Chapter Two Flashcards
All-or-none
Referring to the fact that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all
Amygdala
Brain structure located near the hippocampus, responsible for fear responses and memory of fear
Antagonists
Chemical substances that block or reduce a cell’s response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters
Association areas
Areas within each love of the cortex responsible for the coordination and interpretation of information, as well as higher mental processes
Autonomic nervous system
Division of the PNS consisting of nerves that control all of the involuntary muscles, organs, and glands
Axon
Tubelike structure that carries the neural message to other cells
Axon terminals
Branches at the end of the axon
Biological psychology or
Behavioral neuroscience
Branch of neuroscience had focuses on the biological bases of psychological processes, behavior, and learning
Brain stem
Section of the brain that connects directly to the spinal cord and regulates vital functions such as breathing, the heart, reflexes, and level of alertness
Broca’s aphasia
Condition resulting from damage to Broca’s area, causing the affected person to be unable to speak fluently, to mispronounce words, and to speak haltingly
Central nervous system (CNS)
Part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord
Cerebellum
Part of the lower brain located being the pons that controls and coordinates involuntary, rapid, fine motor movement
Cerebral hemispheres
The two sections of the correct on the left and right sides of the brain
Cerebrum
Upper part of the brain consisting of two hemispheres and the structures that connect them
Cingulate cortex
Primary cortical component of the limbic system, involved in emotional and cognitive processing
Computed tomography (CT)
Brain imaging method using computer controlled X-Rays of the brain
Corpus callosum
Thick band of neurons that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres
Cortex
Outermost covering of the brain consisting of densely packed neurons, responsible for higher though processes and interpretation of sensory input
Deep lesioning
Insertion of a thin, insulated wire into the brain through which an electrical current is sent that destroys the brain cells at the tip of the wire
Dendrites
Branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons
Diffusion
Process of molecules moving from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter that regulates movement, balance, and waking and is involved in the disorders of schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease
Efferent (motor) neuron
A neuron that carries messages from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body
Electroencephalograph
Machine designed to record the electroencephalogram
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
A recording of the electrical activity of large groups of cortical neurons just below the skull, most often using scalp electrodes
Endocrine glands
Glands that secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the bloodstream
Endorphin
Neurotransmitter that is found naturally in the body and works to block pain and elevate mood. It is chemically similar to morphine and its name is short for “endogenous morphine”
Enzymatic degradation
Process by which structure of neurotransmitters is altered so it can no longer act on a receptor
Excitatory synapse
Synapse at which a neurotransmitter causes the receiving cell to fire
Frontal lobes
Areas of the cortex located in the front and top of the brain, responsible for higher mental processes and decision making as well as the production of fluent speech
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
MRI-based brain-imaging method that allows for a function examination of brain areas through changes in brain oxygenation
GABA
Abbreviation for gamma- aminobutyric acid, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
Glial cells
Cells that provide support for the neurons to grow on and around, deliver nutrients to neurons, produce myelin to coat axons, clean up waste products and dead neurons, influence information processing, and during prenatal development, influence the generation of new neurons
Gonads
Sex glands; secrete hormones that regulate sexual development and behavior as well as reproduction
Hippocampus
Curved structure located within each temporal lobe, responsible for the formation of long-term memories and the storage of memory for location of objects
Hormones
Chemicals released into the bloodstream by endocrine glands
Hypothalamus
Small structure in the brain located below the thalamus and directly about the pituitary gland, responsible for motivational behavior such as sleep, hunger, thirst, and sex
Inhibitory synapse
Synapse at which a neurotransmitter causes the receiving cell to stop firing
Inter neuron
A neuron found in the center of the spinal cord that receives information from the afferent neuron and sends commands to the muscles through efferent neurons. Make up the bulk of the neurons in the brain
Limbic system
A group of several brain structures located under the cortex and involved in learning, emotion, memory, and motivation
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Brain- imaging nervous using radio waves and magnetic fields of the body to produce detailed images of the brain
Medulla
The first large swelling at the top of the spinal cord, forming the lowest part of the brain, which is responsible for life-sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate
Mirror neurons
Neurons that fire when an animal or person performs an action and also when an animal or person observes that same action being performed by another
Motor cortex
