Textbook Chapter One Flashcards
What is plasticity in the context of the nervous system?
When networks of brain cells change through growth and reorganization forming new connections and circuits
What are neurons?
The cells of the brain
Define neurogenesis:
The generation of new neurons particularly in specific regions of the adult brain.
A thin, curved layer of neurons located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain, adjacent to the hippocampus:
Dentate Gyrus
What percentage of neuron decline occurs in typical aging?
2-4 percent
This decline is a normal part of the aging process.
What is the ultimate function of the nervous system?
Behavior
The nervous system plays a critical role in controlling behaviors.
What primary function does the nervous system support?
Control of movement
This is essential for interaction with the environment.
Define generalization:
Explanations as examples of general laws, which are revealed through experiments
Generalization helps in understanding broader principles.
What does reduction refer to in scientific explanations?
Explanations of complex phenomena in terms of simpler ones.
Reduction can simplify understanding of complex systems.
What is dualism?
The belief in the dual nature of reality, which means that mind and body are separate
Dualism contrasts with monism.
Define monism.
The belief that everything in the universe consists of matter and energy and that the mind is a phenomenon produced by the workings of the nervous system.
Who coined the term reflex?
Descartes
This concept is foundational in the study of behavior and physiology.
What is the Pineal Body?
A small organ situated on top of the brain stem, buried beneath the cerebral hemispheres.
It is involved in regulating sleep patterns through melatonin secretion.
What are ventricles in the brain?
A series of interconnected cavities located within the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid.
They play a role in cushioning the brain and maintaining homeostasis.
What is the Primary Motor Cortex?
A specific region of the brain that causes specific muscles to contract on the opposite side of the body.
It works with other brain regions to control behaviors.
At what rate does neural conduction occur?
27.4 meters per second
This speed is vital for rapid communication within the nervous system.
What is experimental ablation?
Removing various parts of the brain and observing one’s behavior.
This technique helps in understanding brain function and localization.
What is Broca’s Area responsible for?
Functions necessary for speech
It is located on the front part of the left side of the brain.
Neurons terminating on cardiac cells responsible for controlling contractions of the heart:
Purkinje Fibers
What is optogenetics?
A technique that uses light to control the activity of cells in living tissue.
Define epigenetics.
Focuses on the role of the environment in the expression of genes.
Epigenetics explores how external factors can influence genetic expression.
