3. Brain and Nervous System Flashcards
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Branch of the PNS- connects the CNS and the body’s visceral (non-skeletal) organs, muscles and glands
Axon
the long strand-like part of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body towards the terminal buttons
Axon terminals
the ends of a neuron that release neurotransmitters (chemical messages) into the synapse
Brain
(CNS) - an organ that coordinates thought, behaviour and nervous system activity
Broca’s area
the area of the left frontal lobe responsible for the production of speech
Central nervous system (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord
Cerebral cortex
the thin outer layer of the cerebrum
Cerebrum
the largest part of the brain, including the outer cerebral cortex, responsible for a range of sophisticated functions
Computerised tomography (CT)
neuroimaging technique- involves taking continuous two-dimensional x-ray images of a person’s brain or body in order to provide both two and three-dimensional images (STRUCTURAL TECHNIQUE)
Contralateral functions
**Contra = opposite
Lateral= sides **
Contralateral= Left hemisphere processes sensory and motor info for right side of body and vice versa
Dendrites
the bushy spines of a neuron that extend from the soma and receive messages (neurotransmitters) from other neurons
Dopamine
a neurotransmitter responsible for the coordination of voluntary movement and experiences of pleasure
Frontal lobe
the largest lobe of the cerebral cortex located at the front of the cerebral hemispheres.
Functions- higher-order mental processes, regulation and expression of emotions, personality, voluntary movement and the production speech
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
a neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic and radio fields to take two and three-dimensional images of the brain and its activity levels (STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION)
Glial cells
a specialised cell that protects and supports neurons and their functioning
Hemispheric specialisation
the idea that each of the brain’s cerebral halves has its own specific roles
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
a neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic and radio fields to take two and three-dimensional images of the brain (STRUCTURAL)
Motor messages
information about voluntary movement transmitted FROM the CNS TO the skeletal muscles
Myelin
the fat and protein substance that surrounds and insulates the axon of a neuron, and speeds up neural transmission
Neuroimaging
a range of techniques used to capture images of the brain’s structure, function and activities
Neuron
a **nerve cell **responsible for transmitting, receiving, and processing information
Neurotransmission
the process in which a neuron sends a message
Occipital lobe
the rearmost lobe of the cerebral cortex behind the parietal lobe, with the primary function of processing visual stimuli
Parasympathetic nervous system
a branch of the ANS responsible for returning and maintaining the body’s visceral organs, muscles and glands at optimal and balanced functioning (homeostasis)