Contemporary Brain Procedure
Divisions of the Human Nervous System
Neurons and Neural Communication
Hindbrain, Midbrain, and Forebrain
4 Lobes, Primary Cortices and Language Areas
The Behavioral Effects of Damage to the Lobes
Hemispheric Specializations
The Process/Bodily Changes in Voluntary and Involuntary Responses
Neuroimaging Techniques
ABI
Concussion, CTE
1
Name an example of contemporary brain that have led to current practice.
Electrical Brain Stimulation/ brain ablation/ split-brain surgery
1
Name the two main divisions of the NS and briefly describe their roles
Central Nervous System (CNS): Made up of the brain and spinal cord. It processes information and coordinates responses.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Made up of all the nerves outside the CNS. It carries messages between the body and the CNS.
1
Dendrites
Receive incoming information from the pre-synaptic neuron
1
What is the cerebrum responsible for?
●most mental processes (thinking, memory, learning)
●Sensory processing (e.g., vision, hearing, touch)
●Voluntary muscle movement
●Speech and language
●Emotions and personality
●Memory and learning
●Decision-making and problem-solving
●Conscious thought and awareness
●Coordination of complex behaviours
1
Name and locate 4 lobes of the brain
frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes
1
What can damage to the frontal lobe affect?
divergent thinking, or flexibility and problem solving ability
1
The part of the brain that connects the two hemispheres
corpus callosum
1
Which part of the nervous system controls voluntary actions, and which controls involuntary actions?
Voluntary actions are controlled by the somatic nervous system, while involuntary actions are controlled by the autonomic nervous system.
1
Name 5 neuroimaging techniques
CT, MRI, fMRI, PET, EEG
1
This term refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections after injury.
neuroplasticity
1
Symptoms of Concussion
-Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
-Dizziness or balance problems
-Nausea or vomiting
-Blurred vision or sensitivity to light and noise
-Confusion or feeling dazed
-Memory problems or difficulty concentrating
-Mood changes, such as irritability or sadness
- Loss of consciousness (in severe cases)
2
Brain ablation
disabling, destroying or removing selected brain tissue followed by an assessment of subsequent changes in behaviour.
2
The peripheral nervous system communicates information about the external world and the central nervous system communicates about information from inside the body.
False, both do both
2
Axon
Provides a pathway for the action potential to travel down
2
Function of Pons
Regulate sleep, arousal, and some muscle movement
2
Identify and describe the role of two primary cortices in the brain.
Primary motor cortex – located in the frontal lobe; controls voluntary muscle movement.
Primary somatosensory cortex – located in the parietal lobe; processes sensory input from the skin (e.g., touch, temperature).
2
A patient can understand language but struggles to form words. Which brain area is likely damaged, and what does this area control?
The patient likely has damage to Broca’s area in the left frontal lobe. This area controls the ability to produce and articulate speech, so damage results in difficulty forming words, known as Broca’s aphasia.
2
left
language
2
Give an example and describe a bodily change that occurs during a voluntary response.
When you decide to pick up a pen, your brain sends signals through the somatic nervous system to your arm muscles, causing them to contract and move the pen.
2
A CT scan measures the brain’s structure, or function?
structure
2
What is Epilepsy?
an neurological disorder characterised by abnormal and unpredictable brain activity across multiple regions of the brain causing seizures and other unusual sensations.
2
How do CTE occur?
brain progressively degenerates due to repeated blows to the head and episodes of concussion
3
a limitation of ESB
invasive and potentially harmful
3
somatic vs autonomic NS
The SNS controls voluntary muscle movement and sensory input from the body, while the ANS regulates involuntary bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, and breathing
3
Myelin sheath
a fatty protective layer on the axon to protect it and allow for efficient neural transmission
3
What is the difference between functions of the thalamus and hypothalamus?
●Thalamus: Relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex
●Hypothalamus: Regulates body functions like temperature, hunger, and hormones
3
Funcations of each lobe
frontal lobe: higher-level cognitive functions like planning, decision-making, and motor control.
parietal lobe; processes sensory information like touch, temperature, and pain.
temporal lobe: auditory processing, memory, and language.
occipital lobe: visual information
3
How can damage to the temporal lobe affect behavior?
responsible in memory, emotional regulation, and language. i.e. changes in self-image and self-perception, person's sense of self, automatic behaviors such as hunger, thirst, appetite
3
right
visual perception, spatial thinking, and emotional processing
3
What are the physiological changes during a fight-or-flight response?
increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and elevated blood pressure, along with other changes like pupil dilation, digestion slowing down, and adrenaline release
3
A PET scan uses what materials to measure brain activity?
Blood sugar/ glucose
3
Signs of epilepsy
Recurrent seizures (sudden uncontrolled movements or sensations)
Loss of consciousness or awareness
Stiffening of muscles
Confusion or drowsiness after seizures
3
Signs of CTE
●Memory loss
●Impaired judgment and reasoning
●Impaired balance and coordination
●Mood changes, such as depression and anxiety
●Impulsivity and aggression
●Suicidal thoughts or behavior
●Dementia and cognitive decline
4
What is being debated in the Brain-Heart debate?