Section of the frontal lobe located at the back, responsible for sending motor commands to the muscles of the somatic nervous system
Motor neuron
A neuron that carries messages from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body
Also called efferent neuron
Motor pathway
Nerves coming from the CNS to the voluntary muscles, consisting of efferent neurons
Myelin
Fatty substances produced by certain glial cells that coat the axons of neurons to insulate, protect, and speed up the neural impulse
Nerves
Bundles of axons coated in myelin that travel together through the body
Nervous system
An extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body
Neuron
The basic cell that makes up the nervous system and which receives and sends messages within that system
Neuroplasticity
The ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma
Neuroscience
A brach of life sciences that deals with the structure and function of neurons, nerves, and nervous tissue
Neurotransmitter
Chemical found in synaptic vesicles that, when released, has an effect on the next cell
Occipital lobes
Sections of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere containing the visual centers of the brain
Olfactory bulbs
Two bulb like projections just under the front of the brain that receives information from the receptors in the nose
Ovaries
The female gonads
Pancreas
Endocrine gland; controls the level of sugar in the blood
Parasympathetic division
Part of the ANS that restores the body to normal functioning after arousal and is responsible for the day to day functioning of organs and glands
Parietal lobes
Sections of the brain located at the top and back of each cerebral hemisphere containing the centers for touch, taste, as temperature sensations
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
All nerves and neurons that aren’t contained in the brain and spinal cord but that run through the body itself
Pineal gland
Endocrine gland located near the base of the cerebrum; secretes melatonin
Pituitary gland
Gland located in the brain that secretes human growth hormone and influences all other hormones-secreting glands (known as master gland)
Pons
The larger swelling above the medulla that connects the top of the brain to the bottom of the brain and that plays a part in sleep, dreaming, left-right body coordination, and arousal
Positron emission tomography (PET)
Brain imaging method in which a radioactive sugar is injected into the subject and a computer compiles a color-coded image of the activity of the brain
Receptor sites
3- dimensional proteins on the surface of the dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands which are shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters
Reflex arc
The connection of the afferent neurons to the inter neurons to the efferent neurons, resulting in a reflex action
Resting potential
The state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse
Reticular formation (RF)
An area of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and the pons and slightly behind that is responsible for general attention, alertness, and arousal
Reuptake
Process by which neurotransmitters are taken back to the synaptic vesicles
Sensory neuron
A neuron that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system
Also called the afferent neuron
Sensory pathway
Nerves coming from the sensory organs to the CNS consisting of afferent neurons
Serotonin
Neurotransmitter involved in pain disorders and emotional perceptions
( knows an 5-hydroxytryptamine) (5-HT)
Single photon emission tomography (SPECT)
Neuroimaging method that is similar to PET but uses a different radioactive tracer and can be used to examine brain blood flow
Soma
The cell body of the neuron responsible for maintaining life of the cell
Somatic nervous system
Division of PNS consisting of nerves that carry information from the senses to the CNS and from the CNS to the voluntary muscles of the body
Afferent (sensory) neurons
A neuron that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system
Somatosensory cortex
Area of neurons running down the front of the parietal lobes responsible for processing
Spatial neglect
Condition produced by damage to the association areas of the right hemisphere resulting in an inability to recognize objects or body parts in the left visual field
Spinal cord
A long bundle of neurons that carries
Messages between the body and the brain and is responsible for very fast, life saving reflexes
Stem cells
Special cells found in all the tissues of the body that are capable of becoming other cell types when those cells need to be replaced due to damage or wear and tear
Sympathetic division (fight or flight system)
Part of the ANS that is responsible for reacting to stressful events and bodily arousal
Synapse ( synaptic gap)
Microscopic fluid filled space between the synaptic knob of one cell and the dendrites or surface of the next cell
Synaptic knob
Rounded areas in the end of the axon terminal
Synaptic vesicles
Saclike structures found inside the synaptic knob containing chemicals
Temporal lobes
Area of the cortex located just behind the temples contained the neurons possible for the sense of hearing and meaningful speech
Testes
Make gonads
Thalamus
Part of the limbic system located in the center of the brain, this structure relays sensory information from the lower part of the brain to the proper areas of the cortex and processes some sensory information before sending it to its proper place
Thyroid gland
Endocrine gland found in the neck; regulates metabolism
Wernicke’s aphasia
Condition resulting from damage to Wernicke’s area, causing the affected person to be unable to understand or produce meaningful language
