Biology Flashcards
medulla
controls the most basic functions such as heartbeat and breathing
cerebellum
“little brain”
helps coordinate voluntary movement such as sports
agonist
molecule fills the receptor site and activates it, acting like a neurontransmitters
action potential
a neuron impulse that travels down an axon like a wave
thalamus
inner chamber
thalamus is the sensory switchboard or router
all sensory messages, except small, are routed through the thalamus on the way to the cortex
perpheral nervous system
automatic controls self-regulated action of internal organs and glances
sympathetic arousing
flight or fight
hormones
emotions
occipital love
include the visual area; they receive visual information from the opposite visual field
temporal lobe
include the auditory processing areas
neurotransmitters
are chemicals used to send a signal across the synapse gap
reuptake: after the neurotransmitters stimulate the receptors in the receiving neurons, the chemicals are taken back up into the sending neuron.
pituitary gland
boss of the brain. it’s controlled through the nervous system by the nearby brain area. it also produces growth hormones and oxytocin, the “bonding” hormone
nervous system
The central nervous system [CNS] consists of the brain and spinal cord.
The CNS makes decisions for the body.
The peripheral nervous system [PNS] consists of ‘the rest’ of the nervous system.
The PNS gathers and sends information to and from the rest of the body.
synapse
junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
interneurons
CNS neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs motor neurons- carry outgoing information from CNS
pathway of a nerve signal
Serotonin pathways -
Networks of neurons that communicate with serotonin help regulate mood.
dopamine pathways -
Networks of neurons that communicate with dopamine are involved in focusing attention and controlling movement.
plasticity
the brains in flexible
If the brain is damaged, especially in the general association areas of the cortex:
●the brain does not repair damaged neurons, BUT it can restore some functions
●it can form new connections, reassign existing networks, and insert new neurons, some grown from stem cells
myelin sheath
The insulating envelope of myelin that surrounds the core of a nerve fiber or axon and that facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses, formed from the cell membrane of the Schwann cell in the peripheral nervous system and from oligodendroglia cells. Also called medullary sheath .
behavior genetics
Behavior genetics is a field in which variation among individuals is separated into genetic versus environmental components. The most common research methodologies are family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies.
association areas
n of the cortex of the brain that connects sensory and motor areas, and that is thought to be concerned with higher mental activities.
corpus Callosum
a broad band of nerve fibers joining the two hemispheres
motor neurons
nerve cell forming part of a pathway along which impulses pass from the brain or spinal cord to a muscle or gland.
middle ear
the air-filled central cavity of the ear, behind the eardrum
