unit 2 part 1 (9-13) Flashcards
neuron
nerve cells
cell body
part of neuron that contains nucleus
dendrites
extensions of cell body, receives and integrates messages
axon
neuron extension; passes messages through branches to other neurons or muscles
myelin sheath
fatty tissue encasing axons to speed up impulses
glial cells / glia
cells in ns that protect neurons. learning, thinking, memory
action potential
brief electrical charge that travels down axon
threshold
minimum stim required to trigger neural impulse
refactory period
brief resting pause after a neuron is fired
all or none response
neuron reaction of firing or not firing
synapse
space between axon tip of sending neuron and dendrite/cell body of receiving neuron
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross synaptic gap brtween neurons
reuptake
neurotransmitter reabsorption by sending neuron
endorphins
natural painkillers
agonist
increase neurotransmitter action
antagonist
decrease neurotransmitter action
nervous system
bodys fast communication network; all of the nerve cells of central and peripheral nervous systems
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
sensory and motor neurons connecting cns to body
nerves
bundled axons connecting cns to muscles, glands, organs
sensory/afferent neurons
carry info from tissue to brain and spinal cord
motor/efferent neurons
carry outgoing info from brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands
interneurons
neurons within brain and spinal cord
somatic nervous system
PNS; voluntary control of skeletal muscles
autonomic nervous system
PNS; controls muscle glands and internal organs
sympathetic ns
gives energy; arouses (fight or flight)
parasympathetic ns
calms, conserves energy
reflex
automatic response to stimuli; spinal cord
endocrine system
set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream
hormones
chemical messengers that travel via bloodstream; endocrine glands
adrenal glands
secrete hormones (epinephrine) that help arouse body in times of dress
pituitary gland
regulates growth of+controls endocrine glands
lesion
destroyed tissue
eeg
recording of waves of electrical activity sweeping brain surface. measured via electrodes on scalp
meg
measures magnetic fields from brains natural electrical activity.
ct / cat
series of xray photos taken from diff angles and combined by computer to represent slice of brain structure
pet
displays brain activity via radioactive glucose, shows where it goes when brain is performing a task
mri
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. scans show brain anatomy
fmri
reveals brain functioning + structure. reveals bloodflow
brainstem
oldest+central core of brain. automatic survival functions
medulla
base of brainsteam; heartbeat+breathing
thalamus
receives and transmits sensory info except smell to cerebellum and medulla
reticular formation
relays info, controls arousal, sleep/wake cycle, filters incoming stimuli
cerebellum
voluntary movement, balance, coordination, nonverbal learning, skill memory
limbic system
neural system (amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus); emotion+drives
amygdala
emotion; fear and agression
hypothalamus
manages body temp, hunger, thirst, mood, blood pressure, sleep
hippocampus
processes concious memories, stores explicit memories of facts/events
cerebral cortex
perception, language, memory, thinking, problem solving
frontal lobes
speech, muscle movement, jdement, planning, problem solving, personality, social filter, emotional expressions
parietal lobes
receives sensory input for touch and body position. spatial reasoning
occipital lobes
sight
temporal lobes
hearing
motor cortex
voluntary movement
somatosensory cortex
processes body touch and movement sensations
association areas
areas of cerebral cortex not involved in primary motor or sensory functions. higher mental functions; memory, thinking, speaking
plasticity
brains ability to change by reorganizing after damage
neurogenesis
formation of new neurons
corpus callosum
fibers between brain halves
split brain
surgery isolating brain halves
conciousness
subjective awareness
dual processing
info is processed simultaneously on separate conscious/unconscious tracks
blindsight
responding to visual stimuli without consciously experiencing it
parallel processing
processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; natural mode of brain
sequential processing
processing one aspect of a problem at a time; used for new info
thyroxine
- hormone
- metabolism (thyroid)
- too much: hyperthyroidism, weight loss
- too little: hypothyroidism, weight gain
epinepherine
- hormone
- adrenaline (fight or flight)
- too much: high blood pressure, anxiety
- too little: depression, headaches
estrogen
- hormone
- female sexual characteristics
- too much: heavy periods, bloating, breast tenderness (men: breast growth, poor libido)
- too little: low libido, hot flashes
insulin
- hormone
- moves glucose from blood to cells to make energy
- too much: too much sugar absorbed
- too little: not enough sugar; feel faint
testosterone
- hormone
- male sexual characteristics
- too much: aggression, mood swings, weight gain (fem: +irregular periods, infertility)
- too little: low libido, depression, erectile dysfunction
endorphin
- excitatory neurotransmitter
- painkiller
glutamate
- excitatory neurotransmitter
- cns stimulant
- too much: overstimulates brain; migranes or seizures
dopamine
- excitatory neurotransmitter
- mood, muscle coordination, reward pathway
- too much: schizophrenia
- too little: parkinsons
acetylcholine
- excitatory neurotransmitter
- muscle memory
- too little: alzheimers
gaba(pentin)
- inhibitory neurotransmitter
- calms
serotonin
- excitatory neurotransmitter
- mood, sleep
- too little: depression
