Mod 12 & 13 Flash Cards

Front

cerebral cortex

Back

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

Front

frontal lobe

Back

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, speaking, memory, and judgement.

Front

parietal lobe

Back

A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.

Front

occipital lobe

Back

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information.

Front

motor cortex

Back

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

Front

temporal lobe

Back

An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex near the temples that is the primary receiving area for auditory information.

Front

somatosensory cortex

Back

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

Front

association areas

Back

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

Front

Phineas Gage

Back

Railroad worker who survived a severe brain injury that dramatically changed his personality and behavior; case played a role in the development of the understanding of the localization of brain function.

Front

brain plasticity

Back

The ability of other parts of the brain to take over functions of damaged regions. Declines as hemispheres of the cerebral cortex lateralize.