The Brain + PSYC234 (Biological Psychology & Learning)

The central sulcus divides the frontal and parietal lobes

The lateral fissure divides the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes

Sulci are crevices in the brain

Gyri are ridges between the crevices

The structures towards the back of the brain are called Anterior

The structures towards the front of the brain are called Posterior

Structures closer to the head or above another structure are Superior

Structures closer to the feet or below another structure are Inferior

Towards the side, away from the midline of the brain means lateral

Anything in the midline of the brain, away from any side structures means Medical

Closest attachment to the body means Distal

Furthest attachment from the body means Proximal

Structures on the same side of the body are called Contralateral

Structures on the opposite sides of the body are called Contralateral

Dorsal - the structures towards the back or away from the stomach?

Ventral - structures towards the stomach?

The following explanation of planes is true:
o Sagittal: seen from the above
o Horizontal/Transverse: seen from front
o Coronal/Frontal: seen from the side

The Somatic System sends information from the brain and the spinal cord to the muscles and in return, relays the received sensory information to the CNS i.e., voluntary motor movements

The Autonomic System control internal organs without conscious awareness i.e., heart rate, breathing rate, digestion

The Sympathetic (fight or flight) System expends energy, prepares for vigorous activity i.e., increased heart rate, decreased digestion, dilated pupils, increased respiration rate, increased glucose levels

The Parasympathetic System responsible for vegetative functions i.e., will increase digestive activity, decrease heart rate, decrease blood pressure

Blockage of CSF flow (e.g., tumour) causes hydrocephalus "water head" and inflammation of meninges causes meningitis are behavioural deficits following damage to the brain

The Medulla is located just above the spinal cord, controls vital reflexes via cranial nerves e.g., breathing rate, heart rate, vomiting, salvation, coughing, sneezing, damage is often fatal

Pons ("bridge") are axons from each brain hemisphere cross to the opposite side of the spinal cord

The Cerebellum ("little brain") coordinates movement - fine motor skills (e.g., writing, typing) and other higher order processes e.g., auditory to visual attention switching and timing, affected by alcohol (nose touch test), damage causes cerebellar dysfunction

The Tectum ("roof") within the Midbrain contains Colliculi "little hills", the superior colliculus is responsible for visual information and the inferior colliculus is responsible for auditory information

The Tegmentum ("covering") within the Midbrain contains Substantia nigra "black substance", facilitates readiness for movement and degeneration

The Forebrain contains two hemispheres (left and right), receives sensory information (contralateral), controls muscles (contralateral)

The Thalamus is a two lobed structure, superior to the brainstem, responsible for relaying sensory information (expect olfactory)

The information between the thalamus and the cerebral cortex is called a thalamocortical loop

The Hypothalamus is ventral to the thalamus, affects the pituitary gland's release of hormones, in turn affects a range of behaviours i.e., eating drinking, temperature regulation, sexual behaviour, fighting and activity level

The Pituitary gland is an endocrine gland (produces hormones), attached to the base of the hypothalamus, in response to signals from the hypothalamus, produces hormones that are carried via the blood stream to the organs in the body

Basal ganglia are groups of structures lateral to the thalamus i.e., Caudate nucleus, Putamen, Globus pallidus; mainly involved in voluntary movement, damage impairs movement (e.g., Parkinson's and Huntington's disease)

Basal forebrain are collection of structures on the ventral surface of the forebrain, including nucleus basalis; involved in arousal and the sleep-wake cycle, linked to cognitive decline and degeneration in Alzheimer's disease

The Hippocampus is critical for memory, especially for memories of individual events