Psychology test 1

Frontal Lobe

Function: Carries out higher mental processes such as thinking, decision making, and planning Location: Frontal and upper area of the cortex

Hypothalamus

Function: Is a section of the brain responsible for the production of many of the body's essential hormones, chemical substances that help control different cells and organs. The hormones from the hypothalamus govern physiologic functions such as temperature regulation, thirst, hunger, sleep, mood, sex drive, and the release of other hormones within the body Location: Located below the thalamus (a part of the brain that relays sensory information) and above the pituitary gland and brain stem. It is about the size of an almond.

Occipital Lobe

Function: Is important to being able to correctly understand what your eyes are seeing. Location: Bottom, back part of the cortex

Amygdala

Function: It is involved in the processing of emotions such as fear, anger, and pleasure. Location: There are two amygdalae, one situated in each brain hemisphere.

Reticular Formation

Function: It plays a central role in states of consciousness like alertness and sleep Location: Its dorsal tegmental nuclei are in the midbrain while its central tegmental nuclei are in the pons and its central and inferior nuclei are found in the medulla.

Parietal Lobe

Function: Processes sensory information that had to do with taste, temperature, and touch Location: Upper, back part of the cortex

Temporal Lobe

Function: Responsible for processing auditory information from the ears (hearing) Location: Bottom middle part of cortex, right behind the temples

Thalamus

Function: Responsible for relaying information from the sensory receptors to proper areas of the brain where it can be processed Location:Part of the forebrain, below the corpus callosum

Corpus Callosum

Function: The corpus callosum plays an important role in vision by combining the separate halves of our visual field, which process images separately in each hemisphere. It also allows us to identify the objects we see by connecting the visual cortex with the language centers of the brain. In addition, the corpus callosum transfers tactile information (processed in the parietal lobes) between the brain hemispheres to enable us to locate touch. Location:The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers that divides the cerebral cortex lobes into left and right hemispheres

Hippocampus

Function: The hippocampus is involved in the storage of long-term memory, which includes all past knowledge and experiences. Location: Is located in the brain's medial temporal lobe, near the center of the brain.

Medulla

Function: The medulla oblongata helps regulate breathing, heart and blood vessel function, digestion, sneezing, and swallowing. This part of the brain is a center for respiration and circulation. Location:The medulla oblongata is located in the brainstem, anterior to (in front of) the cerebellum.

Cerebellum

Function:The cerebellum receives information from the sensory systems, the spinal cord, and other parts of the brain and then regulates motor movements. The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements such as posture, balance, coordination, and speech, resulting in smooth and balanced muscular activity. Location: Behind the top part of the brainstem (where the spinal cord meets the brain) and is made of two hemispheres (halves)