Brain and Biology

Axon

Carries signals away from the cell body. A cord like structure extending from the soma to the terminal buttons.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals which allow the transmission of signals from one neuron to the next across synapses. They are found at the axon endings of motor neurons, where they stimulate the muscle fibers. And they and their close relatives are produced by some glands such as the pituitary and the adrenal glands.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain. The Corpus Callosum is the part of the mind that allows communication between the two hemispheres of the brain. It is responsible for transmitting neural messages between both the right and left hemispheres.

Hypothalamus

Controls body metabolic functions such as body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, and circadian cycles. Located above the pituitary gland and below the thalamus. It is the reason we know when we are hungry or thirsty. The hypothalamus also helps our body maintain a constant temperature. The hypothalamus plays a key role in connecting the endocrine system with the nervous system.

Hormones

Hormones are special chemical messengers in the body that are created in the endocrine glands. These messengers control most major bodily functions, from simple basic needs like hunger to complex systems like reproduction, and even the emotions and mood.

Axon Terminal

It is thought to play a role in providing feedback to the presynaptic neuron and play a role in modulating synaptic activity. Found at the end of the axon.

Medulla Oblongata

Located on the lower part of the brain stem. Carries out and regulates life sustaining functions such as breathing, blood circulation, respiration, swallowing and heart rate. Helps transfer neural messages from the brain to the spinal cord. The medulla is easily the most important part of the brain. It's functions are involuntary. We would not be able to live without the medulla because of the myriad of crucial tasks it performs including regulating blood pressure and breathing.

Hippocampus

Location: Part of the Limbic system, in each temporal lobe. Responsible for processing of long term memory, newly learned material, and emotional responses. Is also responsible for the memory of the location of objects or people.

Pons

Location: area of the hindbrain that sits directly above the medulla. Connects upper and lower parts of the brain. Bridge connecting hindbrain to the upper regions of the brain, controls facial expressions, REM Sleep and dream generation. Without the pons, the brain would not be able to function because messages would not be able to be transmitted.

Myelin Sheath

Myelin is a fatty white substance that surrounds the axon of some nerve cells, forming an electrically insulating layer. The main purpose of a myelin layer (or sheath) is to increase the speed at which impulses propagate along the myelinated fiber. Along unmyelinated fibers, impulses move continuously as waves, but, in myelinated fibers, they hop or "propagate by saltatory conduction."

Brain Plasticity

Neuroplasticity, or brain plasticity, refers to the brain's ability to change throughout life. The human brain has the amazing ability to reorganize itself by forming new connections between brain cells (neurons). The environment in which a person lives, as well as the actions of that person, play a significant role in plasticity. Neuroplasticity occurs in the brain: 1- At the beginning of life: when the immature brain organizes itself. 2- In case of brain injury: to compensate for lost functions or maximize remaining functions. 3- Through adulthood: whenever something new is learned and memorized

Turner's Syndrome

Occurs when there is a single X chromosome on the 23rd pair. Only females are affected. Women with this condition tend to be shorter than average and are usually unable to conceive a child (infertile) because of an absence of ovarian function. Symptoms include short stature, delayed puberty, infertility, heart defects, and certain learning disabilities. Treatment involves hormone therapy. Fertility treatment may be necessary for women who want to become pregnant.

Right Hemisphere functions

Responsible for control of the left side of the body, and is the more artistic and creative side of the brain

Left Hemisphere functions

Responsible for control of the right side of the body, and is the more academic and logical side of the brain. Analytic thought, logic, language, reasoning, science and math, written, number skills, right-hand control.

Temporal Lobe

Responsible for processing auditory information from the ears (hearing). The Temporal Lobe mainly revolves around hearing and selective listening. It receives sensory information such as sounds and speech from the ears. It is also key to being able to comprehend, or understand meaningful speech. In fact, we would not be able to understand someone talking to us, if it wasn't for the temporal lobe. This lobe is special because it makes sense of the all the different sounds and pitches (different types of sound) being transmitted from the sensory receptors of the ears.

