| Term | Definition |
|---|
| fissure | a lengthy crevice that separate the two hemispheres of the brain |
| hemisphere | one-half of the two halves of the brain, controls the opposite side of the body |
| corpus callosum | bundle of nerve fibers that connects and sents information between the two hemispheres of the brain |
| frontal lobe | area of the cortex that contains the motor strip and is responsible for complicated thought, associations, and mental processing |
| motor strip (cortex) | band running down the side of the frontal lobe that controls all bodily movement |
| parietal lobe | lobe of the cortex that is responsible for interpreting sensory information and contains the somatosensory cortex |
| sensory strip | also called the somatosensory cortex, this strip of cortex registers all bodliy sensations |
| tempral lobe | lobe of cortex responsible for hearing and some speech functions |
| occipital lobe | are of the cortex that interprets visual information |
| hemispheric specialization | term used to describe the fact the two hemisheres of the brain are designed to handle specific tasks (Left - logic, language; Right - creativity, spatial reasoning, art, emotion) |
| cerebral cortex | the unit of the brain that covers the mid and lower brain and is involved in higher level processing |
| lower brain | "animal" part of the brain that regulates survival functions |
| thalamus | part of the brain that acts as a relay station to and from the brain to the body |
| cerebellum | part of the brain that coordinates body movements and maintains balance |
| hypothalamus | part of the brain that controls hunger, thirst, sex, and aggression - all pleasure drives |
| reticular formation | part of the brain stem that monitors our awareness; keeps us awake or puts us to sleep based on its assessment of changes in our body and environment |
| neuron | a nerve cell, billions of which combine to create our brain and nervous system |
| dendrite | part of a neuron which receives information from other neurons |
| axon | part of a neuron that carries an action potential toward the synapse |
| synapse | the junction point of two or more neurons, this empty space represents an area where two neurons communicate |
| vesicles | small pouches in axon terminals that contain neurotransmitters |
| neurotransmitters | chemicals in neurons that send information across the synapse |
| dopamine | neurotransmitter that sends signals about pleasure |
| endorphins | neurotransmitters that send information about pain and give a sense of well-being |
| acetylcholine | neurotransmitter that regulates physical movement |
| spinal cord | functions as an "automatic brain" sending signals from the body to the brain and back again, also controls reflexes |
| hormones | chemical regulators that control bodily processes such as emotion, growth and sexuality: they are long-lasting messengers present in the blood |
| glands | units of the body that create and contain hormones |
| endocrine system | sytem of all the glands and their chemical messages |
| pituitary gland | master gland of the body, controls all other glands and produces growth hormone |
| thyroid gland | gland that regulates the speed of bodily processes and how we use energy |
| metabolism | the speed at which the body uses up energy |
| adrenal glands | glands that cause excitement in order to prepare the body for an emergency |
| adrenaline | the chemical that prepares the body for emergency by increasing blood pressure, breathing rates, and energy level |
| gonads | sex glands that make sperm or eggs for reproduction |
| androgen | male sex hormone, activates sex drive and makes men have characteristics of male humans |
| estrogen | female sex hormone, activates sex drive and makes women have characteristics of female humans |
Combine with other sets
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