The brainstem is the stalk-like lower part of the brain that connects the main brain (cerebrum) to the spinal cord. It sits at the base of the skull, just above the spinal cord, and is considered part of the central nervous system (CNS).| Simply Psychology
The frontal lobe is one of the most important and largest parts of your brain. Located directly behind your forehead, it's critical for many complex activities that make us uniquely human, such as reasoning, planning, and social interaction.| Simply Psychology
The temporal lobe, located near the temples, is the second largest lobe of the human cerebrum, accounting for almost one-fourth of the brain's volume. It processes auditory information, forms memories, comprehends language, and regulates emotions through key structures like the hippocampus and primary auditory cortex.| Simply Psychology
The occipital lobes are a part of the brain responsible for processing visual information, such as object recognition, color perception, depth perception, and motor detection.| Simply Psychology
A synapse is the junction where two neurons communicate without physically touching.| Simply Psychology
The motor cortex is an area within the brain's cerebral cortex involved in the planning, control, and execution of voluntary movements. It is located in the frontal lobe and works with other brain areas and the spinal cord to translate thought into physical motion. In psychology, the motor cortex is studied for its role in skills acquisition, muscle coordination, and the integration of sensory information to produce complex motor actions.| Simply Psychology
The ventricular system is a network of fluid-filled cavities within the brain, including the lateral, third, and fourth ventricles, which produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF provides cushioning, nutrients, and waste removal for the brain, helping maintain a stable environment for optimal neural function. Disruptions in the ventricular system can lead to neurological disorders and conditions, emphasizing its crucial role in brain health.| Simply Psychology
The 12 cranial nerves are essential nerve pathways that originate in the brain and serve critical functions in the body, primarily in the head and neck. These nerves are: I. Olfactory (smell), II. Optic (vision), III. Oculomotor (eye movement), IV. Trochlear (eye movement), V. Trigeminal (facial sensation and chewing), VI. Abducent (eye movement), VII. Facial (facial expressions and taste), VIII. Vestibulocochlear (hearing and balance), IX. Glossopharyngeal (taste and swallowing), X. Vagus (c...| Simply Psychology
The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the brain, composed of folded gray matter. It plays a crucial role in various complex cognitive processes including thought, perception, language, memory, attention, consciousness, and advanced motor functions.| Simply Psychology
In psychology, the hippocampus is a crucial structure within the brain's medial temporal lobe. It plays a vital role in forming and retrieving memories, spatial navigation, and emotional responses. Damage to the hippocampus can lead to memory impairments and difficulty forming new memories, highlighting its importance in learning and cognition.| Simply Psychology
The cerebellum, located at the base of the brain, is responsible for coordinating voluntary movements, maintaining posture, balance, and equilibrium, as well as refining motor movements to be smooth and precise. It also plays a role in some cognitive functions, such as attention and language processing.| Simply Psychology
Glial cells, also called glial cells or neuroglia, are cell which are non-neuronal and are located within the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport.| Simply Psychology
The Central Nervous System (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord. It acts as the body's control center, processing sensory information and directing responses. The CNS coordinates both voluntary activities, like movement, and involuntary ones, such as breathing and heartbeat.| Simply Psychology
The amygdala is a complex structure of cells nestled in the middle of the brain, adjacent to the hippocampus (which is associated with memory formation). It is part of the limbic system and plays a key role in processing emotions and emotional reactions.| Simply Psychology
The limbic system is a complex set of brain structures involved in emotion, motivation, memory, and behavior regulation. Key components include the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cingulate gyrus. It's central to emotional processing, memory formation, and various autonomic functions, bridging higher cognitive processes and primal emotions.| Simply Psychology
A neuron is a nerve cell that processes and transmits information through electrical and chemical signals in the nervous system. Neurons consist of a cell body, dendrites (which receive signals), and an axon (which sends signals). Synaptic connections allow communication between neurons, facilitating the relay of information throughout the body.| Simply Psychology
The fight or flight response is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. It prepares your body to either confront or flee from the threat by triggering changes like increased heart rate, quickened breathing, and heightened alertness.| Simply Psychology
