Unit 2 - Vocab. List 2 Flashcards
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The part of the nervous system that is composed of the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The part of the nervous system that is composed of the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body; has the somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
An amplified recording of waves of electrical activity that sweeps across the brain’s surface, these waves are measured by electrodes placed on the skull
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
A technique for revealing the blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans showing structure and function
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
Parasympathetic Division
The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving energy
Sympathetic Division
The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing the energy
Frontal Lobe
The front part of the brain that is responsible for higher cognitive functions like reasoning, problem-solving, judgment, and motor functions
Occipital Lobe
The lobe positioned at the back region of the cerebral cortex that is responsible for interpreting visual stimuli and information
Parietal Lobe
Located at the top and back part of the head that processes sensory information from all parts of the body including spacial sense and navigation
Temporal Lobe
On the left and right sides of the brain that play a role in emotions, senses, storing and receiving memories, and understanding language
Broca’s Area
The left part of the frontal lobe is responsible for speech production and language comprehension; if damaged it can lead to expressive aphasia
Wernicke’s Area
The part of the left temporal lobe that plays a part in language comprehension, if damaged can lead to receptive aphasia
Medulla
A part that controls autonomic (involuntary) functions of the body such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure
Hippocampus
A part of the temporal lobe that is responsible for the formation of memory and processes explicit memories for storage; long-term memories
Thalmus
Located between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain; the brain’s sensory control center
Hypothalamus
Regulates the autonomic nervous system by producing and releasing hormones via the pituitary gland in the endocrine system
Corpus Callosum
A thick bundle of nerve fibers that connect the left and right cerebral hemispheres (brain) together, allowing them to communicate
Pituitary Gland
The master gland that controls components of reproduction and growth and interprets feedback from other glands in the endocrine system
Aphasia
The impairment of language that occurs when either Broca’s area (expressive aphasia) or Wernicke’s area (receptive aphasia) is damaged
Myasthenia Gravis
An autoimmune disorder caused by a blockade of neurotransmitters that results in the weakness of voluntary muscles
Multiple Sclerosis
The loss of muscle control resulting from a deterioration of myelin sheaths
