Glossary Flashcards
Acetylcholine
A critical neurotransmitter that controls the functions such as memory, attention, sleep, heart rate, and muscular activity
Action Potential
electrical charge that travels along the axon to the neuron’s terminal
Addiction
loss of control over drug intake or compulsive seeking and taking of drugs
Adenosine
inhibits wakefulness, serving the purpose of slowing down cellular activity
What happens to adenosine levels during sleep?
they decrease during sleep
Adrenal Gland
secretes hormones
Outer layer of the adrenal gland
adrenal cortex
Inner portion of the adrenal gland
adrenal medulla
What does the adrenal medulla secrete?
epinephrine and norepinephrine
Alzheimer’s Disease
death of neurons in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and other brain regions
Amnesia
memory impairment usually caused by brain damage
Amygdala
structure in the forebrain that plays a central role in emotional learning
Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis
loss of control of voluntary muscle movements
Analgesic
drug that relieves pain without causing a loss of conciousness
Anxiety
heightened arousal characterized by intense worry
Aphasia
disturbance in language comprehension
Apoptosis
programmed cell death
Arousal
physiological state involving changes in the body and brain that motivate behaviour
Astrocyte
A star-shaped glial cell in the cen-
tral nervous system that nourishes neurons;
regulates the formation, maintenance, and
pruning of synapses; and contributes to the
blood-brain barrier.
Attention
A state of arousal in which the
brain’s sensory processing is directed at a
limited number of stimuli. Voluntary (en-
dogenous) attention is a conscious decision
to focus on a particular stimulus. Involuntary
(exogenous) attention is an unplanned focus
on a change in the environment, such as a
loud noise or sudden movement.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
A condition characterized by
excessively inattentive, hyperactive, or
impulsive behaviors
Auditory Nerve
A branch of the vestib-
ulocochlear nerve that transmits auditory
information from the cochlea of the ear to
the brain
Autism Spectrum Disorder
A set
of conditions characterized, in part, by
impaired social communication and inter-
action, and narrow, obsessive interests or
repetitive behaviors.
Autonomic Nervous Sytem
A part of the
peripheral nervous system responsible for
regulating the activity of internal organs.
It includes the sympathetic and parasympa-
thetic nervous systems.
Axon
The fiber-like extension of a neuron by
which it sends information to target cell
Axon Terminal
The ends of axons where
neurotransmitters are released to target cells.
Basal Ganglia
A group of interconnected
structures located deep in the brain that play
an important role in voluntary movement,
motor skill learning, and habits. These struc-
tures include the caudate nucleus, putamen,
nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, and
substantia nigra.
Benzodiazapines
A class of drugs that en-
hance activity of the brain’s primary inhibitory
neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA), to produce sedative and anti-anxiety
effects. Benzodiazepines are often prescribed
to treat anxiety disorders and insomnia.
Blood-Brain Barrier
A protective membrane
composed of tightly packed endothelial cells
lining the brain’s capillaries and highly special-
ized astrocytes, which controls the passage of
certain molecules into and out of the brain.
Brain Waves
Oscillating patterns of brain
activity that can be detected and recorded
using electroencephalography (EEG)
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
A neurotrophic peptide that supports
the growth and survival of neurons
Brainstem
The major route by which the
forebrain sends information to and receives
information from the spinal cord and pe-
ripheral nerves. The brainstem includes the
midbrain, pons, and medulla, and it controls,
among other things, respiration and the regu-
lation of heart rhythms
Broca’s Area
A region of the frontal lobe —
usually the left hemisphere — that governs
speech production.
Cell Body
Also called the soma, the part of a
neuron that contains the nucleus (with DNA)
and the organelles, but not the projections
such as the axon or dendrites
Central Nervous System
the brain and spinal cord
Cerebellum
A large structure located at the
roof of the hindbrain that helps to control the
coordination of movement by making connec-
tions to the pons, medulla, spinal cord, and
thalamus. It also may be involved in aspects of
motor learning.
Cerebral Cortex
The wrinkled, outermost
layer of the cerebrum consisting primarily of
neuron cell bodies
Cerebrum
The largest part of the human
brain associated with higher order function-
ing, such as thinking, perceiving, planning,
and understanding language, as well as the
control of voluntary behavior.
Circadian Rhythm
A cycle of behavior or
physiological change lasting approximately
24 hours.
Cochlea
A snail-shaped, fluid-filled organ
of the inner ear responsible for converting
sound into electrical potentials to produce an
auditory sensation.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
A form
of counseling used to identify and change
negative thought patterns that can contribute
to anxiety and mood disorders.
