Chapter 3 Key Terms Flashcards
action potential
electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon
agonist
a drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter
allele
specific version of a gene
antagonist
drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter
autonomic nervous system
controls our internal organs and glands (involuntary functions)
axon
major extension of the soma
broca’s area
a region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
CT scan
imaging technique with multiple x-rays of a given area
corpus callosum
a thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres
dendrite
branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons
EEG
recording electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp
epigenetics
study of gene-environment interactions, how the same genotype lead to different phenotypes
frontal lobe
part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language (front of brain)
genotype
genetic makeup of an individual
hemisphere
right or left half of the brain
hippocampus
structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory
homeostasis
state of equalibrium
lateralization
concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions
MRI
magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged
membrane potential
the difference in charge across the neuronal membrane
mutation
sudden, permanent change in a gene
myelin sheath
fatty substance that insulates axons
neuron
cells in the nervous system that act as information processors, essential for all tasks of the nervous system
plasticity
ability to change and adapt
neurotransmitter
chemical messenger of the nervous system
occipital lobe
part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing (back of the brain)
parasympathetic nervous system
associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body, calms body to conserve energy
parietal lobe
part of cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual info (top/middle of brain)
peripheral nervous system
connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs, and senses in the body
phenotype
individuals inheritable physical characteristics
psychotropic medication
drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance
receptor
protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach
resting potential
the state of readiness of a neuron membranes potential between signals
semipermeable membrane
cell membrane that allows smaller molecules or molecules w/o an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules
soma
cell body
somatic nervous system
relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS (voluntary muscles)
sympathetic nervous system
involved in stress-related activities and functions (arouses body to expend energy)
synaptic cleft
small gap between two neurons where communication occurs
synaptic vesicle
storage site for neurotransmitters
temporal lobe
part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language (sides of brain)
terminal button
axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles
thalamus
sensory relay for the brain
theory of evolution by natural selection
states that organisms that are better suited for their environments will survive and reproduce compared to those poorly suited for their environments
threshold of excitation
level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active
Wernicke area
important for speech comprehension
