Psychology 7E Myers Module 4 The Brain

Front 1

brainstem

Back 1

the oldet part and central core of the brains, beginning where teh spinal cord cwells as it enters the skull; it is responsible for automatic survival functions

Front 2

medulla

Back 2

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Front 3

thalamus

Back 3

the brain's ensory 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

Front 4

Reticular formation

Back 4

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

Front 5

Cerebellum

Back 5

the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing senory input and and coordinating movement output and balance

Front 6

Lesion

Back 6

tissue destruction. A brain _____ is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of the brain tissue

Front 7

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Back 7

an amplified recording of the brain waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain';s surface. These eaves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

Front 8

Limbic system

Back 8

a doughnut-shaped system of neural structures below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as those for food and sex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus

Front 9

PET (Positron Emission Tomogrpahy) Scan

Back 9

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

Front 10

MRI (magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Back 10

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain

Front 11

fMRI (functional MRI)

Back 11

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

Front 12

amygdala

Back 12

two lima bean sized neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion

Front 13

hypothalamus

Back 13

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion

Front 14

cerebral cortex

Back 14

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

Front 15

frontal lobes

Back 15

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

Front 16

Parietal lobes

Back 16

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

Front 17

Occipital Lobes

Back 17

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, each recieving info from the opposite visual field

Front 18

Temporal lobes

Back 18

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditroy areas, each receiving info primarily from the opposite ear

Front 19

Motor cortex

Back 19

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

Front 20

Sensory Cortex

Back 20

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

Front 21

Association areas

Back 21

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

Front 22

Aphasia

Back 22

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Brocas area or to Wernicke's Area

Front 23

Broca's area

Back 23

Impairment speaking if damaged

Front 24

Wernicke's Area

Back 24

Impairment understanding if damaged

Front 25

Plasticity

Back 25

the brain's capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development

Front 26

Corpus callosum

Back 26

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

Front 27

Split brain

Back 27

a condition in which the brains two hemispheres are isolated by cutting the fibers connecting them