Brain Structures and Functions Worksheet
Angela Ostermann, Charlene Pratt, Justin Jones, Phenicia Johnson, Sherlock Rose, and Stephanie Stellakis
PSY/340 – Biological Foundations of Psychology
April 28, 2014
Chris Garwick-Foley
Brain Structures and Functions Worksheet
In the chart below, provide the missing information -- either the name of each region illustrated, or the function of each region -- and then provide the letter for the location of each region based on the diagram below. Each correct answer will earn for the team two points. (For clarity, the colors of the letters assigned to each region matches the colors of the region displayed in the diagram, so when in doubt, follow the color.) Finally, answer the four questions below the chart. The point value for each of the four questions is given along with the question.
LETTER
(2 pts.) FUNCTION
(2 pts.) NAME
(2 pts.)
A Involved in the emotional reaction to pain rather than to the perception of pain itself. Cingulated Cortex
Q Small, round shape area on the undersurface of the brain that acts as a relay for impulse signals that travel through the brain, the thalamus, and on to the central nervous system. Also plays a vital role in development, retention and recalling of memory and sensory memory movements (Jones, 2006-2013). Mammillary Bodies
I Region of the brain stem where if vital functions are compromised, death often results. Medulla Oblongata
M Part of the brain that perceives stimuli related to touch, pressure, temperature, and pain, as well as visual and auditory input. Somatosensory Cortex
E A pea-sized structure found at the base of the brain, below the hypothalamus. Its function is to produce hormones that control other glands and bodily functions...
... middle of paper ...
...egions (letters) shown above are included in the cerebrum? (4 pt.)
The regions N, M, L and O are included in the cerebrum. These regions are the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobes.
What is the function of the cerebrum? (4 pts.)
The cerebrum is one of the parts of the brain that provides equilibrium when it comes to motor skills and plays a petit role in our concentration and language it also normalize our responses to fear and pleasure, with its appearance as an attached part at the bottom of the brain the cerebrum receives inputs from various parts of the brain and the spinal cord. (Pinel, 2009).
References
Jones, D. H. (2006-2010). Chapter 3: The Nervous System and the Brain. Retrieved from http://www.nasalspecific.com/nasalspecific_011.htm
Pinel, J. P. J. (2009). Biopsychology (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
messages to the rest of the body. The brain is made up of many different
A large concern of the field of neurobiology seems to be finding and understanding a connection between the structure and function of the nervous system. What tangible system of tissues is responsible for creating a given perceived output? Some outputs can be more easily traced back to a specific 'motor symphony' and the involved structures isolated. This problem has obsessed generations of scientists. One of the first of this generation of researcher was F.J. Gall who promoted the idea that observable features of the brain could lead to an understanding of specific traits of action (7). Gall's greatest opponent, Marie-Jean-Pierre Flourens published research on localization of function and among his findings was evidence for sensory perception in certain sub-cortical structures (7). However, when Flourens examined the cerebrum he did not get such clean results. He found that damage to the cerebrum would not compromise specific abilities in the patient based on area, but incapacitate the patient in different ways based on the extent of the created lesion. In other words, damage to the cerebrum effected a diminution of 'higher mental faculties' such as "perception intellect and will" according to how great the lesion actually was, not according to where in the hemispheres it occurred (7). His conclusion proposed these higher mental faculties as existing throughout the structures of the cerebrum, and not isolated as with sensory perception. How is it possible to attribute, say elements of personality to a specific structure? Is their a region of the brain responsible for the way we are? A 'nice' region, an 'angry' gland? Here we encounter the ever ephemeral concept of where the I-function lies within the nervous system.
The cerebrum consists of two hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure called the Corpus Callosum, the hemispheres are divided into four lobes; the frontal, partials, occipital and temporal.
An adult person who is illiterate and tries to read shows profound changes in deep brain. It came from a study where researchers helped illiterate woman from North India to read. In addition, the illiterate woman had scanned their brain before and after learning to read. The researchers found a big change in the brain after the women learned to read. They conclude that the brain of an adult is not flexible. The plasticity still actives in adult age.
Jonides, J. & Smith, E. (1999, March 12). Storage and executive processes in the frontal lobes. Science, 1657-1663.
The brain has many different parts to it which help one function through daily life; parts such as the cerebrum which controls voluntary movement and regulates functions such as thinking, speaking and the ability to recall information. The cerebellum controls the balance and coordination and finally the brain stem, which consists of the medulla oblongata and the spinal cord which controls all involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. The brain stem is also able to carry out these actions even when someone is asleep. To fully understand how crucial the brain is to survival one must understand the functions of the brain stem.
Brain Lateralization is a complex and ongoing process by which differing regions of the brain “take over” the functioning of specific behaviors and cognitive skills. Lateralization literally means that certain functions are located (in part or total) on one side of the brain.
Previous studies that have researched the functions of the cerebellum have focused on investigating individuals that have damage to their cerebellum, such as was the case with the Phineas Gage’s frontal lobe study that proved that the frontal lobe served an important role in personality and behavior. Recent studies have had the advantage of new technologies that could significantly aid in identifying whether or not the cerebellum plays a role in specific functions, these include functional imaging techniques such as fMRI and PET imaging, and these recent technological advances have paved the way for new studies that focus on brain region activation. This new method in researching the cerebellum has created new hypotheses for the functions of this crucial brain region, which include but are not limited to cognitive and perceptual functions as well as the already examined motor functions.
The brain is the control center of the human body. It sends and receives millions of signals every second, day and night, in the form of hormones, nerve impulses, and chemical messengers. This exchange of information makes us move, eat, sleep, and think.
Although the brain only weighs about three pounds, it is a very powerful and essential organ in the body (Brain Structures and Their Functions). The cerebrum, cerebellum, and the brain stem are the three main parts of the brain. The cerebrum fills up most of the skull, its main functions are for remembering, problem solving, thinking, and feeling (Bellamy 23). It also controls movement throughout the body. The cerebellum is located towards the back of the head. It controls mostly just coordination and balance (Brain Structures and Their Functions). The brain stem is underneath the cerebrum and in front of your cerebellum. It attaches the brain to the spinal cord and controls functions like breathing, digestion, heart rate and blood pressure (Carter 12). The brain is also divided into halves. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, while the right side of the brain, controls the left side of the body (Bellamy 17).
As the human body goes through different experiences, the brain grows, develops, and changes according to the environmental situations it has been exposed to. Some of these factors include drugs, stress, hormones, diets, and sensory stimuli. [1] Neuroplasticity can be defined as the ability of the nervous system to respond to natural and abnormal stimuli experienced by the human body. The nervous system then reorganizes the brain’s structure and changes some of its function to theoretically repair itself by forming new neurons. [2] Neuroplasticity can occur during and in response to many different situations that occur throughout life. Some examples of these situations are learning, diseases, and going through therapy after an injury.
The brain consists of both neurons and glia cells. The neurons, which are cells housed in a cell body called a Soma, have branches which extend from them, referred to as dendrites. From these dendrites extend axons which send and receive impulses, ending at junction points called synapses. It is at these synapse points that the transfer of information takes place.
Pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage" (1). When pain is described in these terms we can see that pain is a perception, sort of like seeing and hearing. When pain is processed there are a number of brain structures activated, commonly referred to as the "central pain matrix" (2). It may seem irrelevant to delve into pain signal activation in the brain since it is seemi...
The area at the front of the brain is the largest. Most of it is known as the cerebrum. It controls all of the movements that you have to think about, thought and memory.
Hypoglossal (XII) – neck, oral cavity, posterior cranial fossa, hypoglossal canal, gives nerves to most of the tongue muscles and motor skills