3B- The Brain Flashcards Preview

Psychology > 3B- The Brain > Flashcards

Flashcards in 3B- The Brain Deck (46)
Loading flashcards...
0
Q

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface

A

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

1
Q

Tissue destruction

A

Lesion

2
Q

A series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body

A

CT (computed tomography) (CAT Scan)

3
Q

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task (structures and activities are seen)

A

Positron emission tomography (PET)

4
Q

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue (shows brain anatomy)

A

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

5
Q

A technique for revealing blood flow, and therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans (shows brain function)

A

fMRI (functional MRI)

6
Q

The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatics survival functions

A

Brainstem

7
Q

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

A

Medulla

8
Q

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

A

Reticular formation

9
Q

The brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla (all senses except smell)

A

Thalamus

10
Q

“Little brain”; at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance; helps judge time, modulate emotions, and discriminate sounds and textures; coordinates voluntary movement

A

Cerebellum

11
Q

Doughnut-shaped neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives (endocrine system); contains the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus

A

Limbic system

12
Q

Two Lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion (fear, anger, and aggression)

A

Amygdala

13
Q

Processes memories; part of the limbic system

A

Hippocampus

14
Q

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintenience activities (eating, drinking, and body temp); helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary glands; linked to emotion and reward; reward center; additive disorders- reward deficiency syndrome: a genetically disposed deficiency in the natural brain systems

A

Hypothalamus

15
Q

Above the medulla on the brainstem; helps coordinate movement

A

Pons

16
Q

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemisphere; the body’s ultimate control and information processing center

A

Cerebral cortex

17
Q

Part of the cerebral cortex; cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

A

Glial cells (glia)

18
Q

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

A

Frontal lobe

19
Q

Lies at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

A

Parietal lobes

20
Q

Lies at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

A

Occipital lobes

21
Q

Lies roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

A

Temporal lobes

22
Q

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement

A

Motor cortex

23
Q

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations; the more sensitive the body region, the larger the sensory cortex area devoted to it

A

Sensory cortex

24
Q

Not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; involved on higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking; frontal lobe damage- have intact memories, but can’t plan ahead, and also alters personality (Phineas Gage ( railroad worker))

A

Association areas

25
Q

Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage

A

Aphasia

26
Q

The brain operates by dividing its mental functions into sub functions

A

Processing language

27
Q

Damage to _______ leaves a person able to speak and understand, but unable to read aloud

A

Angular gyrus

28
Q

Controls language expression, usually in the left frontal lobe; directs the muscle movements involved in speech; damage here disrupts speaking

A

Broca’s area

29
Q

Controls language reception; usually in the left temporal lobe; involved in language comprehension and expression; damage here disrupts understanding

A

Wernicke’s area

30
Q

The brain’ ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based in experience

A

Plasticity

31
Q

Aims to reduce brains by restraining a fully functioning limb and forcing use of the “bad limb”

A

Constraint-induced therapy

32
Q

Formation of new neurons

A

Neurogenesis

33
Q

Dominant or major hemisphere

A

Left hemisphere

34
Q

Subordinate or minor hemisphere

A

Right hemisphere

35
Q

Speculated that separating the corpus callosum would reduce epileptic seizures

A

Vogel and Bogen

36
Q

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

A

Corpus callosum

37
Q

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

A

Split brains

38
Q

Researched with cats and monkeys by splitting their brains

A

Myers and Gazzigna and Spears

39
Q

Perpetual tasks, sense of self, and special thinking are specialized in the _______

A

Right hemisphere

40
Q

Language is specialized in the ________

A

Left hemisphere

41
Q

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment; helps act out long-term interests

A

Consciousness

42
Q

Interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (all mental processes)

A

Cognitive neuroscience

43
Q

Principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks; priming, conscious left brain, and intuitive right brain

A

Dual processing

44
Q

Enables us “to create mental furniture that allows us to think about the world”- to recognize things and to plan future actions

A

Visual perception track

45
Q

Guides our moment-to-moment actions

A

Visual action track