QUIZ 14 FRIDAY 10/6 p90-91 & 94-96 Endocrine System, Brain Scans, Parietal Lobe

Endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream

pituitary gland

the endocrine system's most influential gland: the "master" gland controlled by the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands (controls release of hormones)

lesion

when part of the brain tissue is removed or destroyed (ablated) destroyed. This can be natural like a tumor or injury OR it can done surgically to treat a problem (example: destroy brain tissue to control epileptic seizures) INVASIVE

Studying the brain: invasive vs. non invasive techniquesterm-1

Invasive means that they INVADE or go INTO the brain This can be done surgically by; lesioning- destroying or removing tissue (example-epilepsy) deep brain implants-putting tiny electrodes or implant INSIDE your brain to control/stimulate the brain (example-Tourette's syndrome) psychosurgery-brain surgery Non-invasive means they use scans and imaging to view the brain

MRI: magnetic resonance imaging

Looks like an X-ray but uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce highly detailed computer-generated images of soft tissue. THIS can show brain anatomy. Shows brain structure NON-INVASIVE

Parietal Lobes

Part of the brain that receives and interprets and integrates SENSORY information from every where in the body, spatial awareness, location, learned mov'ts (3D representation) it helps construct the way your brain understands the world around you. ALSO: Contains the somatosensory cortex (all the information coming from your BODY SENSES Damage to it could cause hemineglect (visual neglect- you are "blind" to things on one half of the brain) NON-INVASIVE

Somatosensory Cortex

Thin vertical strip of the parietal lobe that receives incoming sensory info from the rest of the body TOUCH (sensory) information is sent to the brain and goes to THIS area. Example- if you touch something with your hand, that information is sent to the hand section of this part of the brain In the parietal lobe which is part of the cerebral cortex

fMRI

a combination of the PET scan and the MRI, shows highly detailed information of the brain's structure AND function while the brain is doing a task by measuring oxygen flow The "f" stands for FUNCTION Shows brain structure and function NON-INVASIVE

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of a fight-or-fight stress situation Both used for fight or flight but these glands are in the ENDOCRINE SYSTEM but not the sympathetic nervous system

CT or CAT Scan: computed tomography

a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure Memory trick: "X-ray your CAT" Shows brain structure and potential damage NON-INVASIVE

PET Scan: positron emission tomography

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task. Active areas "light up" when it uses glucose -blood sugar (primary food for the brain) and oxygen Memory trick: "Glue your PET" Shows brain function NON-INVASIVE

EEG: electroencephalogram

measure brain wave activity (waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface) These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp Sleep researchers use this to study someone's stages of sleep Used to study epilepsy (electrical problem causes seizures) Can only show normal or abnormal brain function NON-INVASIVE