Brainology

Vocab

100

What is motor learning?

The process of improving the smoothness and accuracy of movements through practice.

200

What is another word for a nerve cell?

Neuron

300

Please name all parts of the brain that we have gone over.

Occipital, Temporal, Frontal, Parietal, Cerebellum, Brain stem

400

Name 8 of the 10 systems that we have gone over:

Nervous System Respiratory System Immune System Endocrine System Circulatory System Digestive System Excretory System Integumentary System Skeletal System Muscular System

500

What is a stimulus? And, what are two examples of each kind?

A stimulus is a thing or event that brings out a specific functional response. We have gone over external and internal stimuli. An example of an external stimulus is visuals/sound/touch. An example of internal stimulus is organ movement/hunger

Neural Pathways

100

1. What are the structures called that receive an electric impulse in the process of the nervous system sending messages? 2. Where do those impulses come from?

1. Dendrites 2. Axon terminals of previous neuron

200

What are the three kinds of neurons and where are they located?

Sensory neurons & motor neurons - throughout your body Interneurons - in spinal cord and brain

300

What is it called when your body responds involuntarily to avoid danger. (Name and give an example of one)

Reflex - closing your eyes when startled.

400

Please draw a diagram of you reacting to a loud noise. (Be sure to start from the beginning)

You receive a stimulus such as the sound of someone saying "heads up!". After your sensory neurons take this in, they send the information to the interneurons in your brain, which decides to make you duck. Thus, an impulse gets sent to your motor neurons to pull on your muscles and skeleton to make you crouch down.

500

What happens to neural pathways that don't get used?

Neural pathways that don't get used go away! Please name three things you will do over the summer to secure your learnings from this year.

Labs!

100

What labs did we do in the Brainology unit?

Distortion Goggles, Reaction vs. Reflex, and Card Sort

200

What is cognitive load and which lab demonstrated varying amounts of it?

Cognitive load- when your brain is given something to analyze, think about, or make a decision about -Card Sort Lab demonstrated various amount of cognitive load

300

What nervous system function do both the Distortion Goggle lab and the Card Sort lab demonstrate.

Creating pathways or wiring that get strengthened with practice. This can be for motor learning or thought patterns.

400

Why might you get faster and faster speeds the more times you sort cards into similar piles?

You are strengthening your neuro-pathways for processing and motor control the more times you practice. This is due to the brain's plasticity.

500

What do all three labs teach you about the nervous system?

Answers vary

Structure & Function

100

What are the 3 structures of the nervous system?

Brain, spinal cord, nerves

200

Why does a neuron look the way it does? (Please draw and explain)

A neuron has the specific structure to function as an impulse sender and receiver. It has a location that picks up electric messages, then it moves that message along it's body and out to the next neuron.

300

1. What is the brain stem's function?

To operate your involuntary muscles, such as your heart, in order to keep you alive. Follow up question: what might the function of having the brain stem buried deep in the middle? (Because it's an important part and should be protected)

400

When you are chatting with a friend, what parts of your brain are in use? (And, why?)

Occipital Lobe- looking and processing vision Temporal Lobe- hearing/language Frontal Lobe- decision making and social processing Cerebellum- moving Brainstem- keeping you alive Parietal- observing surroundings/sense of space

500

1. What is the relationship between structure and function? 2. Please point out three examples that we have gone over in science this year to help explain your answer.

Somethings structure is specifically tied to how it can function. They are intensely related. For example, nerve cells have structures that are long and have branches because they have important functions of sending and receiving messages. The digestive system has a structure oriented with gravity because it's function is to move food through you, with the exit at the bottom. A birds beak has a specific structure to help them obtain food and survive (function).