| Term | Definition |
|---|
| dendrites | rootlike parts of the cell that make connections with other neurons |
| axon | wirelike structure ending in the terminal buttons |
| myelin sheath | a covering around the axon that speeds neural impulses |
| terminal buttons | the branched end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters |
| all-or-none principle | a neuron either fires completely or it does not fire |
| acetylcholine | associated with motor movement and Alzheimer's disease |
| dopamine | associated with alertness and Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia |
| endorphins | associated with pain control and addiction |
| serotonin | associated with mood control and depression |
| somatic nervous system | controls our voluntary muscle movemnts |
| EEG | detects brain waves and is widely used in sleep research |
| CAT | shows only the structure of the brain, but not the functions |
| MRI | gives information about the structure of the brain, but not the functions |
| PET | shows what areas of the brain are most active |
| FMRI | shows details of brain structure with information about blood flow in the brain |
| medulla | involved in the control of our blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing |
| pons | involved in the control of facial expressions |
| midbrain | coordinates simple movements with sensory information |
| reticular formation | controls general body arousal and the ability to focus our attention |
| thalamus | receives sensory signals from the spinal cord and sends them to appropriate areas |
| hypothalamus | controls several metabolic functions, sexual arousal, hunger, and thirst |
| amygdala | vital to our experiences of emotion |
| hippocampus | vital to our memory system |
| contralateral control | the right hemisphere gets sensory messages and controls the motor function of the left half of the body |
| association area | any area of the cerebral cortex that is not associated with receiving sensory information |
| prefrontal cortex | thought to play a critical role in directing thought processes |
| Broca's area | responsible for producing speech |
| sensory cortex | receives incoming touch sensations from the rest of our body |
| Wernicke's area | interprets both written and spoken speech |
Combine with other sets
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