The ancient Egyptians believed that the heart held the soul and mind, and was the source of all life forces, including wisdom, memory, emotion and personality. The brain was considered unimportant and was removed via the nose with a hook while other organs were extracted and preserved in jars.
4
Signs of Sympathetic Nervous System activated
"Fight-or-Flight" Response, increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure, Dilated Pupils, Increased Blood Flow to Muscles, Decreased Digestion
4
What are the three main parts of the synapse?
Dendrite, myelin sheath, axon termina
4
The medulla controls vital functions. What effects of brain damage to this area might a doctor observe?
●anxiety
●Hyperventilation
●difficulty breathing, abnormal breathing
●Irregular or stopped breathing
●Abnormal heart rate or blood pressure
●Difficulty swallowing
●Loss of consciousness or coma
●Potentially fatal outcomes
4
Differences between Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area
production of articulate speech, comprehension of speech
4
A kid scrapes their left knee while playing. Which part of the brain processes this pain?
The right somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobe.
4
Contralateral control
When each brain hemisphere processes information from the opposite side of the body
4
If you are sitting quietly at home eating an ice cream, which NS division is maintaining a balanced internal state?
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
4
What does EEG do?
An EEG detects, amplifies and records electrical activity of the brain in the form of brainwaves
4
What is an other example of ABI other than epilepsy and aphasia?
Stroke
Brain tumors
Hypoxic brain injury (lack of oxygen to the brain)
Traumatic Brain Injuries
4
Difference between concussion and CTE
concussions have immediate and short-term effects, while CTE develops gradually over time after repeated brain trauma
5
What was the study on Phrenology about?
Phrenology is a study of “localisation of function”, that is, the idea that the brain is composed of distinctive, separate parts, called “brain organs”, and functions. Gall thought that physical bumps on the skull were due to development of brain areas.
5
Signs of Parasympathetic Nervous System activated
"Rest and Digest" Response, Decreased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure, Constricted Pupils, Increased Digestion, Increased Saliva Production:
5
Which structure of the neuron consist of vesicles?
Axon terminal
Contents of vesicles: Neurotransmitters
Function: Release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft during synaptic transmission
5
Cerebellum, Hypothalamus, Thalamus, Medulla, Reticular formation, Pons, Cerebrum
●Cerebellum – hindbrain (coordination and balance)
●Hypothalamus – forebrain (regulates homeostasis, hormones, hunger, and more.)
●Thalamus - forebrain (relay station for sensory information.)
●Medulla – hindbrain (controls vital functions like breathing and heart rate.)
●Reticular formation – midbrain (involved in arousal and alertness, runs through the brainstem but is considered part of the midbrain.)
●Pons – hindbrain (acts as a bridge between different parts of the nervous system, involved in sleep and arousal.)
●Cerebrum – forebrain (responsible for higher brain functions like thought, action, and reasoning.)
5
Damage to this specific area of the brain due to ABI can result in difficulties with planning, decision-making, and controlling emotions
frontal lobe
5
A person has been hit by a ball on their right arm during a baseball game, which primary cortex and associated lobe would process this information?
the sensory information from that event would be processed by the left parietal lobe’s primary somatosensory cortex.
5
How does damage to the left hemisphere differ from damage to the right hemisphere in terms of cognitive and behavioral effects?
Damage to the left hemisphere often causes language problems like aphasia and difficulty with logical thinking. Damage to the right hemisphere typically leads to spatial awareness issues and trouble recognizing emotions or facial expressions.
5
Our autonomic system actives which type of muscles?
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) primarily controls involuntary muscles, which include:
Smooth muscles — found in the walls of internal organs like the stomach, intestines, blood vessels, and bladder.
Cardiac muscle — the muscle of the heart.
5
Differences between MRI & fMRI
MRI detects vibration of radio frequency, provides detailed structural images of the brain and other body parts, while fMRI focuses on measuring brain activity during specific tasks by tracking blood flow changes
5
Broca’s aphasia VS Wernicke’s aphasia
Loss of the ability to speak with fluency and articulation VS Difficulty speaking in a way that is meaningful to others (Speech is fluent, but makes no sense)
5
2 similarities and 2 differences between ABI and CTE
Similarities:
- Affect the Brain:
- Can Cause Long-Term Impairments in memory, mood, behavior, and personality.
Differences:
- ABI is an umbrella term that refers to any brain damage acquired after birth, including from trauma (like a car accident), stroke, infection, or lack of oxygen.
- CTE is specifically caused by repeated head injuries or concussions, often seen in athletes (e.g., football players, boxers).
- ABI can be a one-time event and may stabilize or improve over time with rehabilitation.
- CTE is progressive and degenerative, meaning it worsens over time, even after the person stops experiencing head trauma.