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The Human Brain
Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity
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EEG
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Electroencephalogram
measures electrical
currents across the
brain
Measure brain activity
Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity
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CT scan
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Also called a CAT scan
Computerized axial
tomography
X-ray of brain tissue
Shows brain structure
Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity
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PET scan
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Positron Emissions
Tomography
Patients drinks
radioactive glucose
and image shows
areas of brain
activity.
Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity

MRI
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Magnetic Resonance
Imaging
Exposes brain to
magnetic field
Shows brain structure
Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity

fMRI
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functional MRI
Uses magnetic field
Not harmful
Shows brain structure
and activity
Make a Venn Diagram:
SHOWS
STRUCTURE
SHOWS
FUNCTION
Types of Neurons
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Sensory Neurons –
Afferent Neurons
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Interneurons
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Make up the CNS
Motor Neurons –
Efferent Neurons
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Carry the message from
the sense organs to the
CNS
Carry the message from
the CNS to the muscles
or glands
Remember – SAME
(sensory = afferent,
motor = efferent)
The Brain
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Gray matter – areas of
the CNS with high
concentrations of cell
bodies; outer surface of
cerebrum (cerebral
cortex)
White matter – areas of
the CNS with mostly
myelinated axons; inner
part of cerebrum
Glial cells – cells in the
brain that nourish and
protect neurons
10 Facts about the
Brain
Brain Stem
Structure
Location
Function
Medulla
where spinal cord
meets the skull
controls heartbeat and
breathing
Pons
above the medulla
this also controls
involuntary functions.
Reticular
Formation
bundle of nerves
running through
the brainstem
controls arousal; filters
irrelevant background
information from senses;
modulates pain.
Thalamus
Pair of egg-shaped
organs above the
brainstem
receives information
from the senses
(EXCEPT FOR SMELL)
and relays it to the
rest of the brain.
Thalamus
Cerebellum
In the rear of the
head, behind the
brainstem
Controls balance and
coordination
Limbic System
Structure
Location
Function
Amygdala
two almond
influence fear and aggression
shaped structures
Hypothalamus
below the
thalamus
regulates hunger, thirst, body temp,
sex, fight-or-flight; triggers the
pituitary (the “master gland”);
reward center
Hippocampus
behind the
amygdala
memory
Cerebral Cortex
Controls information
processing; wrinkled
to increase surface
area
Composed of 8 lobes
(4 on each side)
Broca’s
Frontal Lobes
motor
cortex
part of brain that controls
voluntary movement)
Broca’s
area
needed for forming words;
located in left hemisphere only
Association
areas
in this region – judgment,
planning, processing new
memories
The
aphasia
discovery of
Broca's area
Parietal Lobes
Located on the top and
rear of head
sensory cortex
part of brain that registers and
processes tactile information
angular gyrus
left hemisphere only) which is
involved in converting written
words into sound
Occipital Lobes
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Located in the
back of the head
Contains the
visual cortex
Temporal Lobes
Located on the sides of
head, above ears
Receives and processes
auditory
information
Wernicke’s aphasia
Wernicke’s area
left hemisphere
only) - part of brain
involved in
understanding
language
Corpus Callosum
bundle of nerves
connecting the left
and right
hemispheres
Brain Story
Name that brain part