Chapter 3 Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience Flashcards
Toward the front
Anterior
Cortical areas that carry out further processing beyond what the primary projection area does, often combining information from other senses
Association Area
The area of cortex on the superior temporal gyrus, which is the primary projection area for auditory information
Auditory Cortex
One of the two branches of the peripheral nervous system; it is composed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which control smooth muscle, glands, and the heart and other organs
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
The brain’s protection from toxic substances and neurotransmitters in the bloodstream; the small openings in the capillary walls prevent large molecules from passing through unless they are fat soluble or carried through by special transporters
Blood-Brain Barrier
The area anterior to the precentral gyrus (motor cortex) that sends output to the facial motor area to produce speech and also provides grammatical structure to language
Broca’s Area
The part of the nervous system made up of the brain and spinal cord
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The groove between the precentral gyrus and the postcentral gyrus that separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe in each hemisphere
Central Sulcus
A structure in the hindbrain that contributes the order of muscular contractions and their precise timing to intended movements and helps maintain posture and balance. It is also necessary for learning motor skills and contributes to nonmotor learning and cognitive activities
Cerebellum
The large, wrinkled structures that are the dorsal or superior part of the brain and that are covered by the cortex
Cerebral Hemispheres
Liquid in the ventricles and spinal canal that carries material from the blood vessels to the central nervous system and transports waste materials in the other direction. It also helps cushion the brain and spinal cord
Cerebrospinal Fluid
The third stage of nervous system development, in which the developing neurons send processes to their target cells and form functional connections
Circuit Formation
The fourth stage of nervous system development, in which neurons that are unsuccessful in finding a place on the appropriate target cell, or that arrive late, die and excess synapses are eliminated
Circuit Pruning
A response to nervous system injury, in which surviving presynaptic neurons sprout new terminals, postsynaptic neurons add more receptors, or surrounding tissue takes over functions
Compensation
The largest of the groups of neurons connecting the two cerebral hemispheres
Corpus Callosum
The grayish 1.5- to 4-mm-thick surface of the hemispheres, composed mostly of cell bodies, where the highest-level processing occurs in the brain
Cortex
The 12 pairs of axonal bundles that enter and leave the underside of the brain; part of the peripheral nervous system
Cranial Nerves
Toward the back side of the body
Dorsal
The branch of a spinal nerve through which neurons enter the spinal cord
Dorsal Root
A condition caused by the mother’s use of alcohol during the third trimester of pregnancy; neurons fail to migrate properly, often resulting in intellectual disability; the leading cause of intellectual disability in the Western world
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
A deep groove between gyri of the cerebral hemispheres that is larger than a sulcus
Fissure
The area of each cerebral hemisphere anterior to the central sulcus and superior to the lateral fissure
Frontal Lobe
A group of cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system
Ganglion
A formation at the tip of a migrating neuron that samples the environment for directional cues
Growth Cone
A ridge in the cerebral cortex; the area between two sulci
Gyrus
A disorder in which cerebrospinal fluid fails to circulate and builds up in the cerebral ventricles, crowding out neural tissue and usually causing intellectual disability
Hydrocephalus
A subcortical structure in the forebrain just below the thalamus that plays a major role in controlling emotion and motivated behaviors, such as eating, drinking, and sexual activity
Hypothalamus
Below another structure
Inferior
The part of the tectum in the brain stem that is involved in auditory functions, such as locating the direction of sounds
Inferior Colliculi
An area in the lower part of the temporal lobe that plays a major role in the visual identification of objects
Inferior Temporal Cortex
Toward the side
Lateral
The fissure that separates the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes
Lateral Fissure
The large fissure that extends the length of the brain, separating the two cerebral hemispheres
Longitudinal Fissure
Toward the middle
Medial
The lower part of the hindbrain; its nuclei are involved with control of essential life processes, such as cardiovascular activity and respiration
Medulla
A three-layered membrane that encloses and protects the brain
Meninges
The middle part of the brain, consisting of the tectum (roof) on the dorsal side and the tegmentum on the ventral side
Midbrain
In brain development, movement of newly formed neurons from the ventricular zone to their final destinations
Migration
The area in the frontal lobes that controls voluntary (nonreflexive) body movements; the primary motor cortex is on the precentral gyrus
Motor Cortex
A disorder in which the person ignores objects, people, and activity on the side opposite the brain damage
