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
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
a neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic and radio fields to take two and three-dimensional images of the brain p. 82, 151
Medulla
a mass of neurons located at the bottom of the brain stem, just above the spinal cord, primarily involved in regulating autonomic functions p. 108
Midbrain
a part of the brain stem in the centre of the brain p. 109
Mind-body problem
a debate that questions whether our mind and body are separate and distinguishable things or whether they are the same thing p. 73
Monism
in the mind-body problem, the view that the mind and the body are one and the same thing p. 73
Motor messages
information about voluntary movement transmitted from the CNS to the skeletal muscles p. 91
Myelin
the fat and protein substance that surrounds and insulates the axon of a neuron p. 101
Myelination
the formation of myelin around the axons of neurons p. 136
Nervous system
the complex network of specialised cells in the body that allows the communication of information around the body about the internal and external environment p. 88
Neurodegenerative disorder
a disease characterised by the progressive loss of neurons in the brain p. 148
Neuroimaging
a range of techniques used to capture images of the brain’s structure, function and activities p. 81
Neurological disorder
a disease characterised by any damage or malfunctioning of the nervous system p. 148
Neuron
a nerve cell responsible for transmitting, receiving, and processing information p. 98
Neurotransmission
the process in which a neuron sends a message p. 99
Occipital lobe
the rearmost lobe of the cerebral cortex behind the parietal lobe, with the primary function of processing visual stimuli p. 121
Parasympathetic nervous system
a branch of the ANS responsible for returning and maintaining the body’s visceral organs, muscles and glands at optimal and balanced functioning p. 92
Parietal lobe
the lobe of the cerebral cortex behind the frontal lobe with the functions of receiving and processing sensory stimuli and spatial awareness p. 120
Parkinson’s disease
a progressive disease of the nervous system characterised by both motor and non-motor symptoms p. 148
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
all nerves outside the CNS, responsible for carrying information to and from the CNS p. 90
Phrenology
the study of the shape and size of the human skull to determine personality and mental functioning p. 74
Plasticity
the ability of the brain to physically change in response to experience and learning p. 134
Pons
a small structure located directly above the medulla in the brain stem, primarily involved in relaying information between different brain areas and regulating the respiratory system p. 108
Positron emission tomography (PET)
a neuroimaging technique that uses a scanning device to take coloured images of the brain, showing its functional activity and structure by tracing the levels of a radioactive substance in the brain p. 83, 151
Postsynaptic neuron
the neuron that receives a message from the synapse p. 100
Prefrontal cortex
an area of the frontal lobe responsible for higher-order cognitive processes p. 118
Premotor cortex
an area of the frontal lobe responsible for planning necessary sequences for motor movements p. 118
Presynaptic neuron
the neuron that releases a message into the synapse p. 100
Primary auditory cortex
the area of the temporal lobe that is responsible for the perception of sound p. 122
Primary motor cortex
an area of the frontal lobe that initiates voluntary movements by sending motor neural messages to our skeletal muscles p. 118
Primary somatosensory cortex
the area of the parietal lobe responsible for receiving and processing sensory information p. 120
Primary visual cortex
the area of the occipital lobe involved in receiving visual information from the sensory receptors located on the retina of our eyes p. 121
Rerouting
a neuron’s ability to form a new connection with another undamaged neuron p. 144
Reticular formation
a net-like structure of neurons extending along the brain stem, connecting various parts of the brain and spinal cord via pathways and projections p. 109
Sensory messages
information about the body’s sensations transmitted from the PNS to the CNS p. 91
Sensory receptors
the receptors on a neuron that specialise in receiving information about specific kinds of sensory stimuli p. 299
Skeletal muscles
muscles connected to the skeleton that are involved in conscious, voluntary movement p. 91
Somatic nervous system (SNS)
the branch of the PNS responsible for sending motor information from the CNS to the body’s skeletal muscles, and bringing sensory information from the body to the CNS in order to formulate voluntary responses p. 91
Spinal cord
a long cable of nerve tissue connecting the brain to the peripheral nervous system, responsible for carrying motor information from the brain, and sensory information from the body p. 90
Sprouting
a neuron’s ability to develop new branches on the dendrites or axons p. 144
Sympathetic nervous system
a branch of the ANS responsible for activating the body’s visceral organs, muscles, and glands for increased activity or when under threat p. 92
Synapse
the area in which neurotransmission occurs between two neurons, including the sending end of the presynaptic neuron, the gap between two neurons, and the receiving end of the postsynaptic neuron p. 100
Synaptic gap
the space between two neurons into which a neuronal message is transmitted p. 100
Synaptic pruning
the elimination of underused synapses p. 137
Temporal lobe
the lower central lobe of the cerebral cortex, responsible for auditory perception, as well as being involved in memory, visual perception, and emotional responses p. 122
Thalamus
a structure comprising two egg-shaped globes within the forebrain, primarily involved as a relay centre and filtering system for sensory and motor signals, as well as regulating arousal, attention and activity p. 110
Visceral muscles organs glands
the body’s non-skeletal muscles, organs and glands p. 92
Wernicke’s area
the area of the temporal lobe responsible for the comprehension of speech p. 122
