Chapter 2 Vocab

Question 1

An almond-shaped structure in the limbic system that plays a central role in emotion and in the evaluation of stimuli

Answer 1

Amygdala

Question 2

The outer surface (cortex) of the front most part of the brain (i.e., the front most part of the frontal lobe). The prefrontal cortex has many functions but is crucial for the planning of complex or novel behaviors, so this brain area is often mentioned as one of the main sites underlying the brain’s executive functions.

Answer 2

Prefrontal Cortex

Question 3

One of the three main structures (along with the forebrain and the midbrain) of the brain; the hindbrain sits atop the spinal cord and includes several structures crucial for controlling key life functions.

Answer 3

Hindbrain

Question 4

The largest area of the hindbrain, crucial for the coordination of bodily movements and balance.

Answer 4

Cerebellum

Question 5

One of the three main structures (along with the forebrain and the hindbrain) of the brain; the midbrain plays an important role in coordinating movements, and it contains structures that serve as “relay” stations for information arriving from the sensory organs

Answer 5

Midbrain

Question 6

One of the three main structures (along with the hindbrain and the midbrain) of the brain; the forebrain plays a crucial role in supporting intellectual functioning

Answer 6

Forebrain

Question 7

The outermost surface of an organ in the body; psychologists are most commonly interested in the brain’s cortex and, specifically, the cerebral cortex

Answer 7

Cortex

Question 8

The wrinkles visible in the cerebral cortex that allows the enormous surface area of the human brain to fit into the relatively small volume of the skull

Answer 8

Convolutions

Question 9

The separation dividing the left cerebral hemisphere from the right

Answer 9

Longitudinal Fissure

Question 10

One of the two hemispherical brain structures - one on the left side, one on the right - that constitute the major part of the forebrain in mammals

Answer 10

Cerebral Hemisphere

Question 11

The lobe of the brain in each cerebral hemisphere that includes the prefrontal area and the primary motor projection area

Answer 11

Frontal Lobes

Question 12

The separation dividing the frontal lobes on each side of the brain from the parietal lobes

Answer 12

Central Fissure

Question 13

The lobe in each cerebral hemisphere that lies between the occipital and frontal lobes and that includes some of the primary sensory projection areas, as well as circuits that are crucial for the control of attention

Answer 13

Parietal Lobes

Question 14

The separation dividing the frontal lobes on each side of the brain from the temporal lobes

Answer 14

Lateral Fissure

Question 15

The lobe of the cortex lying inward and down from the temples. The temporal lobe in each cerebral hemisphere includes the primary auditory projection area, Wernicke’s area, and, subcortically, the amygdala and hippocampus

Answer 15

Temporal Lobes

Question 16

The rearmost lobe in each cerebral hemisphere, and the one that includes the primary visual projection area

Answer 16

Occipital Lobes

Question 17

Identified pieces of the brain that are underneath the cortex and therefore are hidden from view in drawings of an intact brain. These structures include the thalamus, the hypothalamus, and the various components of the limbic system

Answer 17

Subcortical Structures

Question 18

A port of the lower portion of the forebrain that serves as a major relay and integration center for sensory information

Answer 18

Thalamus

Question 19

A small structure at the base of the forebrain that plays a vital role in the control of motivated behaviors such as eating, drinking, and sexual activity

Answer 19

Hypothalamus

Question 20

A set of brain structures including the amygdala, hippocampus, and parts of the thalamus. The limbic system is believed to be involved in the control of emotional behavior and motivation, and it also plays a key role in learning and memory

Answer 20

Limbic System

Question 21

A structure in the temporal lobe that is involved in the creation of long-term memories and spatial memory

Answer 21

Hippocampus

Question 22

One of the thick bundles of fibers along with information is sent back and forth between the two cerebral hemispheres

Answer 22

Commissures

Question 23

The largest of the commissures linking the left and right cerebral hemispheres

Answer 23

Corpus Callosum

Question 24

A specific area of tissue damage

Answer 24

Lesion

Question 25

Non-invasive methods for examining either the structure or the activation pattern within a living brain

Answer 25

Neuroimaging Techniques

Question 26

A neuroimaging technique that uses X-rays to construct a precise three dimensional image of the brain's anatomy

Answer 26

Computerized Axial Tomography (CT Scans)

Question 27

A neuroimaging technique that determines how much glucose (the brain's fuel) is being used by specific areas of the brain at a particular moment in time

Answer 27

Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scans)

