Psychology Quiz: Brain Parts and
Functions ||Newest Update
Brainstem -CORRECT ANSWER The oldest part and central core of the brain,
beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is
responsible for automatic survival functions.
Medulla -CORRECT ANSWER The base of the brain stem; controls heartbeat and
breathing.
Reticular formation -CORRECT ANSWER A nerve network in the brainstem that plays
an important role in controlling arousal.
Thalamus -CORRECT ANSWER The brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the
brainstem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits
replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
Cerebellum -CORRECT ANSWER The "little brain" attached to the rear of the
brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement
output and balance.
Limbic system -CORRECT ANSWER A doughnut shaped system of neural structures at
the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemisphere; associated with emotions such as
fear and aggression and drives for food and sex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala
and hypothalamus.
Amygdala -CORRECT ANSWER Two lima bean shaped neural clusters that are
components of the limbic systems and are linked to emotions.
Cerebral cortex -CORRECT ANSWER The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells
that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information
processing center.
Frontal lobe -CORRECT ANSWER The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind
the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements, and in making plans and
judgement.
Parietal lobe -CORRECT ANSWER The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of
the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
Occipital lobe -CORRECT ANSWER The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back
of the head; includes the visual areas, which receives visual information primarily from
the opposite visual field.
, Temporal lobe -CORRECT ANSWER The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly
above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information
primarily from the opposite ear.
Hypothalamus -CORRECT ANSWER A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it
directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern
the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion.
Motor cortex -CORRECT ANSWER An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls
voluntary movement.
Sensory cortex -CORRECT ANSWER The area at the front of the parietal lobes that
registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
Association areas -CORRECT ANSWER Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not
involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher
mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
Broca's area -CORRECT ANSWER Controls language expression; an area in the
frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved
in speech.
Wernicke's area -CORRECT ANSWER Controls language reception; a brain area
involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe.
Corpus callosum -CORRECT ANSWER The large band of neural fibers connecting the
two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.
Threshold -CORRECT ANSWER The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural
impulse.
Synapse -CORRECT ANSWER The junction between the axon tip of the sending
neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this
junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft.
Neurotransmitters -CORRECT ANSWER Chemical messengers that traverse between
the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron,
neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving
neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
Acetylcholine (ACH) -CORRECT ANSWER A neurotransmitter that enables learning
and memory, and also triggers muscle action; Alzheimer's.
Endorphins -CORRECT ANSWER Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain
control and to pleasure.
Functions ||Newest Update
Brainstem -CORRECT ANSWER The oldest part and central core of the brain,
beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is
responsible for automatic survival functions.
Medulla -CORRECT ANSWER The base of the brain stem; controls heartbeat and
breathing.
Reticular formation -CORRECT ANSWER A nerve network in the brainstem that plays
an important role in controlling arousal.
Thalamus -CORRECT ANSWER The brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the
brainstem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits
replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
Cerebellum -CORRECT ANSWER The "little brain" attached to the rear of the
brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement
output and balance.
Limbic system -CORRECT ANSWER A doughnut shaped system of neural structures at
the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemisphere; associated with emotions such as
fear and aggression and drives for food and sex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala
and hypothalamus.
Amygdala -CORRECT ANSWER Two lima bean shaped neural clusters that are
components of the limbic systems and are linked to emotions.
Cerebral cortex -CORRECT ANSWER The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells
that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information
processing center.
Frontal lobe -CORRECT ANSWER The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind
the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements, and in making plans and
judgement.
Parietal lobe -CORRECT ANSWER The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of
the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
Occipital lobe -CORRECT ANSWER The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back
of the head; includes the visual areas, which receives visual information primarily from
the opposite visual field.
, Temporal lobe -CORRECT ANSWER The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly
above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information
primarily from the opposite ear.
Hypothalamus -CORRECT ANSWER A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it
directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern
the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion.
Motor cortex -CORRECT ANSWER An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls
voluntary movement.
Sensory cortex -CORRECT ANSWER The area at the front of the parietal lobes that
registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
Association areas -CORRECT ANSWER Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not
involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher
mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
Broca's area -CORRECT ANSWER Controls language expression; an area in the
frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved
in speech.
Wernicke's area -CORRECT ANSWER Controls language reception; a brain area
involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe.
Corpus callosum -CORRECT ANSWER The large band of neural fibers connecting the
two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.
Threshold -CORRECT ANSWER The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural
impulse.
Synapse -CORRECT ANSWER The junction between the axon tip of the sending
neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this
junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft.
Neurotransmitters -CORRECT ANSWER Chemical messengers that traverse between
the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron,
neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving
neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
Acetylcholine (ACH) -CORRECT ANSWER A neurotransmitter that enables learning
and memory, and also triggers muscle action; Alzheimer's.
Endorphins -CORRECT ANSWER Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain
control and to pleasure.
