Nervous System

Question 1

Action potential

Answer 1

the neural message, in the form of an electrical impulse, sent down the axon of a neuron when certain conditions are met p. 86

Question 2

Adrenaline

Answer 2

(also known as epinephrine) a neurohormone that increases physiological arousal and contributes to the consolidation of emotionally arousing memories p. 143

Question 3

Agonist

Answer 3

a type of drug that imitates neurotransmitters and works to initiate a neural response (excitatory or inhibitory) when it binds to the receptor sites of a neuron p. 439

Question 4

Antagonist

Answer 4

a type of drug that works to prevent a neural response (excitatory or inhibitory) by blocking the receptor sites of a neuron p. 439

Question 5

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 5

the branch of the PNS responsible for connecting the CNS and the body?s visceral (non-skeletal) organs, muscles and glands like the heart and liver p. 67

Question 6

Axon

Answer 6

the long strand-like part of a neuron that transmits a message from one end of the neuron to the other p. 82

Question 7

Axon terminals

Answer 7

the ends of a neuron that release a message into the synapse p. 82

Question 8

Brain

Answer 8

the body?s information centre, responsible for initiating and processing actions, thoughts and behaviour

Question 9

Brain surgery

Answer 9

the treatment of brain injury or disease with the use of medical instruments p. 218

Question 10

Brain trauma

Answer 10

damage to the brain that is caused by an external force p. 218

Question 11

Central nervous system

Answer 11

the brain and the spinal cord, responsible for transmitting neural messages to and receiving neural messages from the peripheral nervous system p. 66

Question 12

Cerebellum

Answer 12

a brain structure which encodes and stores implicit procedural memories p. 205

Question 13

Cerebral cortex

Answer 13

a brain structure where long-term memories are stored p. 204

Question 14

Dendrites

Answer 14

the bushy spines of a neuron that receive a message p. 82

Question 15

Dopamine

Answer 15

a neurotransmitter primarily responsible for the coordination of voluntary movement and experiences of pleasure and pain p. 92

Question 16

Excitatory effect

Answer 16

when a neurotransmitter causes the postsynaptic neuron to become more likely to fire an action potential p. 86

Question 17

GABA

Answer 17

the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter p. 86

Question 18

Glutamate

Answer 18

the primary excitatory neurotransmitter p. 87, 143

Question 19

Inhibitory effect

Answer 19

when a neurotransmitter causes the postsynaptic neuron to become less likely to fire an action potential p. 86

Question 20

Interneurons

Answer 20

neurons that transfer impulses between sensory and motor neurons as part of the reflex arc p. 77

Question 21

Lock-and-key process

Answer 21

an analogy used to describe the role and functions of neurotransmitters and receptor sites in the process of neural transmission p. 86

Question 22

Long-term depression

Answer 22

the long-lasting and experience dependent weakening of postsynaptic responses p. 137

Question 23

Long-term potentiation

Answer 23

the long-lasting and experiencedependent strengthening of synaptic connections p. 137, 431

Question 24

Motor neurons

Answer 24

neurons that transmit information (motor neural messages) about voluntary movement from the CNS to the PNS p. 67

Question 25

Myelin

Answer 25

the fatty protein substance that surrounds and insulates the axon of a neuron p. 82

Question 26

Neural plasticity

Answer 26

the ability of the brain to physically change in response to experience p. 136

Question 27

Neural reception

Answer 27

the process in which a neuron accepts, or receives, a message p. 81

Question 28

Neural transmission

Answer 28

the process in which a neuron sends a message p. 81

Question 29

Neurodegenerative disease

Answer 29

a disease characterised by the progressive loss of neurons in the brain p. 219

Question 30

Neurohormone

Answer 30

a chemical substance sent from neurons into the bloodstream p. 142

Question 31

Neuron

Answer 31

a nerve cell responsible for transmitting, receiving and processing information p. 81

Question 32

Neurotransmitter

Answer 32

a chemical substance that carries information between neurons p. 85, 142

Question 33

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 33

a branch of the ANS responsible for returning and maintaining the body?s visceral organs, muscles and glands at optimal and balanced functioning p. 69

Question 34

Parkinson?s disease

Answer 34

a progressive disease of the nervous system characterised by both motor and non-motor symptoms p. 92

Question 35

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 35

all nerves outside the CNS, responsible for transmitting information to and from the CNS p. 67

Question 36

Postsynaptic neuron

Answer 36

the neuron that receives a message from the synapse p. 82, 85

Question 37

Presynaptic neuron

Answer 37

the neuron that releases a message into the synapse p. 82, 85

Question 38

Receptor sites

Answer 38

protein molecules located on the dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron, responsible for receiving neurotransmitters p. 85

Question 39

Sensory neurons

Answer 39

neurons that transmit information (sensory neural messages) about the body?s sensations from the PNS to the CNS p. 67

Question 40

Sensory receptor

Answer 40

a nerve ending that detects sensations in the environment and body p. 70

Question 41

Sensory stimuli

Answer 41

anything in the environment or body that is detected by the body?s senses p. 70

Question 42

Skeletal muscles

Answer 42

muscles connected to the skeleton that are involved in conscious, voluntary movement p. 68

Question 43

Somatic nervous system

Answer 43

the branch of the PNS responsible for sending motor information from the CNS to the body?s skeletal muscle, and bringing sensory information from the body to the CNS in order to formulate voluntary responses p. 67

Question 44

Spinal cord

Answer 44

a long cable of nerve tissue (neurons) connecting the brain to the peripheral nervous system, responsible for sending motor information from the brain, and sensory information from the body p. 66

Question 45

Spinal reflex

Answer 45

an unconscious response to sensory stimuli that is initiated at the spinal cord, not involving the brain p. 76

Question 46

Spinal sensory-motor circuit (reflex arc)

Answer 46

the path that neural messages take as part of the spinal reflex response, involving sensory messages to the spinal cord which are immediately relayed from the spinal cord as motor messages p. 77

Question 47

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 47

a branch of the ANS responsible for activating the body?s visceral organs, muscles, and glands for increased activity or when under threat p. 69

Question 48

Synapse

Answer 48

the area in which neuronal transmission occurs between two neurons, including the sending end of the presynaptic neuron, the gap between two neurons, and receiving end of the postsynaptic neuron p. 82, 85

Question 49

Synaptic gap

Answer 49

the space in between two neurons into which a message is sent p. 82, 85

Question 50

Synaptic buttons

Answer 50

(also known as synaptic knobs, terminal buttons) the end of the presynaptic neuron?s axon terminals that release neurotransmitters p. 85

Question 51

Synaptic plasticity

Answer 51

a type of neural plasticity that refers to the ability of synaptic connections to form, weaken or strengthen in response to activity and experience p. 137

Question 52

Visceral muscles (organs or glands)

Answer 52

the body?s non-skeletal muscles, organs and glands that are largely self-regulating and don?t require conscious control. These are controlled by the ANS p. 68