Terms And Concepts To Remember Flashcards
Neuron
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Biological psychology
A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
Sensory neurons
Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Motor neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
Interneurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Dendrite
The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon
The extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers,through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Myelin sheath
A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next
Action potential
A neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Threshold
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Synapse
The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse
Reuptake
A neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron
Endorphins
Morphine within, natural opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Nervous system
The body’s speedy electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Central nervous system
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system the rest of the body
Nerves
Bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles,glands, and sense organs
Somatic nervous system
The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles
Also called the skeletal nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
Sympathetic nervous system
The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body,mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
Parasympathetic nervous system
The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
Reflex
A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
Endocrine system
The body’s slow chemical communication system , a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstrean, and affect other tissues
Lesion
Tissue destruction, a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An amplified the recording the of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
PET (positron emission tomography) Scan
A visual display of brain activity thy detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
MRI ( magnetic resonance imaging)
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain activity
fMRI (functional MRI)
A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans, fMRI scans show brain function
Brainstem
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull, the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival instructions
Medulla
The base of the brainstem controls heartbeat and breathing
Reticular formation
A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
Thalamus
The brains sensory switchboard located on top of the brainstem, it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Cerebellum
The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem, functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
Limbic system
Neural system including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus located below the cerebral hemispheres associated with emotions and drives
Amygdala
two lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system
Hypothalamus
A neural structure lying below the thalamus, it directs several maintenance activities, (eating,drinking, body temperature)
Cerebral cortex
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres, the body’s ultimates control and information processing center
Glial cells (glia)
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
Frontal lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead, involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
Parietal lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear receives sensory input for touch and body position
Occipital lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
Temporal lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears, includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
Motor cortex
An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
Sensory cortex
Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Association areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions
Plasticity
The brains ability to change especially during childhood by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Corpus callosum
The large band of the neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Split brain
A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them
