NH+Brain+HW

The Brain Homework (using the book) p.256 to 261.

Outline the parts and function of the four major parts of the brain: 1-4 (1) cerebrum
 * largest part of the human brain
 * communicates with and coordinates the activities of the other parts of the brain
 * last center to receive sensory input and carry out integration before sending the signals for voluntary motor responses
 * cerebral hemispheres
 * broke into 2 halves, the left and right hemispheres
 * grooves (sulci) divide each hemisphere into lobes
 * frontal lobe- directly behind forehead
 * motor functions
 * parietal lobe- behind frontal lobe
 * taste, somotasenesory
 * occipital lobe- rear of head
 * visual
 * temporal lobe- at the temple and ear
 * auditory
 * cerebral cortex
 * convoluted outer layer of gray matter that covers the hemispheres
 * sensation, voluntary movement, all conscience thought processes
 * Primary Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
 * voluntary commands to skeletal muscles begin here
 * Primary Somatosensory area
 * sensory information from the skin and skeletal muscles arrives here
 * Association Areas
 * places where integration occurs
 * Processing centers
 * receive information from other association areas and perform higher-level analytical functions
 * prefrontal area- takes information to reason and plan actions- think critically and formulate appropriate behaviors
 * speaking
 * Wernicke's Area- helps us to understand both the written and spoken word- sends information to Broca's Area
 * Broca's Area- adds grammatical refinements and directs the primary motor area to stimulate the appropriate muscles for speaking and writing
 * Central White Matter
 * what the rest of the cerebrum is composed of

(2) diencephalon
 * encircles the third ventricle
 * hypothalamus
 * helps maintain homeostasis
 * regulates hunger sleep, thirst, body temperature, and water balance
 * controls pituitary gland-- link between nervous and endocrine systems
 * Thalamus
 * 2 masses of gray matter
 * receives all information regarding sensory input except smell
 * integrates information and sends it to appropriate parts of the cerebrum
 * pineal gland
 * releases melatonin

(3) cerebellum
 * receives sensory input from eyes, ears, joints, and muscles around those, integrates them and sends that signal to the skeletal muscles via the brain stem
 * posture and balance
 * all muscles work together in a smooth way
 * helps in learning new motor skills

(4) brain stem
 * Midbrain
 * relay station for tracts passing between the cerebrum and the spinal cord or cerebellum
 * reflex centers for visual, auditory, and tactile responses
 * Pons
 * bundles of axons traveling form the cerebellum and the rest of the CNS
 * regulate breathing rate, has reflex centers that deal with head movements in response to visual and auditory stimuli
 * medulla oblongata
 * reflex centers for regulating heartbeat, breathing, and vasoconstriction (blood pressure), vomiting, coughing, sneezing, hiccuping, and swallowing
 * The reticular Formation
 * complex network of nuclei (gray matter) and fibers that extend the length of the brain stem
 * major component of the reticular activating system
 * receives sensory signals and send them up to higher centers
 * sends motor signals to the spinal cord

(5) What is the function of the limbic system? -blends primitive emotions and higher mental function

(6) What limbic system structure is involved in the flight or fight reaction. Explain. -the amygdala can use past knowledge to asses a current situation, and if it has to, trigger the fight or flight reaction.

(7) What limbic system structure is involved in learning and memory. Explain. -The hippocampus determines what information needs to be sent to memory and how it should be encoded by the other parts of th brain.

(8) Describe the various types of memory. -short term memory- things you need to remember for a short period of time -long term memory- things you have memorized and will know for a long time -semantic memory- numbers, words, ect -episodic memory- people, events ect. -skill memory- once you learn a skill (riding a bike) it becomes ingrained in your memory so the next time you perform it, you have "memorized" how to do it

(9) What appear to be the roles of the left hemisphere of the cerebrum and the right hemisphere? -left hemisphere- verbal, logical, analytical -right hemisphere- nonverbal, visuospatial, intuitive, creative

(10) What is Wernicke's area and Broca's area?
 * Wernicke's Area- helps us to understand both the written and spoken word- sends information to Broca's Area
 * Broca's Area- adds grammatical refinements and directs the primary motor area to stimulate the appropriate muscles for speaking and writing