Biology Flashcards
Endorphins
Chemicals in the brain that reduce pain and make you feel good. They act like natural painkillers and create feelings of happiness or euphoria.
Brain Plasticity
The brain’s ability to change and adapt over time. This helps with learning new things and recovering from injuries by forming new connections between brain cells. Change in response to stimuli
Hemispheric Specialization
Each side of the brain has different functions. The left side usually handles language and logic, while the right side deals with creativity and spatial awareness.
Temporal Lobe
A part of the brain located near your ears that helps process sound, understand language, and store memories.
Broca’s Area
A small part of the brain in the frontal lobe that controls speech production. Damage here makes it hard to speak clearly and control muscle movements needed to speak.
Wernicke’s Area
A part of the brain in the temporal lobe that helps you understand language. Damage here can cause trouble understanding speech or reading.
Amygdala
A small part of the brain that controls emotions like fear and pleasure, and helps form emotional memories. Memories processed through the amygdala and sent to other areas in the cerebral cortex for permanent storage.
Cerebellum
Located at the back of the brain, it helps with balance, coordination, and controlling movement.
Pons
A part of the brainstem that controls sleep, breathing, and messages between different brain areas.
Motor Neurons
Nerve cells that send signals from the brain to muscles, making them move. They control voluntary and incoluntary movements.
Somatic Nervous System
The part of the nervous system that controls voluntary movements, like moving your arms or legs.
CAT Scan
A medical test that uses X-rays to create detailed images of the inside of the body, often used to check for injuries or diseases in the brain or other organs.
Adrenal Glands
Small glands on top of the kidneys that produce hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which help the body respond to stress and regulate blood pressure.