Nervous System
What two structures make up the central nervous system?
Brain and spinal cord.
Which lobe of the cerebral cortex primarily processes visual information?
Occipital lobe.
Which brain region is particularly important for speech production?
Broca’s area.
What is the name of the electrical impulse that travels along an axon?
Action potential.
What term describes the brain’s ability to change its connections in response to experience or injury?
Neuroplasticity.
What are the two main divisions of the peripheral nervous system?
Somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
Which lobe is most associated with planning, decision-making and impulse control?
Frontal lobe.
Which brain region is particularly important for language comprehension?
Wernicke’s area.
What is the small gap between neurons called?
Synaptic cleft.
Which brain region is particularly important for emotional regulation, planning and decision-making?
Prefrontal cortex.
Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the fight-or-flight response?
Sympathetic nervous system.
Which lobe is primarily involved in processing auditory information?
Temporal lobe.
Which two brain structures are especially important in forming and expressing implicit procedural memories?
Basal ganglia and cerebellum.
What happens when an action potential reaches the axon terminal?
It triggers calcium entry, causing synaptic vesicles to release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
Which limbic structure is especially involved in detecting emotionally significant stimuli, including potential threats?
Amygdala.
Explain the difference between a monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflex.
A monosynaptic reflex involves one synapse between sensory and motor neurons; a polysynaptic reflex involves one or more interneurons and multiple synapses.
Which lobe processes somatosensory information such as touch, pressure and body position?
Parietal lobe.
What role does Geschwind’s territory play in language processing?
It contributes to integrating information across language-related regions, supporting processes such as linking heard or read language with meaning and production.
Explain the difference between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission.
Excitatory neurotransmission increases the likelihood of a postsynaptic action potential, while inhibitory neurotransmission decreases that likelihood.
Explain how the primary motor cortex, cerebellum and basal ganglia work together during voluntary movement.
The primary motor cortex sends movement commands; the cerebellum helps coordinate timing and accuracy; the basal ganglia help select, initiate and regulate movements.
A student touches a hot surface and withdraws their hand before consciously recognising the pain. Explain the role of the spinal cord.
The spinal cord coordinates a rapid withdrawal reflex through a reflex arc without waiting for conscious brain processing. Sensory information also travels to the brain for pain perception.
stimulus --> sensory neuron --> internueron --> motor neuron --> response
Explain the difference between localisation and distribution of brain function.
Localisation refers to functions strongly associated with specific brain regions; distribution refers to functions involving coordinated activity across multiple regions.
A patient remembers how to ride a bicycle but cannot recall learning to ride. Explain this using explicit and implicit memory.
Riding a bicycle involves implicit procedural memory supported by the basal ganglia and cerebellum. Conscious recollection of learning involves explicit memory networks including the hippocampus and neocortex.
Describe the sequence of events involved in chemical synaptic transmission.
An action potential reaches the terminal; calcium enters; vesicles release neurotransmitters; neurotransmitters bind to postsynaptic receptors; postsynaptic activity changes; neurotransmitters are cleared by reuptake, degradation or diffusion.
Following a brain injury, a patient gradually regains some lost movement. Explain how neuroplasticity could contribute to recovery.
Neural networks may reorganise, strengthen existing connections and recruit alternative pathways through rehabilitation and practice, allowing some functions to recover.