & medulla

Question 21

spinal cord

Answer 21

• conveys info between brain and rest of body

Question 22

interneuron

Answer 22

neuron in spinal cord that allows us to have reflexes without waiting for the brain

Question 23

parts of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Answer 23

• somatic & automatic nervous systems
• sympathetic & parasympathetic nervous systems

Question 24

somatic nervous sytem

Answer 24

• skeletal (voluntary) movement
• processes sensory info

Question 25

automatic nervous system

Answer 25

- non-voluntary, automatic functions - regulates organs, blood vessels, and glands

Question 26

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 26

- fight or flight - mobilizes body for action input (during stress)

Question 27

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 27

- rest & digest - conserves energy - quiet state

Question 28

peripheral nervous system

Answer 28

- resides outside of brain and spinal cord - sends info between CNS and rest of body

Question 29

how do hormones compare to neurotransmitters?

Answer 29

they have a slower, longer lasting effect

Question 30

pituitary gland

Answer 30

- master gland - under brain - controlled by hypothalamus - oxytocin: love, affiliation, & reproduction

Question 31

adrenal gland

Answer 31

- emergency center - above kidney - hormones during stress & arousal - adrenaline: boosts energy - cortisol: released when stressed, regulates bp

Question 32

wernickes and brocas area

Answer 32

W: understanding language B: speech production