Brain Structure and Function

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Questions and Answers

Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is primarily responsible for processing sensory information related to touch, pain, and temperature?

  • Parietal Lobe (correct)
  • Occipital Lobe
  • Temporal Lobe
  • Frontal Lobe

What is the primary role of the corpus callosum in brain function?

  • Processing sensory information before it reaches the cerebral cortex.
  • Regulating emotional responses by directly influencing the limbic system.
  • Coordinating motor skills by transmitting signals from the frontal lobe to the cerebellum.
  • Enabling communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. (correct)

The frontal lobe is often referred to as the "executive command center" of the brain. Which of the following functions is primarily associated with this area?

  • Regulating emotions and planning (correct)
  • Processing visual information
  • Processing auditory information and memory
  • Coordinating movement and balance

A researcher is studying a patient with a severed corpus callosum. What type of cognitive task would likely reveal the most significant difference in performance compared to a neurotypical individual?

<p>Identifying objects presented exclusively to the left visual field. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the limbic system plays a key role in the formation of new memories?

<p>Hippocampus (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the case of Phineas Gage, what was the MOST significant impact of the damage to his frontal lobe and its connection to the limbic system?

<p>Substantial alterations in personality and emotional regulation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Damage to the occipital lobe would most likely result in which of the following impairments?

<p>Visual deficits (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are 'split-brain' patients useful in neuroscience research?

<p>Their condition provides a natural experimental model for studying hemispheric specialization and interhemispheric communication. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which brain structure is responsible for regulating vital functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and reflexes?

<p>Medulla (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a person sustains an injury that severs the connection between their frontal lobe and limbic system, what behavioral changes might be expected?

<p>Decreased emotional reactivity coupled with impaired decision-making abilities. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the cerebellum?

<p>Coordinating movement and balance (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The hypothalamus plays a significant role in maintaining homeostasis. Which of the following functions is regulated by the hypothalamus?

<p>Hunger and thirst (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The amygdala is most directly involved in which of the following functions?

<p>Emotional responses, particularly fear (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Cerebral Cortex

Outer layer of the brain, divided into two hemispheres and four lobes. Responsible for higher-level cognitive functions.

Frontal Lobe

Located at the front of the brain, responsible for planning, organizing, decision-making, and personality.

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory information such as touch, pain, and temperature. Important for spatial awareness and navigation.

Occipital Lobe

Processes visual information from the eyes.

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Temporal Lobe

Processes auditory information and plays a key role in speech, language, and auditory memory.

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Limbic System

Brain area involved in emotions, memories, and motivation. Contains the hippocampus and amygdala.

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Hippocampus

Key area for memory formation. Transfers short-term memories to long-term memory.

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Cerebellum

Coordinates movement, balance, and posture. Involved in motor learning and procedural memories.

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Phineas Gage

Connects the frontal lobe and limbic system; damage can drastically alter personality.

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Corpus Callosum

A massive bundle of nerve fibers linking the left and right brain hemispheres, enabling inter-hemispheric communication.

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Studying Brain Hemispheres

Observe differences when input is limited to one side; study patients with severed corpus callosum.

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Split-brain patients

Individuals whose corpus callosum has been surgically severed, preventing communication between hemispheres.

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Corpus Callosotomy

Surgical procedure severing the corpus callosum to alleviate severe epilepsy, resulting in functional separation of brain hemispheres.

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Study Notes

  • The brain comprises multiple structures/subsystems that communicate to produce seamless experiences.
  • Older brain structures are folded inside newer ones.
  • Study of the brain starts with the outer shell (cortex) and moves inward to older structures.

Cerebral Cortex

  • Also known as the neocortex or cerebrum.
  • It is divided into 2 hemispheres and 4 lobes.

Frontal Lobe

  • Serves as the executive command center of the brain.
  • Functions include planning, organizing, prioritizing, keeping emotions in check, personality, and integrating thought.
  • It assesses risk.
  • It contains a motor area for moving body parts.

Parietal Lobe

  • Center for body sensations.
  • Important for kinesthetics (knowledge of body parts in motion).
  • Contains the somatosensory area for pain, touch, heat, and cold.
  • Highly developed in blind individuals.

Somatosensory Cortex

  • Responsible for body sensations like touch, pain, cold, pressure, texture, roughness, and smoothness.

Occipital Lobe

  • Center for vision.
  • Contains the primary visual cortex and feature detector cells.
  • Approximately 40% of the brain handles vision.

Temporal Lobe

  • Responsible for speech and language.
  • It contains the primary auditory cortex for hearing.
  • Responsible for auditory memory.

Limbic System

  • An older part of the brain responsible for emotions, memories, and motivators.
  • A powerful emotional area of the brain, dealing with fear, anger, and aggression.
  • A key area for memory; is often the first to be affected in Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Maintains homeostasis by regulating thirst, hunger, temperature, and sexual behavior.
  • Regulates hormones.

Lateral Hypothalamus and Ventromedial Hypothalamus

  • Lateral hypothalamus stimulates hunger.
  • Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) induces satiety or the feeling of fullness.

Medulla

  • Responsible for vital functions like heartbeat, breathing, and reflexes such as swallowing, sneezing, and coughing.

Brain Stem

  • The "old brain".
  • Reticular formation: arousal and alertness.

Cerebellum

  • Also known as the "little brain."
  • Coordinates movement.
  • Important for procedural memory and spatial mapping.

Phineas Gage

  • Railroad worker in Vermont (1848) who had a severe brain injury.
  • The connection between his frontal lobe and limbic system was severed.

Corpus Callosum

  • A large bundle of over 200 million myelinated nerve fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres.
  • It permits communication between the right and left sides of the brain.

Split-Brain Patients

  • Studying split-brain patients can reveal the different functions of each side of the brain.
  • The connecting fibers in the corpus callosum are severed, so communication between hemispheres is not possible at higher levels.

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