Unit 2: Biology Flashcards
Acetylcholine
plays a role in learning and memory,
Action Potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down the axon
Adrenal gland
a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in terms of stress
Agonist
a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action
All-or-nothing Principle
a neurons reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing
Amygdala
two lima-bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion
Antagonist
a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action
Aphasia
impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding)
Association Areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in a higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
Autonomic Nervous System
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). In sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division clams.
Axon
the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Brainstem
the oldest part and central cove of brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions
Broca’s area
heps control language expression area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech
CT Scan
x-rays of the head generate images that may locate brain damage
Central Nervous System
the brain and spinal cord
Cerebellum
the “ little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemisphere; the body’s ultimate control and information processing center
Charles Darwin
natural selection, what makes us so much alike as humans
Corpus Callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Dendrite
a neurons’ often bushy branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body
Depolarized
electric charge on inside and outside cell membrane
Dopamine
influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
EEG
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface these waves are measured by electrodes on scalp
Endocrine System
the body “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the blood stream
Endorphins
“morphine within”- natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Fight or Flight
instinctive response
fMRI
a technique for revealing blood flow and therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain functions and structure.
Frontal Lobe
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments
GABA
regulates sleep wake cycles main inhibitory nuerotransmitters
Glutamate
brains main excitatory neurotransmitters basis of learning and long term memory loss
Hippocampus
a neural center locate din the limbic system; helps process for storage of explicit memories of facts and events
Hypothalamus
a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities helps govern endocrine system via the pituitary gland emotions and reward
Interneuron
neurons with the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between sensory inputs and motor outputs
Left hemisphere
controls right side of the body analytical thought, logic, speech, language, science, and math
Limbic System
neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres associated with emotions
medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and bretahing
Michael Gazzainga
one of the first with split brain
Motor Cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement
Motor Neurons
carry information from the brain and spinal cord to the body tissues
MRI
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computed generated images of soft tissue, shows brain anatomy
Myelin Sheath
a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next
Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons when released by the sending neurons, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron, will generate a neural impulse
Norepinephrine
arousal and alertness in fight or flight response mood elevation
Occipital Lobe
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; included areas that receive information from visual fields
Parasympathetic Nervous System
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving energy
Parietal Lobe
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory inputs for touch and body position
Peripheral Nervous System
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
PET
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain preforms a given task
Pituitary Gland
the endocrines system most influential glands. Under the influence of the hypothalamus regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Plasticity
the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Polarized
an electrical difference across the cell membrane
Pons
connects cerebellum to rest of brain regulates respiratory output facial expressions
prefrontal cortex
forward part of frontal lobes enables judgment, planning, and processing new memories
reflexes
a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
Refractory Period
in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired subsequent action potentials
Resting Potential
when no information is picked up by a human
Reticular Formation
a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling aroses
Reuptake
a neurotransmitter re-absorption by the sending neuron
Right Hemisphere
nonverbal communication, creativity, and intuiton
Roger Sperry
associated with the split brain
Sensory Cortex
located in the front of the parietal lobe, registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Sensory Neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the bodys tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Serotonin
mood regulation hunger and sleep
Somatic Nervous System
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body skeptical muscles skeletal nervous system
Split-brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres y cutting the fibers connecting them
Sympathetic Nervous System
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy
Synapse
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at the junction synaptic gap or synaptic cleft
Temporal Lobe
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears included the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
Thalamus
the brains sensory control center,located on the top of the brainstem it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits
Threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Wernicke’s Area
a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression usually in left temporal lobe
