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VCE Psychology 1/2 > Nervous System and Brain > Flashcards

Nervous System and Brain Flashcards

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1
Q

Ablation

A

the surgical removal, destruction or cutting of tissue p. 77

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2
Q

Adaptive plasticity

A

the brain’s ability to restore and enhance neural functioning over time due to experience p. 144

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3
Q

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

the branch of the PNS responsible for connecting the CNS and the body’s visceral (non-skeletal) organs, muscles and glands p. 92

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4
Q

Autopsy

A

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

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5
Q

Axon

A

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

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6
Q

Axon terminals

A

the ends of a neuron that release a message into the synapse p. 101

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7
Q

Brain

A

an organ contained in the skull that coordinates thought, behaviour and nervous system activity p. 71, 90

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8
Q

Brain stem

A

a part of the brain which is an extension of the spinal cord, including the midbrain, medulla, and pons p. 107

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9
Q

Brain versus heart debate

A

a historical debate surrounding whether the heart or the brain was responsible for central functions including thought, emotion, and behaviour p. 72

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10
Q

Broca’s area

A

the area of the frontal lobe responsible for the production of speech and some aspect of speech interpretation p. 119

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11
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

the brain and spinal cord p. 90

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12
Q

Cerebellum

A

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

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13
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

the thin outer layer of the cerebrum p. 116

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14
Q

Cerebrum

A

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

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15
Q

Computerised tomography (CT)

A

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

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16
Q

Contralateral functions

A

the role of each cerebral hemisphere to receive sensory information from, and control the movement of, the opposite side of the body p. 117

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17
Q

Dendrites

A

the bushy spines of a neuron that receive a message p. 101

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18
Q

Developmental plasticity

A

changes in the brain that occur in response to ageing and maturation p. 135

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19
Q

Dopamine

A

a neurotransmitter responsible for the coordination of voluntary movement and experiences of pleasure and pain p. 148

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20
Q

Dualism

A

in the mind-body problem, the view that the mind and the body are separate and distinguishable things p. 73

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21
Q

Electrical brain stimulation (EBS)

A

a research or therapeutic technique that involves electrically stimulating parts of the brain p. 78

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22
Q

Forebrain

A

the largest area of the brain, located at the top and front of the brain p. 110

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23
Q

Frontal lobe

A

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

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24
Q

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

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

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25
Q

Glial cells

A

a specialised cell that protects and supports neurons and their functioning p. 101

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26
Q

Hemispheric specialisation

A

the idea that each of the brain’s cerebral hemispheres has its own specialisations p. 116

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27
Q

Hindbrain

A

an area at the base of the brain, including the medulla and pons (in the brain stem) and the cerebellum p. 107

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28
Q

Hypothalamus

A

an almond-sized structure in the forebrain, primarily involved in homeostatic functioning as well as motivated and emotional behaviours p. 111

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29
Q

Levodopa

A

a Parkison’s disease medication that is converted to dopamine by neurons in the brain upon consumption to improve motor functioning outcomes p. 149

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30
Q

Localisation of function

A

the psychological principle that suggests that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours and mental processes p. 117

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31
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

a neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic and radio fields to take two and three-dimensional images of the brain p. 82, 151

32
Q

Medulla

A

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

33
Q

Midbrain

A

a part of the brain stem in the centre of the brain p. 109

34
Q

Mind-body problem

A

a debate that questions whether our mind and body are separate and distinguishable things or whether they are the same thing p. 73

35
Q

Monism

A

in the mind-body problem, the view that the mind and the body are one and the same thing p. 73

36
Q

Motor messages

A

information about voluntary movement transmitted from the CNS to the skeletal muscles p. 91

37
Q

Myelin

A

the fat and protein substance that surrounds and insulates the axon of a neuron p. 101

38
Q

Myelination

A

the formation of myelin around the axons of neurons p. 136

39
Q

Nervous system

A

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

40
Q

Neurodegenerative disorder

A

a disease characterised by the progressive loss of neurons in the brain p. 148

41
Q

Neuroimaging

A

a range of techniques used to capture images of the brain’s structure, function and activities p. 81

42
Q

Neurological disorder

A

a disease characterised by any damage or malfunctioning of the nervous system p. 148

43
Q

Neuron

A

a nerve cell responsible for transmitting, receiving, and processing information p. 98

44
Q

Neurotransmission

A

the process in which a neuron sends a message p. 99

45
Q

Occipital lobe

A

the rearmost lobe of the cerebral cortex behind the parietal lobe, with the primary function of processing visual stimuli p. 121

46
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

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

47
Q

Parietal lobe

A

the lobe of the cerebral cortex behind the frontal lobe with the functions of receiving and processing sensory stimuli and spatial awareness p. 120

48
Q

Parkinson’s disease

A

a progressive disease of the nervous system characterised by both motor and non-motor symptoms p. 148

49
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

all nerves outside the CNS, responsible for carrying information to and from the CNS p. 90

50
Q

Phrenology

A

the study of the shape and size of the human skull to determine personality and mental functioning p. 74

51
Q

Plasticity

A

the ability of the brain to physically change in response to experience and learning p. 134

52
Q

Pons

A

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

53
Q

Positron emission tomography (PET)

A

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

54
Q

Postsynaptic neuron

A

the neuron that receives a message from the synapse p. 100

55
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

an area of the frontal lobe responsible for higher-order cognitive processes p. 118

56
Q

Premotor cortex

A

an area of the frontal lobe responsible for planning necessary sequences for motor movements p. 118

57
Q

Presynaptic neuron

A

the neuron that releases a message into the synapse p. 100

58
Q

Primary auditory cortex

A

the area of the temporal lobe that is responsible for the perception of sound p. 122

59
Q

Primary motor cortex

A

an area of the frontal lobe that initiates voluntary movements by sending motor neural messages to our skeletal muscles p. 118

60
Q

Primary somatosensory cortex

A

the area of the parietal lobe responsible for receiving and processing sensory information p. 120

61
Q

Primary visual cortex

A

the area of the occipital lobe involved in receiving visual information from the sensory receptors located on the retina of our eyes p. 121

62
Q

Rerouting

A

a neuron’s ability to form a new connection with another undamaged neuron p. 144

63
Q

Reticular formation

A

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

64
Q

Sensory messages

A

information about the body’s sensations transmitted from the PNS to the CNS p. 91

65
Q

Sensory receptors

A

the receptors on a neuron that specialise in receiving information about specific kinds of sensory stimuli p. 299

66
Q

Skeletal muscles

A

muscles connected to the skeleton that are involved in conscious, voluntary movement p. 91

67
Q

Somatic nervous system (SNS)

A

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

68
Q

Spinal cord

A

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

69
Q

Sprouting

A

a neuron’s ability to develop new branches on the dendrites or axons p. 144

70
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

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

71
Q

Synapse

A

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

72
Q

Synaptic gap

A

the space between two neurons into which a neuronal message is transmitted p. 100

73
Q

Synaptic pruning

A

the elimination of underused synapses p. 137

74
Q

Temporal lobe

A

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

75
Q

Thalamus

A

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

76
Q

Visceral muscles organs glands

A

the body’s non-skeletal muscles, organs and glands p. 92

77
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

the area of the temporal lobe responsible for the comprehension of speech p. 122

VCE Psychology 1/2 (5 decks)

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