1.4

• What are the three main divisions of vertebrate brains?

  Hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain
• What structures make up the hindbrain and their functions?


  • Medulla: controls heartbeat and breathing
  • Pons: coordinates movements and controls sleep
  • Cerebellum: processes sensory input, coordinates movement output and balance, enables nonverbal learning and memory
• What is the role of the midbrain?


  The midbrain connects the hindbrain with the forebrain and controls some movement.
• What functions does the forebrain manage?


  The forebrain manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities.
• What is the innermost region of the brain called?

  The brainstem
• What is located at the base of the brainstem?

  The medulla
• What does the medulla control?


  The medulla controls heartbeat and breathing.
• What structure sits above the medulla?

  The pons
• What is the function of the pons?


  The pons helps coordinate movements and control sleep.
• What does the brainstem's contralateral hemispheric organization refer to?


  It refers to the brainstem being a crossover point where most nerves connect with the body's opposite side.
• What is the thalamus's role in the brain?


  The thalamus acts as the brain's sensory control center.
• What senses does the thalamus not receive?


  The thalamus does not receive smell.
• What is the reticular formation?


  The reticular formation is a nerve network that filters information and controls arousal.
• Where does the reticular formation extend from?


  From the spinal cord up to the thalamus
• What does the reticular formation filter?


  The reticular formation filters incoming stimuli.
• What is the function of the cerebellum?


  The cerebellum processes sensory input, coordinates movement output and balance, and enables nonverbal learning and memory.
• What is the limbic system primarily associated with?


  Emotions and drives
• What structures are included in the limbic system?

  Amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and pituitary gland
• What does the amygdala enable?


  The amygdala enables aggression and fear.
• How large is the amygdala?


  Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters
• What happens to people with amygdala lesions?


  They often display reduced arousal to fear and anger-arousing stimuli.
• What does the hypothalamus direct?


  The hypothalamus directs several maintenance activities such as eating, drinking, and body temperature.
• What is the role of the hypothalamus in the endocrine system?


  The hypothalamus helps govern the endocrine system.
• What does the hypothalamus maintain?


  The hypothalamus maintains homeostasis.
• What are reward centers in the brain?

  Reward centers are pleasure centers in the brain that self-stimulate.
• What happens when dopamine levels are experimentally boosted?


  It increases the pleasurable “chills” response to a favorite piece of music.
• What is the function of the hippocampus?


  The hippocampus processes conscious, explicit memories.
• What happens to those who lose their hippocampus?


  They often lose their memories.
• How does the size and function of the hippocampus change as we grow older?


  The size and function of the hippocampus decrease, which furthers cognitive decline.
• What is the cerebral cortex known as?


  The body’s ultimate control and information-processing center
• What does the cerebrum enable?


  The cerebrum enables perceiving, thinking, and speaking.
• How many lobes is each hemisphere's cortex subdivided into?


  Four lobes
• What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex and their locations?

  • Frontal lobes: behind the forehead
  • Parietal lobe: at the top toward the rear
  • Occipital lobe: at the back of the head
  • Temporal lobe: above the ears
• What are the functions of the frontal lobe?


  The frontal lobe enables linguistic processing, muscle movements, higher-order thinking, and executive functioning.
• What are the functions of the parietal lobe?


  The parietal lobe receives sensory input for touch and body position.
• What are the functions of the occipital lobe?


  The occipital lobe includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.
• What are the functions of the temporal lobe?


  The temporal lobe includes the auditory areas, which receive information primarily from the opposite ear and enable language processing.
• What is the motor cortex responsible for?


  The motor cortex controls voluntary movements.
• What does the left motor cortex trigger?


  The left motor cortex triggers the right hand.
• What is the somatosensory cortex responsible for?


  The somatosensory cortex registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.