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for processing visual information from the eyes. The occiptial lobe is important to being able to correctly understand what your eyes are seeing. These lobes have to be very fast to process the rapid information that our eyes are sending. Similar to how the temporal lobe makes sense of auditory information, the occipital lobe makes sense of visual information so that we are able to understand it. If our occipital lobe was impaired, or injured we would not be able to correctly process visual signals, thus visual confusion would result.

Split Brain Surgery

Split-brain surgery, or corpus calloscotomy, is a drastic way of alleviating epileptic seizures, the occurrence of sporadic electrical storms in the brain. The procedure involves severing the corpus callosum, the main bond between the brain's left and right hemispheres.

Cerebellum

The cerebellum coordinates movement and is involved in learned rote movements. Located on the lower area of the brain, below the pons. Responsible for balance and coordination of muscles and the body. It is extremely important for being able to perform everyday voluntary tasks such as walking and writing.

Forebrain

The forebrain is the largest and most highly developed part of the human brain: it consists primarily of the cerebrum and the structures hidden beneath it. This is the area of the brain in charge of functions such as emotion and complex thought.

Hindbrain

The hindbrain includes the upper part of the spinal cord, the brain stem, and the cerebellum. The hindbrain controls the body's vital functions such as respiration and heart rate.

Motor Cortex (where it is and what does it control)

The motor cortex is the region of the cerebral cortex involved in the planning, control, and execution of voluntary movements. Classically the motor cortex is an area of the frontal lobe located in the dorsal precentral gyrus immediately anterior to the central sulcus.

Midbrain

The uppermost part of the brainstem. Controls some reflex actions and is part of the circuit involved in the control of eye movements and other voluntary movements. In charge of alertness and arousal of whole brain functions.

Amygdala

This is the "emotion center" of the brain. Location: Part of Limbic System, at the end of the hippocampus. Responsible for the response and memory of emotions, especially fear. When you think of the amygdala, you should think of one word. Fear. The amygdala is the reason we are afraid of things outside our control. It also controls the way we react to certain stimuli, or an event that causes an emotion, that we see as potentially threatening or dangerous.

Frontal Lobe

This is where both fine, delicate movements and large muscle whole body movement is controlled. Carries out higher mental processes such as thinking, decision making, and planning. You use your frontal lobe nearly everyday. You use it to make decisions, such as what to eat or drink for breakfast in the morning, as well as for thinking or studying for a test. The frontal lobe is also where our personality is formed and where we can carry out higher mental processes such as planning. In addition, the frontal lobe is necessary to being able to speak fluently (without fault) and meaningfully.

Dendrites

Tiny projections that branch off the nerve cell body at the neuron's receiving end. The dendrites act like tiny antennae that pick up signals from other cells. Dendrites receive signals to the cell body.

Soma/Cell body

Where the nucleus of the cell resides. The cell body connects to the dendrites, which bring information to the neuron, and the axon, which sends information to other neurons.

Neural Impulse

A nerve impulse is the way nerve cells (neurons) communicate with one another. Nerve impulses are mostly electrical signals along the dendrites to produce a nerve impulse or action potential.

Reticular Formation

Alerts the brain of sensory incoming messages, and is also in charge of taking the messages to the thalamus for processing and for taking return messages from the brain back out to the spinal cord.

Pituitary Gland

Also called the "master gland", growth hormone, stimulating hormones. It controls growth hormones and, stimulating hormones, and several of the other hormone glands. The pituitary gland helps to control your body's functions by releasing hormones into your bloodstream.

Parietal Lobe

Body senses. Processes sensory information that had to do with taste, temperature, and touch. The parietal lobe carries out some very specific functions. As a part of the cortex, it has a lot of responsibilities and has to be able to process sensory information within seconds. The parietal lobe is where information such as taste, temperature and touch are integrated, or processed. Humans would not be able to to feel sensations of touch, if the parietal lobe was damaged.