Myers' Psychology for AP (module 12)

motor cortex

an area at that rear of the frontal lobes that controls that controls voluntary movements

somatosensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

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

glial cells (glia)

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking

occipital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

parietal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

frontal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking an muscle movements and in making plans and judgements

temporal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory ares, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center