Unit 3 Part A Vocabulary

Question 0

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Answer 0

Neuron

Question 1

Announcing discoveries about the interplay of our behavior and mind at an exhilarating pace

Answer 1

Biological psychologist

Question 2

Neurons bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Answer 2

Dendrites

Question 3

The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Answer 3

Axon

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Myelin sheath

Question 5

A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Answer 5

Action potential

Question 6

A period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

Answer 6

Refractory period

Question 7

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron;the tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft

Answer 7

Synapse

Question 8

Chemical messengers across the synaptic gaps between neurons

Answer 8

Neurotransmitters

Question 9

A neurons transmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

Answer 9

Reuptake

Question 10

“Morphine within”– natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

Answer 10

Endorphins

Question 11

A molecule that by binding to receptors site, stimulates a response

Answer 11

Agonist

Question 12

The body’s speedy electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

Answer 12

Nervous system

Question 13

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Answer 13

Sensory neurons

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Motor neurons

Question 15

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

Answer 15

Interneurons

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Endocrine system

Question 17

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

Answer 17

Hormones

Question 18

Pair of glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress

Answer 18

Adrenal glands

Question 19

The endocrine system’s most influential gland under the influence of the hypothalamus

Answer 19

Pituitary gland

Question 20

Tissue destruction

Answer 20

Lesion

Question 21

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain surface

Answer 21

EEG

Question 22

A series of x-ray photos taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure

Answer 22

CT scan

Question 23

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

Answer 23

PET scan

Question 24

Technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue

Answer 24

MRI

Question 25

The oldest part and central core of the brain beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull

Answer 25

Brainstem

Question 26

Base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Answer 26

Medulla

Question 27

The brain’s sensory control Center located on top of the brainstem; directs messages to sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Answer 27

Thalamus

Question 28

The “little brain”at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement out put and balance and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

Answer 28

Cerebellum

Question 29

Neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions

Answer 29

Limbic system

Question 30

Two Lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; link to emotion

Answer 30

Amygdala

Question 31

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities such as aiding drinking and the body temperature helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland and is linked to emotion and reward

Answer 31

Hypothalamus