Chapter 2: The Brain Flashcards
Neuron
A nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system
Dendrites
A neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that recieve messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon
The neuron’s extension that passes through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Myelin Sheath
A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons, enabling vastly greater transmisson speed, as neural impulses hop from one node to the next
Action Potential
A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Threshold
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Synapse
The junction between the axon of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or the synaptic cleft
Endorphins
Morphine within, natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Nervous System
The body’s speedy electrochemical communications network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The brain and spinal cord (and brain stem)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Nerves
Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Sensory Neurons
Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and the spinal cord
Motor Neuron
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
Interneurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs
Somatic Nervous System
Division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system
Autonomic Nervous System
The peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs. Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms
Sympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
Parasympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body; conserving its energy
Reflex
A simple automatic response to a sensory stimulus such as the knee-jerk response
Endocrine System
The body’s slow chemical communication system; a set of glands that secret hormones into the blood stream
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands; travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues
Adrenal Glands
A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norephinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of self defense
Pituitary Gland
The endocrine system;s most influential gland, which is under the influence of the hypothalamus and the pituitary regulates growth as well as controlling other endocrine glands
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain;s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
Parietal Lobe
Receives and correlates information, spaces, and senses
PET (Position Emission Tomography Scan)
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a specific task
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft-tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy
Brain Stem
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters that skull: the brain stem is responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla
The base of the brain stem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Thalamus
The brain’s sensory switchboard located on top of the brain stem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Reticular Formation
A nerve network that travels through the brain stem and plays an important role in controlling arousal
Cerebellum
The little brain at the rear of the brain stem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement, output, and balance
Limbic System
A neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
Amygdala
Two lima-bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion (aggression and fear)
Hypothalamus
A neural structure lying below the thalamus, it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward
Cerebral Cortex
The intricate fabric of the interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information processing center
Glial Cells
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking
Frontal Lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments
Occipital Lobe
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
Temporal Lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
Motor Cortex
An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
Sensory Cortex
Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Association Areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental function such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
Plasticity
The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Neurogenesis
The formation of new neurons
Corpus Callosum
The long band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Split Brain
A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain;s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly of the corpus callosum) connecting them
Lesion
Tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
Brain
The collection of tissue that is very complex and controls all functions of the body
Franz Gall
German Physical who believed that bumps on the skull explained the personality functions of people (first person to recognize localization of function)
Phrenology
Study of bumps on the skull and their connection to personality
Biopsychosocial
Our lives and how they are viewed through the biological, psychological, and social perspectives
Biological Psychologist
Behavioral Neuroscientists who study how the brain affects and is affected by genes and the body
Nerve Cells
Collection of neurons that make up the nervous system and deliver messages through the body
Cell body
The powerhouse of the neuron
Axon Terminal
The long end of the axon that branches out and touches the dendrites of the receiving neuron and sends messages
Multiples Sclerosis
A disease that disintegrates the myelin sheath, thus causing slow, nearly nonexistent chemical messages
Chemical Messengers
Neural impulses that carry information to and from the brain to aid in mind-body communication
Chemistry to Electricity Process
When neuron stimulation causes depolarization, which causes positive ions to go in and negative ions to go out allowing sodium atoms to open the next nod, and then once the sodium atoms have passed, polarization occurs and the atoms go back to normal
Resting Potential
The positive ions outside the axon and the negative atoms inside the axon that are waiting to be switched and create electricty
Refractory Period
The time period a neuron must wait before sending another message
Excitory Signal
A signal that sends messages to move
Inhibitory Signal
A signal that sends messages to NOT move
All or None Response
When the excitory signal either overwhelms inhibitory signals or doesn’t in order to send a message (Think of it like pulling the trigger on a gun- the bullet either shoots or it doesn’t)
Synaptic Gap/Cleft
The junction at which axon terminals and dendrites meet and neurotransmitters must cross in order to send a message
Neurotransmitters
The chemical message
Acetylcholine
The neurotransmitter involved with learning and memory; best understood neurotransmitter
Curare
A chemical/neurotransmitter that stops messages
Botulin
Neurotransmitter that inhibits messages being sent (Botox)
Dopamine
Released in order to aid in signal sending, causes happiness
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter that aids in pain signals, REM cycles, and emotions
Norepinephrine
A neurotransmitter the adrenal medulla releases to activate the sympathetic nervous system
GABA
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid. A neurotransmitter that is the strongest inhibitor signal
Glutamate
Excitory neurotransmitter that also deals with memory
Receptor Sites
Places on dendrites that absorb neurotransmitters
Blood-Brain Barrier
A type of filter that allows only blood to flow to the brain and spinal cord, but few other substances
L-Dopa
Levodopa aids in dopamine signals (man made neurotransmitter)
Spinal Reflex
Protects the body from damage by contracting muscles through the spinal cord
Neural Networks
The connections of neurons that aid in communication between the brain and the rest of the world
CT Scan
A test that uses X-Rays to see certain parts of the body (CAT Scan)
Little Brain
Another name for the cerebellum
Hippocampus
Below the ventricle of the brain and controls emotion, memory, and the ANS
Brain Hemispheres
The two parts of the brain that are divided by a groove and control different functions
Fissures
A small split in an organ
Aphasisa
Inability to communicate due to brain damage
Paul Broca
French guy who had part of the frontal lobe named after him
Carl Wernicke
Discovered aphasia, made great discoveries in psychology, especially brain disorders
Broca’s Area
The frontal left lobe named after Paul Broca’s discovery
Wernicke’s Area
The part of the brain that deals with language comprehension
Angular Gyrus
Part of the parietal lobe that deals with language, numbers, perception, memory, and attention
Left Brained
The idea that left-brained people are more organized and logical
Right brained
The idea that people who use more of their right hemisphere are more creative/artistic
Epinephrine
A type of adrenaline that can be used to treat certain issues
Adrenaline
Another name for epinephrine and has the same properties as it
Non-Adrenaline
Also known as norepinephrine and inhibits the same things as it
The Mind
The parts of cognition that aren’t directly biological, such as emotion, memory, etc.
