Chapter 3: Neuroscience and Behavior. Flashcards
Neurons
Cells in the nervous sytem that communicate with one another to perform informtion-processing tasks.
Glia
Cells that support the functionality of neurons by providing physical support, supplying nutrient and enhancing neuronal communication.
Cell body(soma)
The part of a neuron that coordinate information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive. Functions such as protein synthesis, energy production and metabolism take place here.
Dendrites
The part of a neuron that recieves information other neurons abd relays it to the cell body. (tar emot information)
Axon
The part of a neuron that transmits information to other neurons, muscles and glands. (skickar information)
Myelin sheath
An insulting layer of fatty material made up of glial cells. (snabbar på processer)
Synapse
The junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another.
Sensory neurons
Neurons that recieve information from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord.
Motor neurons
Neurons that carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produces movement.
Interneurons
Neurons that connect sensory neurons, motor neurons and other interneurons. Interneurons work together in small circuits to perform simple tasks, such as identifying the location of a sensory signal, and much more complicated ones, such as recognizing a familiar face.
Resting potential
The difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neuron’s cell membrane.
Action potential
An electric signal that is conducted along the length of a neuron’s axon to a synapse.
Refractory period
The time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated.
Terminal buttons
Knoblike structures that branch out from an axon
Neurotransmitters
Chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neuron’s dendrites.
Receptors
Parts of the cell membrane that receives neurotransmitters and initiate a new electric signal.
Acetylcholine (ACh)
A neurotransmitter involved in a number of functions, including voluntary motor control. Acetylcholine is found in neurons of the brain and in the synapses where axons connect to muscles and body organs, such as the heart. ACh also contributes to the regulation of attention, learning, sleeping, dreaming and memory.
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter that regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure and emotional arousal.
Glutamate
A major excitatory neurotr
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.
Noradrenaline
A neurotransmitter that influences mood and arousal.
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating and aggressive behavior.
Endorphins
Chemicals that act within the pain pathways and emotion centres of the brain.
Agonists
Drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter.
Antagonists
Drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter.
Nervous system
An interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical information throughout the body.
Central nervous system (CNS)
The part of the nervous system that is composed of the brain and the spinal cord.
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
The part of the nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the body’s organs and muscles.
Somatic nervous system
A set of nerves that conveys information into and out of the central nervous system.
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
A set of nerves that carry involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs and glands.
Sympathetic nervous system
A set of nerves that prepare the body for action in a threatening situation. Fight-or-flight.
Parasympathetic nervous system
A set of nerves that help the body return to a normal resting state.
Spinal reflexes
Simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions.
Hindbrain
An area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord.
Medulla
An extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation and respiration.
Reticular formation
A brain structure that regulate sleep, wakefulness and levels of arousal.
Cerebellum
A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.
Pons
A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain.
Tectum
A part of the midbrain that orients an organism in the environment.
Tegmentum
A part of the midbrain that is involved in movement and arousal.
Cerebral cortex
The outermost layer of the brain, visible to the naked eye and divided into two hemispheres.
Subcortical structures
Areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the centre of the brain, which includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, limbic system and basal ganglia.
Thalamus
A subcortical structure that relays and filters information from the senses and transmits the information to the cerebral cortex.
Pituitary gland
The ‘master gland’ of the body’s hormone-producing system, which releases hormones that direct the functions of many other glands in the body.
Limbic system
A group of forebrain structures, which include the hypothalamus, the hippocampus and the amygdala, which are involved in motivation, emotion, learning and memory.
Hippocampus
A structure critical for creating new memories and integrating them into a network of knowledge so that they can be stored indefinitely in other parts of the cerebral cortex.
Amygdala
A part of the limbic system, located at the tip of each horn on the hippocampus, that plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of emotional memories.
Basal ganglia
A set of subcortical structures that direct intentional movements.
Corpus callosum
A thick band of nerve fibres that connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemispheres.
Occipital lobe
A region in the cerebral cortex that processes visual information
Parietal lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.
Somatosensory cortex
The outermost layer of the parietal lobe containing a repåresentation of the body map.
Mirror neurons
Cells that are active when performing an action oneself or when observing the same action performed by another.
Temporal lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.
Frontal lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory and judgement.
Association areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cortex.
Primary visual cortex
The outermost layer of the occipital lobe area where visual information is processed.
Primary auditory cortex
The outermost layer of the temporal lobe where auditory information is processed.
Gene
The unit of hereditary transmission.
Chromosomes
Strands of DNA wound around each other in a double-helix configuration.
Epigenetics
The mechanism of interaction between the environment and genes.
Genetic methylation
A mechanism that silences a gene and is believed to play a major role in long-term changes that shape our development.
Heritability
A measure of the variability of behavioral traits among individuals that can be accounted for by genetic factors.
Vegetative state
A state of wakefulness without awareness and overt communication.
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
A device used to record electrical activity in the brain.
Computerized axial tomography (CT)
A technique that recombines multiple X-ray photographs into a single image.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A technique that uses a powerful magnet to cause charged molecules in soft tissue to realign to produce measurable field distortions.
Positron emission tomography (PET)
A technique that uses radioactive markers to measure blood flow in the brain.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
A technique that uses a powerful magnet to cause haemoglobin molecules to realign to measure blood flow in the brain.
Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal
A measure of the relative blood flow to locations that are activated in the brain.
