Chapter 2 vocab (2nd half)

I'm too lazy to steal Microsoft Word and spell check, just do it in your own.

lesion: tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.
electroencephalogram: an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are ensured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
PET (positron emission tomography) scan: a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
MRI (magnetic resonance imagine): a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain.
fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging): a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scanes. MRI scans show brain anatomy; fMRI scans show brain function
brain stem: The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brain stem is responsible for automatic survival functions.
medulla: the base of the brain stem controls heartbeat and breathing
reticular formation: a nerve network in the brain stem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.
thalamus: the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brain stem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
cerebellum: the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brain stem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.
limbic system: a doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brain stem and the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex. Includes the hippo campus, amygdala, and the hypothalamus.
amygdala: two lima bean sized neural clusters that are components of the luimbix system and are linked to emotion
hypothalamus: a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (seating, drinking, body temperature0, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion.
cerebral cortex: the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center.
glial cells (glia): cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.
frontal lobes: the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making planes and judgments.
paritel lobes: 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 lobes: the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field.
temporal lobes: the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information primary from the opposite ear.
motor cortex: an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
sensory cortex: the area at the front of the partial lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
association areas: areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor of sensory function; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
aphasia: impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wenicke's area (impairing understanding).
Broca's area: controls language expression -- an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.
Wericke's area: controls language reception -- a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe.
plasticity: the brain's capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development.
corpus callosum: the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.
split brain: a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus collosum) between them.