Nervous System and Brain Flashcards
Ablation
the surgical removal, destruction or cutting of tissue p. 77
Adaptive plasticity
the brain’s ability to restore and enhance neural functioning over time due to experience p. 144
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
the branch of the PNS responsible for connecting the CNS and the body’s visceral (non-skeletal) organs, muscles and glands p. 92
Autopsy
the examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death or the cause of a disease or disorder that a person suffered p. 76
Axon
the long strand-like part of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body to the sending end of a neuron p. 101
Axon terminals
the ends of a neuron that release a message into the synapse p. 101
Brain
an organ contained in the skull that coordinates thought, behaviour and nervous system activity p. 71, 90
Brain stem
a part of the brain which is an extension of the spinal cord, including the midbrain, medulla, and pons p. 107
Brain versus heart debate
a historical debate surrounding whether the heart or the brain was responsible for central functions including thought, emotion, and behaviour p. 72
Broca’s area
the area of the frontal lobe responsible for the production of speech and some aspect of speech interpretation p. 119
Central nervous system (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord p. 90
Cerebellum
the ball-like structure at the lower back of the brain behind the brain stem, primarily involved in skeletal muscle movement and coordination p. 108
Cerebral cortex
the thin outer layer of the cerebrum p. 116
Cerebrum
the largest expanse of brain matter, including the outer cerebral cortex and inner tissue of the forebrain, responsible for a range of sophisticated functions p. 111
Computerised tomography (CT)
a neuroimaging technique that involves taking continuous two-dimensional x-ray images of a person’s brain or body in order to provide both two and three-dimensional images p. 82, 151
Contralateral functions
the role of each cerebral hemisphere to receive sensory information from, and control the movement of, the opposite side of the body p. 117
Dendrites
the bushy spines of a neuron that receive a message p. 101
Developmental plasticity
changes in the brain that occur in response to ageing and maturation p. 135
Dopamine
a neurotransmitter responsible for the coordination of voluntary movement and experiences of pleasure and pain p. 148
Dualism
in the mind-body problem, the view that the mind and the body are separate and distinguishable things p. 73
Electrical brain stimulation (EBS)
a research or therapeutic technique that involves electrically stimulating parts of the brain p. 78
Forebrain
the largest area of the brain, located at the top and front of the brain p. 110
Frontal lobe
the largest lobe of the cerebral cortex at the front of the cerebral hemispheres with the functions of high-order mental processes, regulation and expression of emotions, voluntary movement, and the production speech p. 118
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
a neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic and radio fields to take two and three-dimensional images of the brain and its activity levels p. 84, 151
Glial cells
a specialised cell that protects and supports neurons and their functioning p. 101
Hemispheric specialisation
the idea that each of the brain’s cerebral hemispheres has its own specialisations p. 116
Hindbrain
an area at the base of the brain, including the medulla and pons (in the brain stem) and the cerebellum p. 107
Hypothalamus
an almond-sized structure in the forebrain, primarily involved in homeostatic functioning as well as motivated and emotional behaviours p. 111
Levodopa
a Parkison’s disease medication that is converted to dopamine by neurons in the brain upon consumption to improve motor functioning outcomes p. 149
Localisation of function
the psychological principle that suggests that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours and mental processes p. 117