Neglect
A bundle of axons running together in the peripheral nervous system
Nerve
The birth of new neurons
Neurogenesis
Chemicals that enhance development and survival in neurons
Neurotrophins
(1) The part of every cell that contains the chromosomes and governs activity in the cell. (2) A group of neuron cell bodies in the central nervous system
Nucleus
The most posterior part of each cerebral hemisphere and the location of the visual cortex
Occipital Lobe
The branch of the autonomic nervous system that slows the activity of most organs to conserve energy and activates digestion to renew energy.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
The part of each cerebral hemisphere located above the lateral fissure and between the central sulcus and the occipital lobe; it contains the somatosensory cortex and visual association areas
Parietal Lobe
The part of the nervous system made up of the cranial nerves and spinal nerves
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
A gland located just posterior to the thalamus that secretes sleep-inducing melatonin; it controls seasonal cycles in nonhuman animals and participates with other structures in controlling daily rhythms in humans
Pineal Gland
The ability to be modified; a characteristic of the nervous system
Plasticity
A part of the brain stem that contains centers related to sleep and arousal
Pons
Toward the rear
Posterior
The gyrus anterior to, and extending the length of, the central sulcus; the location of the primary motor cortex
Precentral Gyrus
The most anterior cortex of the frontal lobes; involved in working memory, planning and organization of behavior, and regulation of behavior in response to its consequences. It also integrates information about the body with sensory information from the world to select and plan movements
Prefrontal Cortex
The first stage in the cortical-level processing of somatosensory information, which is processed through the four subareas of the primary somatosensory cortex and then passed on to the secondary somatosensory cortex
Primary Somatosensory Cortex
The first stage of nervous system development, in which cells that will become neurons multiply at the rate of 250,000 new cells every minute
Proliferation
The use of surgical intervention to treat cognitive and emotional disorders
Psychosurgery
Specialized glial cells that provide a scaffold for most migrating neurons as they move perpendicularly from the ventricular surface to their final location
Radial Glial Cells
A simple, automatic movement in response to a sensory stimulus
Reflex
The growth of severed axons; in mammals, it is limited to the peripheral nervous system
Regeneration
A shift in neural connections that changes the function of an area of the brain
Reorganization
A collection of more than 90 nuclei running through the middle of the hindbrain and the midbrain with roles in sleep and arousal, attention, reflexes, and muscle tone
Reticular Formation
The division of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information into the central nervous system (CNS) and motor commands from the CNS to the skeletal muscles
Somatic Nervous System
A part of the central nervous system; the spinal nerves, which communicate with the body below the head, enter and leave the spinal cord
Spinal Cord
The peripheral axonal bundles that enter and leave the spinal cord at each vertebra and communicate with the body below the head
Spinal Nerves
Undifferentiated cells that can develop into specialized cells, such as neurons, muscle, or blood
Stem Cells
A medical condition caused by a loss of blood flow in the brain (also known as cerebrovascular accident)
Stroke
A shallow groove or space between two gyri, not as deep as a fissure
Sulcus
Above another structure
Superior
The part of the tectum in the brain stem that is involved in visual functions, such as guiding eye movements and fixation of gaze
Superior Colliculi
The structure running along each side of the spine through which most sympathetic neurons pass (and may synapse) on their way to and from the body’s organs
Sympathetic Ganglion Chain
The branch of the autonomic nervous system that activates the body in ways that help it cope with demands, such as emotional stress and physical emergencies
Sympathetic Nervous System
The part of each cerebral hemisphere ventral to the lateral fissure; it contains the auditory cortex, visual and auditory association areas, Wernicke’s area, and structures involved in learning and memory
Temporal Lobe
A forebrain structure lying just below the lateral ventricles, which receives information from all sensory systems except olfaction and relays it to the respective cortical projection areas. It has additional roles in movement, memory, and consciousness
Thalamus
A bundle of axons in the central nervous system
Tract
An injury caused by an external mechanical force, such as a blow to the head, sudden acceleration or deceleration, or penetration
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Toward the stomach side
Ventral
The branch of each spinal nerve through which the motor neurons exit
Ventral Root
Cavities in the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid
Ventricles
The part of each occipital lobe where visual information is processed
Visual Cortex
A brain area just posterior to the auditory cortex (in the left hemisphere in most people) that interprets spoken and written language input and generates spoken and written language
Wernicke’s Area