Question 28

A neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic fields (created by radio waves) to construct a detailed three dimensional representation of brain tissue. Like CT scans, MRI scans reveal the brain's anatomy, but they are much more precise than CT scans

Answer 28

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI Scans)

Question 29

A neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic fields to construct a detailed three dimensional representation of the activity levels in different areas of the brain at a particular moment in time

Answer 29

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI Scans)

Question 30

A recording of voltage changes occurring at the scalp that reflect activity in the brain underneath

Answer 30

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Question 31

Changes in an EEG in the brief period just before, during, and after an explicitly defined event, usually measured by averaging together many trials in which this event has occured

Answer 31

Event Related Potentials

Question 32

A brain area specialized apparently for the perception of faces

Answer 32

Fusiform Face Area (FFA)

Question 33

A technique in which a series of strong magnetic pulses as a specific location on the scalp causes temporary disruption in the brain region directly underneath the scalp area

Answer 33

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Question 34

The research endeavor of determining what specific job is performed by a particular region of the brain

Answer 34

Localization of Function

Question 35

The strip of tissue, located at the rear of the frontal lobe, that is the departure point for nerve cells that send their signals to lower portions of the brain and the spinal cord, and that ultimately result in muscle movement

Answer 35

Primary Motor Projection Areas

Question 36

The main point of arrival in the cortex for information arriving at the eyes, ears, and other sense organs

Answer 36

Primary Sensory Projection Areas

Question 37

A pattern in which the left half of the brain controls the right half of the body, and the right half of the brain controls the left half of the body

Answer 37

Contralateral Control

Question 38

The traditional name for the portion of the human cortex outside the motor and sensory projection areas

Answer 38

Association Cortex

Question 39

A disturbance in the capacity to initiate or organize voluntary action, often caused by brain damage

Answer 39

Apraxia

Question 40

A disturbance in a person's ability to identify familiar objects

Answer 40

Agnosia

Question 41

A pattern of symptoms in which affected individuals ignore all inputs coming from one side of space. Individuals with this syndrome put only one of their arms into their jacket, eats food from only half of their plate, read only half of words, and so on

Answer 41

Unilateral Neglect Syndrome

Question 42

A disruption of language capacities, often caused by brain damage. See also fluent and non-fluent aphasia

Answer 42

Aphasia

Question 43

An individual cell within the nervous system

Answer 43

Neurons

Question 44

A type of cell found in the central nervous system. Glial cells have many functions, including the support of neurons, the repairing of neural connections in case of damage, and a key role in guiding the initial development of neural connections. A specialized type of glia also provide electrical insulation for some neurons, allowing much faster transmissions of neuronal signals

Answer 44

Glia

Question 45

The area of a biological cell containing the nucleus and the metabolic machinery that sustains the cell

Answer 45

Cell Body

Question 46

The part of the neuron that usually detects the incoming signal

Answer 46

Dendrites

Question 47

The part of a neuron that typically transmits a signal away from the neuron's cell body and carries the signal to another location

Answer 47

Axon

Question 48

One of the chemicals released by neurons to stimulate adjacent neurons. See also synapse

Answer 48

Neurotransmitter

Question 49

The area that includes the presynaptic membrane of one neuron, the postsynaptic membrane of another neuron, and the tiny gap between them. The presynaptic membranes releases a small amount of neurotransmitter that drifts across the gap and stimulates the postsynaptic membrane

Answer 49

Synapse

Question 50

The cell membrane of the neuron "sending" information across the synapse

Answer 50

Presynaptic Membrane

Question 51

The cell membrane of the neuron "receiving" information across the synapse

Answer 51

Postsynaptic Membrane

Question 52

The activity level at which a cell or detector responds, or fires

Answer 52

Threshold

Question 53

A brief change in the electrical potential of an axon. The action potential if the physical basis of the signal sent from one end of the neuron to the other; it usually triggers a further (chemical) signal to other neurons

Answer 53

Action Potential

Question 54

The layer of tissue, formed by specialized glial cells, that provide insulation around the axons of many neurons. There are however gaps in this insulation, and the neuronal signal essentially has to "jump" from one gap to the next, dramatically increasing the speed of neurotransmission

Answer 54

Myelin Sheath

Question 55

The principle stating that a neuron or detector either fires completely or does not fire at all; no immediate responses are possible.

Answer 55

All or None Law

Question 56

The system through which one type of information stands for, or represents, a different type of information. In the context of the nervous system, this term refers to the way in which activity in neurons manages to stand for, or represent, particular ideas or thoughts

Answer 56

Coding