Chapter 8 Vocab Flashcards
Building blocks of proteins that have different roles in intraneural metabolism
Amino acids
The primary cholinergic neurotransmitter. Found in the greatest concentration in the peripheral nervous system
Acetylcholine
Part of the nervous system that regulates involuntary vital functions including cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glands. It is composed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
Autonomic nervous system
Subcortical grey matter areas in both the fright and left hemisphere that contain many cell bodies or nuclei
Basal ganglia
Small molecules manufactured in the neuron that contain and amine group. These include dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine ( all synthesized from the amino acid tyrosine) and serotonin (from tryptophan)
Biogenic amines
Physical indicators of disturbances within the central nervous system that differentiate one disease state from another; found using diagnostic testing
Biologic markers
Area of the brain containing the midbrain, pons, and medulla, which continues beneath the thalamus
Brain stem
Part of the brain that is responsible for controlling movement and postural adjustments; it receives information from all parts of the body
Cerebellum
Study and measure of time structures or biologic rhythms
Chronobiology
A biologic system that has a 24 hour cycle
Circadian cycle
Outermost surface of the cerebrum of the mature brain
Cortex
An excitatory neurotransmitter found in distinct regions of the CNS involved in cognition, motor, and neuroendocrine function
Dopamine
Collection of neuronal pathways that provide significant input in involuntary motor movements; a bundle of nerve fibers connecting the thalamus to the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex
Extrapyramidal motor system
Lobes of the brain located on the lateral surface of each hemisphere
Frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes
The aspect of neuroimaging that visualizes processing of information
Functional imaging
The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter for the CNS
GABA
A concept the suggests that an individual may be at risk for a psychiatric disorder based on genetic transmission
Genetic susceptibility
The most widely distributed excitatory neurotransmitter; the main transmitter in the association all areas of the cortex
Glutamate
Subcortical gray matter embedded within each temporal lobe of the brain that may be involved in determining the best way to store information, especially the emotions attached to a memory
Hippocampus
A neurotransmitter derived from the amino acid histidine that originates predominantly in the hypothalamus and projects to all major structures in the cerebrum, brain stem, and spinal cord.
Histamine
A “system” of several small structures within the brain that work in a highly organized way. These structures include the hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and limbic midbrain nuclei
Limbic system
A tiny cluster of neurons that fans out and innervates almost every part of the brain, including most of the cortex, the thalamus and hypothalamus, the cerebellum, and the spinal cord
Locus ceruleus
The complex neural functional networks that link brain structures, including the prefrontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and amygdala. Research indicates that a dysfunctional ________ underlies most psychiatric disorders
Neurocircuity
Hormones produced by cells within the nervous system, such as antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Neurohormones
Nerve cells responsible for receiving, organizing, and transmitting information
Neuron
Chemical messengers that make the target cell membrane or the postsynaptic membrane more or less susceptible to the effects of the primary neurotransmitter
Neuromodulators
Short chains of amino acids that exist in the central nervous system and have a number of important roles, including neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, or neurohormones
Neuropeptides
An excitatory neurochemical that plays a major role in generating and maintaining mood states. Heavily concentrated in the terminal sites of sympathetic nerves, it can be released quickly to ready the individual for a fight-or-flight response to threats in the environment
Norepinephrine
Observable characteristics or expressions of a specific trait
Phenotype
Located in the epithalamus; contain secretory cells that emit the neurohormone melatonin (as well as other substances), which has been associated with sleep and emotional disorders and modulation of immune function
Pineal body
The study of inheritance of illness or traits from generation to generation
Population genetics
A person who has a genetic disorder or a trait of a mental disorder
Proband
The study of relationships among the immune system, nervous system, and endocrine system and our behaviors, thoughts and feelings
Psychoneuroimmunology
Proteins that receive released neurotransmitters. Each neurotransmitter has a specific receptor, or protein, for which it and only it will fit; serves a physiologic regulatory function
Receptors
Also called 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT, this is a primarily excitatory neurotransmitter that is diffusely distributed within the cerebral cortex, limbic system, and basal ganglia or the CNS.
Serotonin
The aspect of neuroimaging that visualizes the structure of brain and allows diagnosis or gross intracranial disease and injury
Structural imaging
A junction between one nerve and another; the space where the electrical intracellular signal becomes a chemical extracellular signal
Synaptic cleft
An important aspect of the brains frontal lobe function, including the ability to plan and initiate activity with future goals in mind
Working memory
Specific events that function as time givers or synchronizers and that result in the setting of biologic rhythms
Zeitgebers
