Unit 3 Part A Vocabulary Flashcards
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Neuron
Announcing discoveries about the interplay of our behavior and mind at an exhilarating pace
Biological psychologist
Neurons bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Dendrites
The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Axon
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
Myelin sheath
A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Action potential
A period of inactivity after a neuron has fired
Refractory period
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
Synapse
Chemical messengers across the synaptic gaps between neurons
Neurotransmitters
A neurons transmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron
Reuptake
“Morphine within”– natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Endorphins
A molecule that by binding to receptors site, stimulates a response
Agonist
The body’s speedy electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Nervous system
Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Sensory neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
Motor neurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Interneurons
The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Endocrine system
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
Hormones
Pair of glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress
Adrenal glands
The endocrine system’s most influential gland under the influence of the hypothalamus
Pituitary gland
Tissue destruction
Lesion
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain surface
EEG
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
CT scan
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
PET scan
Technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue
MRI
The oldest part and central core of the brain beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull
Brainstem
Base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Medulla
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
Thalamus
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
Cerebellum
Neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions
Limbic system
Two Lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; link to emotion
Amygdala
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
Hypothalamus
