Ap Psychology Unit 3B

Front 1

lesion

Back 1

tissue destruction; a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

Front 2

electroencephalogram (EEG)

Back 2

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes places on the scalp.

Front 3

CT (computer tomography) scan

Back 3

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body. Also called CAT scan

Front 4

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

Back 4

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

Front 5

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Back 5

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.

Front 6

fMRI (functional MRI)

Back 6

a technique for revealing blood-flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function

Front 7

brain-stem

Back 7

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brain-stem is responsible for automatic survival functions.

Front 8

medulla

Back 8

the base of the brain-stem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Front 9

reticular formation

Back 9

a nerve network in the brain-stem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

Front 10

thalamus

Back 10

the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brain-stem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

Front 11

cerebellum

Back 11

the "little brain" at the rear of the brain-stem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.

Front 12

limbic system

Back 12

doughnut-shaped neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

Front 13

amygdala

Back 13

two Lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

Front 14

hypothalamus

Back 14

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

Front 15

cerebral cortex

Back 15

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information center.

Front 16

glial cells (glia)

Back 16

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.

Front 17

frontal lobes

Back 17

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

Front 18

parietal lobes

Back 18

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.

Front 19

occipital lobes

Back 19

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.

Front 20

temporal lobes

Back 20

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.

Front 21

motor cortex

Back 21

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

Front 22

sensory cortex

Back 22

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

Front 23

association areas

Back 23

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 24

aphasia

Back 24

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to wernicke's area (impairing understanding)

Front 25

Broca's area

Back 25

controls language expression-an area, usually in the left frontal lobe, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

Front 26

Wernicke's area

Back 26

controls language reception-a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

Front 27

plasticity

Back 27

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by building new pathways based on experience.

Front 28

neurogenesis

Back 28

the formation of new neurons.

Front 29

corpus callosum

Back 29

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

Front 30

split brain

Back 30

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them.

Front 31

consciousness

Back 31

our awareness of our-selves and our environment.

Front 32

cognitive neuroscience

Back 32

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition.

Front 33

dual processing

Back 33

the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.