CAS PS 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Substantia Nigra, Auditory Cortex, Parietal Lobe

• School: Boston University
• Department: Psychological & Brain Sciences
• Course: CAS PS 101
• Professor: Ben Wormwood

Document Summary

Spinal re exes: simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions; painful sensations travel directly to the spinal cord via sensory neurons, which issue an immediate command to the motor neurons to retract the hand. Hindbrain: coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord; includes the medulla, reticular formation, cerebellum, and pons; referred to as the reptilian brain as it is the oldest part of the brain, evolutionary. Midbrain: important for orientation and movement; consists of two main structures tectum and tegmentum. Forebrain: highest level of the brain; controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory and motor functions; divided into two main sections cerebral cortex and subcortical structures. Pituitary gland: master gland of the body"s hormone-producing system, which releases hormones that direct the functions of many other glands in the body; involved in response to stress, digestion, and reproductive processes.