Chapter 02 Flashcards
Neuron
The cell that receives and transmits signals throughout the body, especially in the brain
Glial Cell
- A care-taker cell that brings nutrients
- Removes dead cells
- Forms the Myelin (fatty tissue around the axon)
Dendrite
Receives a chemical signal
Axon
Carries the signal (electrochemical)
Myelin
Fatty tissue that insulates the signal
Action Potential
The exchange of sodium (+Na) & potassium (-K) across the membrane creates electrical signal down axon
Afferent Neuron
Brings sensory signals and signals from internal organs in to the brain
• Organ -> brain
Efferent Neuron
Carries signals from the brain out to the muscles
• Brain -> organ
Spinal Reflex
A sudden reaction to pain without the need for neuron signals to go back and forth from the brain
Terminal
Bulbs at the end of an axon that contain pockets of neurotransmitters
Synapse
Fluid space between neurons; chemicals float next to a neuron
• Point of contact = receptor site
Receptor Site
Where neurotransmitters can bond to a dendrite
Dopamine
Muscle inhibitor that provides a [slow down / stop] signal used in controlling movement
Endorphins
Inhibitory signal fits same receptors as pain signal and blocks pain signal from getting into the brain
Serotonin
Affects emotional arousal and sleep
- Good levels ( + ): improve thinking and perception of the world
- Low levels ( - ): linked to insomnia and depression
Norepinephrin
Excitatory signal which creates general arousal of central nervous system
Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
GABA is an inhibitory signal that slows neural system, more relaxed, and less anxiety
Acetylcholine (Ach)
Ach excitatory for some muscle groups and inhibitory for others
- Necessary for memory
- People with Alzheimer’s have less Ach and forget easily
Nerve
When axons of many neurons run alongside each other
Central Nervous System
Consists of the nerves of the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Nerves running up to and out from the spinal cord
[PNS] Somatic System
Carries sensory signals in and muscle signals out
[PNS] Autonomic System
Carries signals to and from organs that maintain functions (like signals from heart to lungs)
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
Scan records on paper of the electrical activity of active neurons
Positronic Emissions Tomography (PET)
Scan for uptake of glucose containing a mild radioactive element the glucose that is picked up on the scan indicates an active neuron
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Uses a magnetic field, exposes the brain to radio waves and records blood flow
Computer Axial Tomography (CAT)
This uses multiple x-rays of the brain and computer combines the layers to generate a 3D images
Cerebral Cortex
Upper brain lobes
Middle Brain
Internal structures (thalamus and limbic system)
Brainstem
Hindbrain, lower level structures
Pons
Involved in sleeping, waking, and attentiveness
Medulla
Involved in the signals for heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing — vitals
Cerebellum
Controls learned coordination movement (like walking)
Reticular Activating System (RAS)
Important in sleep, arousal, and attention
- Learns to respond to alert the mid-brain to the incoming signal
- Thalamus in the mid-brain structure receiving the alert and relaying to appropriate areas of cortex
Limbic System (LS)
Set of structures just under the cerebral cortex
[LS] Hypothalamus
Regulates emotion and motivation (e.g. hunger)
[LS] Amygdala
Evaluates signals for basic danger and activities “fight or flee”
[LS] Hippocampus
Necessary to form new memories
Cerebrum
The wrinkled, upper brain, with four lobes
- Frontal lobe: contains motor cortex which signals for voluntary movement
- Prefrontal lobe: for conscious thought, contains association for thinking, memory, and language
- Parietal lobe:upper back of the cerebrum, processes body sensations (tells you where it is)
Occipital Lobe
Processes visuals; must function in order to see
Temporal Lobe (Tempo Lobe)
Processes sounds; must function to hear
Broca’s Area
For speech production
Wernicke’s Area
For language comprehension
Aphasia
Condition of having difficulty of producing and/or comprehending language
Corpus Callosum
Bundle of nerve fibers exchanging signals left to right, and vice versa in the brain
Cross-over
Left brain connects and controls right body, right brain connects and controls left body
- Left: logic
- Right: visual-spatial
Epilepsy
Uncontrolled electrical activity (spasms)
Pituitary Gland
Secretes GH (human growth hormone)
Adrenal Gland
Secretes cortical steroids
Evolutionary Psychology
Study of how adaptation and natural selection play into human behavior
