Unit 2 Term List

Question 1

Glia

Answer 1

Cells found throughout the nervous system that provide structural support for neurons.

Question 2

Myelin Sheath

Answer 2

Surrounds and protects axons. Acts to speed up the transmission of signals that move along axons. Comprised of glia cells.

Question 3

Synaptic Vesicles

Answer 3

Sac-like structures that contain neurotransmitters.

Question 4

Resting Potential

Answer 4

The neuron’s stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive.

Question 5

Action Potential

Answer 5

A very brief shift in a neuron’s electrical charge that travels along an axon.

Question 6

Absolute Refractory Period

Answer 6

The time between action potentials.

Question 7

All-Or-None-Law

Answer 7

An individual neuron either fires all of its voltage or none of its voltage.

Question 8

Postsynaptic Potential

Answer 8

Begins immediately following the binding of the neurotransmitter molecules to the receptor site. The important question is: Will the next neuron fire an action potential?

Question 9

Receptor Site

Answer 9

The location on the dendrite wall where the neurotransmitter binds (chemically joins).

Question 10

Excitatory Neurotransmitter

Answer 10

Increases the likelihood the next neuron will fire an action potential.

Question 11

Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

Answer 11

Decreases the likelihood the next neuron will fire an action potential.

Question 12

5 Step Process of Neurotransmitters

Answer 12

1. Synthesis and storage
2. Release
3. Binding
4. Inactivation and removal
5. Reuptake

Question 13

Agonist

Answer 13

A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.

Question 14

Antagonist

Answer 14

A chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter.

Question 15

Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 15

This system is comprised of all nerves outside of the central nervous system.

Question 16

Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 16

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary functions.

Question 17

Sympathetic Nervous System

Answer 17

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body’s resources for emergencies.

Question 18

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 18

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that conserves bodily resources.

Question 19

Somatic Nervous System

Answer 19

The division of the peripheral nervous system that connects to voluntary muscles and sensory receptors.

Question 20

Afferent Nerves

Answer 20

Nerves in the somatic nervous system that move impulses toward the central nervous system.

Question 21

Efferent Nerves

Answer 21

Nerves in the somatic nervous system that move impulses away from the central nervous system.

Question 22

Hindbrain Region

Answer 22

Includes the cerebellum, the medulla, and the pons. The most primitive region of the brain.

Question 23

Medulla

Answer 23

Responsible the regulating unconscious functions such as breathing.

Question 24

Pons

Answer 24

Regulates arousal levels. The word “pons” is Latin for “bridge”.

Question 25

Cerebellum

Answer 25

A large and deeply folded structure that regulates physical balance.

Question 26

Midbrain Region

Answer 26

The segment of the brainstem that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain.

Question 27

Reticular Formation

Answer 27

Regulates sleep and wakefulness. The reticular formation runs through both the hindbrain and the midbrain regions.

Question 28

Forebrain Region

Answer 28

The largest and most complex region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.

Question 29

Thalamus

Answer 29

The brain's relay center. All sensory information goes to the thalamus first; the thalamus then relays the information to other structures in the brain.

Question 30

Cerebrum

Answer 30

The part of the forebrain that is responsible for cognition and reasoning. The brain's largest and most complex structure - it consists of four lobes: the occipital lobe, the parietal lobe, the temporal lobe, and the frontal lobe.

Question 31

Broca's Area

Answer 31

An area of the brain that plays an important role in speech production.

Question 32

Wernicke's Area

Answer 32

An area of the brain involved in language comprehension.

Question 33

Corpus Callosum

Answer 33

The brain structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.

Question 34

Endocrine System

Answer 34

We will focus on five glands: the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the pancreas gland, the adrenal glands (pair), and the gonads (pair).

Question 35

Cerebral Hemispheric Specialization

Answer 35

A theory that hypothesizes that the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum perform different tasks, have differing modes of thinking, and suggests that each person has a dominant hemisphere.

Question 36

Neurons

Answer 36

Specialized cells of the nervous system that transmit electrical and chemical signals in the body.

Question 37

Soma (Cell Body)

Answer 37

The region of the neuron that includes structures that nourish the cell, and a nucleus containing DNA.

Question 38

Dendrites

Answer 38

Tiny, branchlike fibers extending from the cell body that receive messages from other neurons and send information in the direction of the cell body.

Question 39

Axon

Answer 39

Skinny tube-like structure of a neuron that extends from the cell body and sends messages to other neurons through its terminals.

Question 40

Synapse

Answer 40

The place where the axon terminal of a sending neuron meets the dendrite of a neighboring neuron or other type of cell receiving its signal; junction between neurons where communication occurs.

Question 41

Neurotransmitters

Answer 41

Chemical messengers that neurons use to communicate at the synapse.

Question 42

Central Nervous System

Answer 42

A major component of the human nervous system; includes the brain and spinal cord.

Question 43

Hypothalamus

Answer 43

A small structure located below the thalamus that maintains the internal environment within a healthy range; helps regulate sleep-wake cycles, sexual behavior, and appetite.

Question 44

Limbic System

Answer 44

A collection of structures that regulates emotions and basic drives such as hunger, and aids in the creation of memories.

Question 45

Neuroscience

Answer 45

The study of the brain and other parts of the nervous system.

Question 46

Biological Psychology

Answer 46

The branch of psychology that focuses on how the brain and other biological systems influence human behavior.

Question 47

Phrenology

Answer 47

An early approach to explaining the functions of the brain by trying to link the physical structure of the skull with a variety of characteristics.

Question 48

Ablation

Answer 48

The act of destroying parts of a living animal’s brain to look at what functions were lost

Question 49

White Matter

Answer 49

Axons wrapped in myelin

Question 50

Gray Matter

Answer 50

Neuron cell bodies and glia cells

Question 51

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Answer 51

Relays messages from neurons to muscles in the body (enables movement).

Question 52

Norepinephrine (Ne)

Answer 52

Helps prepare the body for stressful situations and maintain attention (also regulates arousal and sleep).

Question 53

Serotonin

Answer 53

Helps control appetite, mood, anxiety, and sleep/breathing (involves feelings of pleasure and happiness).

Question 54

Dopamine (Da)

Answer 54

Impacts attention, learning through rewards, and the regulation of body movements (also associated with romantic love).

Question 55

Endorphins

Answer 55

Naturally produced opioids that regulate the secretion of other neurotransmitters and are released in response to pain (they block pain receptor sites).

Question 56

Reflex Arc

Answer 56

An automatic response to a sensory stimulus, using a simple pathway of communication from sensory neurons through interneurons in the spinal cord and back out through motor neurons.

Question 57

Frontal Lobe

Answer 57

Controls voluntary movements and directs higher-level cognitive activities, such as language, emotions, control of social behavior, and decision making.

Question 58

Parietal Lobe

Answer 58

Receives and processes sensory information such as touch, pressure, temperature, and spatial orientation.

Question 59

Occipital Lobe

Answer 59

Processes visual information

Question 60

Temporal Lobe

Answer 60

Processes auditory information

Question 61

Hippocampus

Answer 61

A pair of seahorse-shaped structures that create new memories and generate new neurons.

Question 62

Amygdala

Answer 62

A pair of almond-shaped structures that processes aggression and basic emotions such as fear, as well as associated memories.