Postcards from the Brain
by Julie Pryor | December 11, 2017
-
-
The Sylvian fissure is a prominent groove on each side of the brain that separates the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe.
McGovern researchers are studying a region near the right Sylvian fissure, called the rTPJ, which is involved in thinking about what another person is thinking.
Image: Joe Laney
-
-
The arcuate fasciculus is a bundle of axons in the brain that connects Broca’s area, involved in speech production, and Wernicke’s area, involved in understanding language.
McGovern researchers have found a correlation between the size of this structure and the risk of dyslexia in children. Image: Joe Laney
-
-
The hippocampus, named after its resemblance to the seahorse, plays an important role in memory.
McGovern researchers are studying how changes in the strength of synapses (connections between neurons) in the hippocampus contribute to the formation and retention of memories. Image: Joe Laney
-
-
The basal ganglia are a group of deep brain structures best known for their control of movement.
McGovern researchers are studying how the connections between the cerebral cortex and a part of the basal ganglia known as the striatum play a role in emotional decision-making and motivation. Image: Joe Laney
In December 2017, we created a series of “Postcards from the Brain” — an illustrative journey featuring brain regions studied by McGovern researchers.
For a closer look at these postcards, including a description of how our researchers are studying these particular regions of the brain, please click on the thumbnails above.