Unit 1 Part 1 A Terms

Question 1

Sensory (afferent) neurons

Answer 1

Neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Question 2

Motor (afferent) neurons

Answer 2

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

Question 3

Interneurons

Answer 3

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

Question 4

Somatic nervous system

Answer 4

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.

Question 5

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Answer 5

The portion of the nervous system innervating (supplying with nerves) smooth muscle and glands, including the circulatory, digestive, respiratory, and reproductive organs. It is divided into the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 6

Depressants

Answer 6

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Question 7

Barbiturates

Answer 7

Drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

Question 8

Opioids

Answer 8

Opium and its derivatives; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Question 9

Agonist

Answer 9

A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action

Question 10

Antagonist

Answer 10

A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action

Question 11

Endocrine system

Answer 11

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands and fat tissue that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Question 12

Psychoactive drug

Answer 12

A chemical substance that alters the brain, causing changes in perceptions and moods

Question 13

Limbic system

Answer 13

Neural system located mostly in the forebrain — below the cerebral hemispheres — that includes the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and pituitary gland; associated with emotions and drives

Question 14

Amygdala

Answer 14

Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

Question 15

Hypothalamus

Answer 15

A limbic system neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system, and is linked to emotion and reward

Question 16

Hippocampus

Answer 16

A neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit (conscious) memories — of facts and events — for storage

Question 17

Cerebral cortex

Answer 17

The layer of gray matter that covers the outside of the cerebral hemispheres in the brain and is associated with higher cognitive functions, such as language, learning, perception, and planning.

Question 18

Frontal lobes

Answer 18

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead. They enable linguistic processing, muscle movements, higher-order thinking, and executive functioning (such as making plans and judgments)

Question 19

Stimulants

Answer 19

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

Question 20

Hallucinogens

Answer 20

Psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

Question 21

Resting potential (polarization)

Answer 21

The electric potential across the plasma membrane of a neuron when it is in the nonexcited, or resting, state

Question 22

Myasthenia gravis

Answer 22

An autoimmune disorder in which the body produces antibodies against acetylcholine receptors, causing faulty transmission of nerve impulses at neuromuscular junctions. Affected muscles—initially those of the face and neck—are easily fatigued and may become paralyzed temporarily

Question 23

Neuroplasticity

Answer 23

The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Question 24

Lesion

Answer 24

Brain lesions may occur naturally (from disease or trauma), during surgery, or experimentally (using electrodes to destroy brain cells)

Any disruption of or damage to the normal structure or function of an organ or part of an organ due to injury, disease, or a surgical procedure

Question 25

EEG (electroencephalogram)

Answer 25

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

Question 26

Dopamine

Answer 26

A catecholamine neurotransmitter that has an important role in motor behavior and is implicated in numerous mental conditions and emotional states

Question 27

Serotonin

Answer 27

Has roles in emotional processing, mood, appetite, sexual desire and performance, sleep, pain processing, hallucinations, and reflex regulation

Question 28

MRI

Answer 28

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.

Question 29

fMRI

Answer 29

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure

Question 30

Hindbrain

Answer 30

Consists of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum; directs essential survival functions, such as breathing, sleeping, and wakefulness, as well as coordination and balance

Question 31

Midbrain

Answer 31

Found atop the brainstem; connects the hindbrain with the forebrain, controls some motor movement, and transmits auditory and visual information

Question 32

Forebrain

Answer 32

Consists of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus; manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities

Question 33

Brainstem

Answer 33

The central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

Question 34

Medulla

Answer 34

The hindbrain structure that is the brainstem’s base; controls heartbeat and breathing

Question 35

Thalamus

Answer 35

The forebrain’s sensory control center, 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

Question 36

Reticular formation

Answer 36

A nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus; it filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal

Question 37

Cerebellum

Answer 37

The hindbrain’s “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

Question 38

Parietal lobes

Answer 38

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; it receives sensory input for touch and body position

Question 39

Occipital lobes

Answer 39

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; it includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

Question 40

Motor cortex

Answer 40

A cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Question 41

Multiple sclerosis

Answer 41

A disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) characterized by inflammation and multifocal scarring of the protective myelin sheath of nerves, which damages and destroys the sheath and the underlying nerve, disrupting neural transmission

Question 42

Somatosensory cortex

Answer 42

A cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

Question 43

Association area

Answer 43

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

Question 44

Neurogenesis

Answer 44

The formation of new neurons

Question 45

Corpus callosum

Answer 45

The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Question 46

Split brain

Answer 46

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

Question 47

Norepinephrine

Answer 47

A neurotransmitter of the brain that plays an essential role in the regulation of arousal, attention, cognitive function, and stress reactions

Question 48

Blindsight

Answer 48

A condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it

Question 49

Parallel processing

Answer 49

Processing multiple aspects of a stimulus or problem simultaneously

Question 50

Sequential processing

Answer 50

Processing one aspect of a stimulus or problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems

Question 51

Sleep

Answer 51

a periodic, natural loss of consciousness — as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation

Question 52

Circadian rhythm

Answer 52

Our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

Question 53

REM sleep

Answer 53

Rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Muscles are relaxed, but some other body systems are active.

Question 54

Alpha waves

Answer 54

The relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

Question 55

NREM sleep

Answer 55

Non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep