Chapter 4 Vocab Flashcards
Action potential
The electrical signal arising in a neuron’s axon
Amygdala
A subcortical structure located in the temporal lobe believed to participate in emotional processing.
Autonomic nervous system
The division of the peripheral nervous system that directs the activity of glands, organs, and smooth muscles
Central nervous system (CNS)
The brain and spinal cord
Corpus callosum
A wide band of nerve fibers connecting the right and left cerebral hemispheres
Endocrine system
A system responsible for the release of hormones into the bloodstream
Frontal lobe
The most forward of the four lobes of the cerebral cortex; location of the primary motor cortex and areas responsible for some of the most complex cognitive processes
Hippocampus
A subcortical structure that participates in memory and stress.
Hypothalamus
A subcortical structure that participates in the regulation of thirst, temperature, hunger, sexual behavior, and aggression.
Neurotransmitter
A Big Five personality trait characterized by anxiety, angry hostility, depression, self-consciousness, impulsivity, and vulnerability.
Occipital lobe
The lobe of the cerebral cortex located at the back of the brain; location of the primary visual cortex.
Parasympathetic nervous system
The division of the autonomic nervous system associated with rest, repair, and energy storage.
Parietal lobe
The lobe of the cerebral cortex that lies at the top of the brain between the frontal and the occipital lobes; location of the primary somatosensory cortex
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
The nerves exiting the CNS that carry sensory and motor information to and from the rest of the body.
Sympathetic nervous system
The division of the autonomic nervous system that coordinates arousal.
