chapter 3 vocab Flashcards
dendrites
parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information
myelin sheath
an insulating layer that forms around nerves, including the brain and spinal cord, made up of protein and fatty substances, allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells
action potential
occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon, away from the cell body.
refractory period
a resting pause when the neuron pumps the positively charged sodium ions back outside
Agonist
a drug that binds to the receptor, producing similar response to the intended chemical receptor
Reuptake
a process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane, reabsorbs
Axon
a long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma and to other neurons or to muscles or glands
all-or-none response
either the neuron fire or it doesn’t, and its action potentials are all the same size
Endorphins
internally produced chemicals in your brain when your body feels pain or stress, produced to help relieve pain, reduce stress, and improve mood
Acetylcholine
every move you make depends on this, also contributed to attention, arousal, and memory
Interneuron
neurons interconnected by synapses to carry out a specific function when activated
Neurotransmitter
chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another
Threshold
if excitatory signals (minus inhibitory signals) exceed a minimum intensity (threshold), combined signals trigger an action potential
Antagonist
a substance that interferes with or inhibits the physiological action of another, blocks neurotransmitters’ functions
Soma
cell body, contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells
axon terminals
small knobs at the end of axons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters
Synapse
a junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another, points where neurons interconnect
central nervous system
the brain and spinal cord
sympathetic nervous system
network of nerves that helps your body activate “fight or flight” response, activity increases when you stressed, in danger, or physical activity
Hormones
travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues, including the brain, influence interest in sex, food, and aggression
pituitary gland
a pea-sized structure located in the core of the brain, releases hormones that influence growth
sensory (afferent) neurons
axons that carry information INWARD to the central nervous system from the periphery
autonomic nervous system
controls our glands and muscles of our internal organs, influencing such functions as glandular activity, heartbeat and digestion
adrenal glands
on top of the kidneys, in a moment of danger, the autonomic nervous system orders it to release epinephrine and norepinephrine
motor (efferent) neurons
axons that carry information OUTWARD from the central nervous system to the periphery
EEG (Electroencephalogram)
by presenting a stimulus repeatedly and having a computer filter out brain activity unrelated to the stimulus
endocrine system
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system, a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Nerves
where the peripheral nervous system informations travels through axons into the electrical bundles
PET scan
depicts brain activity by showing each brain area’s consumption of its chemical field, the sugar glucose
Cerebellum
“little brain”, sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
Hypothalamus
a neural structure lying below the thalamus, directs maintenance activity (eating, drinking), linked to emotion and reward
Hippocampus
major role in learning and memory, gets affected in a variety of disorders
limbic system
loosely connected network of structures roughly located along the border between cerebral and deeper subcortical areas
Brainstem
oldest and central core of the brain, responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla
base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing
Lesion
Brainstem - oldest and central core of the brain, responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla - base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing
Amygdala - 2 lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system, linked to emotion
fMRI - head is put in a strong magnetic field, aligns the spinning atom of brain molecules
Pons - regulates sleep, arousal, consciousness and sensory processes
CAT scan - examines the brain by taking X-ray photographs that can reveal brain damage
frontal lobes - behind your forehead, way you think, move, remember, social skills, talk, behave, and interact with others
(brain) plasticity - ability to modify itself after some types of damage
occipital lobes - at the back of your brain, visual processing area of the brain
parietal lobes - at the top and to the rear of head, major sensory processing hub for your brain
cerebral cortex - intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres, body’s ultimate control and information processing center
glial cells - found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons, nourish and protect neurons
motor cortex - an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements, excitation of the motor neurons
association areas - involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
sensory cortex - area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Aphasia - impairment of language, left hemisphere damage to Broca’s area (speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (understanding)
destroying tiny clusters of normal or defective brain cells, leaving surrounded tissue unharmed
Amygdala
2 lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system, linked to emotion
fMRI
head is put in a strong magnetic field, aligns the spinning atom of brain molecules
Pons
regulates sleep, arousal, consciousness and sensory processes
CAT scan
examines the brain by taking X-ray photographs that can reveal brain damage
frontal lobes
behind your forehead, way you think, move, remember, social skills, talk, behave, and interact with others
(brain) plasticity
ability to modify itself after some types of damage
occipital lobes
at the back of your brain, visual processing area of the brain
parietal lobes
at the top and to the rear of head, major sensory processing hub for your brain
glial cells
found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons, nourish and protect neurons
association areas
involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
motor cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements, excitation of the motor neurons
sensory cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
cerebral cortex
intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres, body’s ultimate control and information processing center
Aphasia
impairment of language, left hemisphere damage to Broca’s area (speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (understanding)
