Chapter Two: The Brain and Behavior

Question 1

plasticity

Answer 1

the brain’s special capacity for change.

Question 2

afferent nerves

Answer 2

sensory nerves that carry information to the brain and spinal cord.

Question 3

efferent nerves

Answer 3

motor nerves that carry information out of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 4

neural networks

Answer 4

network of nerve cells that integrate sensory input and motor output.

Question 5

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Answer 5

made up of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 6

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Answer 6

network of nerves that connects brain and spinal cord.

Question 7

Somatic Nervous System

Answer 7

consists of sensory nerves that convey information from the skin and muscles to the CNS about conditions such as pain and temperature, and motor nerves that tell muscles what to do.

Question 8

Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 8

takes messages to and from the bodies internal organs, monitoring processes such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

Question 9

Sympathetic Nervous System

Answer 9

part of the Autonomic Nervous System, arouses the body to mobilize it for action, involved in the experience of stress.

Question 10

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 10

part of the Autonomic Nervous System, calms the body.

Question 11

Neurons

Answer 11

are the nerve cells that handle the information-processing function.

Question 12

Glial Cells

Answer 12

provide support, nutritional benefits, and other functions in the nervous system. keep neurons running smoothly but are not specialized to process information like neurons do.

Question 13

Myelin Sheath

Answer 13

consisting of a layer of cells containing fat, encases and insulates most axons. They speed up the transmission of nerve impulses.

Question 14

Resting Potential

Answer 14

is the stable, negative charge of an inactive neuron.

Question 15

Action Potential

Answer 15

describes the brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the axon.

Question 16

Hindbrain

Answer 16

located at the skull’s rear, is the lowest portion of the brain. three parts include; medulla, cerebellum, and pons.

Question 17

Medulla

Answer 17

begins where the spinal cord enters the skull, controls breathing and heart rate, it regulates our reflexes.

Question 18

Cerebellum

Answer 18

extends from the rear of the hindbrain, just above the medulla, controls motor coordination.

Question 19

Pons

Answer 19

is a bridge in the hindbrain and the brain stem, contains clusters of fibers involved in sleep and arousal.

Question 20

Brain Stem

Answer 20

includes includes much of the hindbrain and the midbrain

Question 21

Midbrain

Answer 21

located between hindbrain and forebrain, many nerve-fiber systems ascend and descend to connect the higher and lower portions of the brain. Relays information between the brain, eyes and ears.

Question 22

Amygdala

Answer 22

almond shaped structure located inside the brain toward the base. involved in discrimination of objects that are necessary for the organism’s survival.

Question 23

Hippocampus

Answer 23

has a special role in the storage of memories.

Question 24

Hypothalamus

Answer 24

monitors three pleasurable activities; eating, drinking, and sex.

Question 25

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 25

part of the forebrain, where the most complex mental functions take place such as thinking and planning.

Question 26

Occipital Lobes

Answer 26

located at the back of the head, respond to visual stimuli

Question 27

Temporal Lobes

Answer 27

involved in hearing, language processing, and memory.

Question 28

Frontal Lobes

Answer 28

involved in personality, intelligence and the control of voluntary muscles.

Question 29

Parietal Lobes

Answer 29

involved in registering spatial location, attention, and motor control

Question 30

Somatosensory Cortex

Answer 30

region of cerebral cortex, processes information about body sensations.

Question 31

Motor Cortex

Answer 31

processes information about voluntary movement.

Question 32

Association Cortex

Answer 32

integrates the information about sensory input and motor output, highest intellectual functions such as thinking and problem solving occur here.