Evoked potentials—EEGs resulting from a response to a specific stimulus presented to
the subject.
Positron emission tomography (PET)—shows brain activity when radioactively tagged
glucose rushes to active neurons and emits positrons.
Functional MRI (fMRI)—shows brain activity at higher resolution than the PET scan
when changes in oxygen concentration near active neurons alter magnetic qualities.
Central nervous system (CNS)—brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)—portion of the nervous system outside the brain
and spinal cord; includes all of the sensory and motor neurons, and subdivisions called
the autonomic and somatic nervous systems.
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)—subdivision of PNS that includes motor nerves
that innervate smooth (involuntary) and heart muscle. Its sympathetic nervous system
prepares the body for “fight or flight”; the parasympathetic nervous system causes bodily
changes for maintenance or rest.
Sympathetic nervous system—subdivision of PNS and ANS whose stimulation results
in responses that help your body deal with stressful events.
Parasympathetic nervous system—subdivision of PNS and ANS whose stimulation
calms your body following sympathetic stimulation by restoring normal body processes.
Somatic nervous system—subdivision of PNS that includes motor nerves that inner-
vate skeletal (voluntary) muscle.
Spinal cord—portion of the central nervous system below the level of the medulla.
Brain—portion of the central nervous system above the spinal cord.
According to the evolutionary model, the brain consists of three sections: reptilian brain
(medulla, pons, cerebellum); old mammalian brain (limbic system, hypothalamus, thala-
mus); and the new mammalian brain (cerebral cortex).
According to the developmental model, it consists of three slightly different sections: the
hindbrain (medulla, pons, cerebellum), the midbrain (small region with parts involved in
eye reflexes and movements), and the forebrain (including the limbic system, hypothala-
mus, thalamus, cerebral cortex).- Convolutions—folding-in and out of the cerebral cortex that increases surface area
of the brain; - Gyri—folding-out portions of convolutions of the cerebral cortex;
- Sulci—folding-in portions of convolutions of the cerebral cortex;
- Contralaterality—control of one side of your body by the other side of your brain.
The functions of parts of your brain include:
Medulla oblongata—regulates heart rhythm, blood flow, breathing rate, digestion,
vomiting.
Pons—includes portion of reticular activating system or reticular formation critical
for arousal and wakefulness; sends information to and from medulla, cerebellum, and
cerebral cortex.
Cerebellum—controls posture, equilibrium and movement.
78 ❯ STEP 4. Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High