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Neuropsychology > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Neuron

A

A nerve cell – brain cell – that signals to others by generating and passing on electrical signals

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2
Q

Synapse

A

Communication sites where neurons pass nerve impulses among themselves.

The cells are not usually in actual physical contact but are separated by a thin gap called the synaptic cleft.

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3
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemicals that allow signals to pass between a neuron and another cell.
Norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine
Chemicals that transmit nerve impulses between neurons

A neurotransmitter can either excite or inhibit depolarization from taking place.

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4
Q

Axon

A

The fiberlike extension of a neuron that carries electrical signals to other cells.
Most neurons have just one main axon or sending neurite, also called an axonal process or nerve fiber. It is much longer and thicker than a dendrite.

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5
Q

Dendrite

A

A branch that extends from a neurons cell body and receives signals from other neurons

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6
Q

Soma

A

Cell body

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7
Q

frontal lobe

A

Front of the brain

Responsible for thinking, making judgments, planning, decision making, and conscious emotion.

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8
Q

temporal lobe

A

A division of the cerebral cortex at the side of the head

Concerned with hearing, language and memory

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9
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

Top back subdivision of the cerebral cortex

Mainly concerned with spatial computation, body orientation and attention

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10
Q

Occipital lobe

A

The back part of the cerebrum, mainly dedicated to visual processing.

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11
Q

White matter

A

A type of brain tissue that is made up of densely packed axons that carry signals to other neurons.

It is distinguished from cell bodies by the lighter color.

White matter generally lies beneath the gray matter that forms the cortex.

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12
Q

Grey matter

A

The darker tissues of the brain, made up of densely packed cell bodies, as seen in the cortex.

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13
Q

Sulcus (Sulci)

A

A valley or groove in the brain surface (opposite of gyrus)

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14
Q

Gyrus (Gyri)

A

The bulges of tissue on the surface of the brain.

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15
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

A hypothalamic nucleus that produces hormones, including oxytocin.

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16
Q

Cerebellum

A

The ‘small brain’ behind the cerebrum that helps regulate posture, balance and coordination.

The cerebellum helps in coordination and balance. Picture your favorite athlete with bells on his/her body (hanging from clothes, hands, feet, etc.)

17
Q

Limbic System

A

A set of brain structures lying along the inner border of the cortex

Emotion and motivation (much of it related to survival: pleasure, anger, aggression, fear), and memory

18
Q

Hippocampus

A

Part of limbic system lying on the inside of each temporal lobe.
Memory forming, organizing, storing

Functions:
Consolidation of memories
Emotional responses
Navigation

The hippocampus is the seat of memory. Think of a hippo with a compass. The hippo uses the compass to find his way back to the swamp because he can’t remember where it is.

19
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A cluster of nuclei that controls many body functions.

Controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, circadian rhythms, pituitary gland, and sex drive.

Think of “hypo the llamas”. Your llamas are hot, sweaty and thirsty, so you use a hypo to spray water on them to cool them down and you give them some water.

20
Q

Thalamus

A

Large paired masses of gray matter between the brainstem and cerebrum
Motor Control, Receives Auditory, Somatosensory and Visual Sensory Signals
Relays Sensory Signals to the Cerebral Cortex
Controls Sleep and Awake States
The thalamus takes sensations that come from the body and directs them to the appropriate part of the brain for processing. Thus, think of Hal and Amos – two traffic cops in the brain who direct these sensations to the right route.

21
Q

Amygdala

A

A nucleus located in the limbic area of the temporal lobe that is crucial to emotion.

What memories are stored and where
Formation and storage of memories associated with emotional events

Keyword or image of Queen Amidala from the Star Wars movies. For the entire movie, Queen Amidala is either fighting, or running away. This cues the information that the amygdala is involved in the fight-or-flight response.

22
Q

Mirror Neurons

A

neurons that discharge when an individual performs an action, as well as when he/she observes a similar action done by another individual

23
Q

Brain Stem

A

The lower part of the brain that becomes the spinal cord

24
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

The thick band of nerve tissue that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain and carries information between them.

25
Q

Hemispheres

A

Right – The right brain is the creative brain and is responsible for rhythm, spatial awareness, color, imagination, daydreaming, holistic awareness and dimension. It controls the left side of your body.

Left - The left brain is the logical brain responsible for words, logic, numbers, analysis, lists, linearity and sequence. It controls the right side of your body.

26
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

The brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment.

27
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

The outer, wrinkled ‘gray’ part of the cerebral hemispheres

28
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

The region of the brain in the forward most part of the frontal cortex
Involved in higher level cognition and planning.
Problem solving, emotion, complex thoughts

29
Q

Motor association cortex

A

Coordination of complex movement

30
Q

Primary motor cortex

A

Initiation of voluntary movement
Front of central sulcus
OUTPUT

31
Q

Primary somatosensory cortex

A

Receives tactile information from the body
Back of central sulcus
INPUT

32
Q

Sensory association area

A

Processing of multisensory information

33
Q

Visual association area

A

Complex processing of visual information

34
Q

Visual cortex

A

The surface of the occipital lobe in which visual information is processed.

Detection of simple visual stimuli

35
Q

Wernickes area

A

Major language area in the temporal lobe

Language comprehension

36
Q

Auditory association area

A

Complex processing of auditory information

37
Q

Auditory cortex

A

The region of the brain responsible for receiving and processing information relating to sound.

Detection of sound quality (loudness, tone)

38
Q

Brocas area

A

Speech production and articulation

Neuropsychology (1 decks)

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