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biological psychology a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior neuron a nerce cell dendrite the brushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body axon the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands myelin a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons action potential a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon threshold the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse synapse the junction between the axon top of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron neurotransmitters chemical messengers that transervse the synaptic gaps between neurons acetylcholine a neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction endorphins "morphine within" - natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure nervous system the body's soeedy electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central central nerous system the brain and spinal cord peripheral nervous system the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nercous system to the rest of the body nerces neural "cables" containing many axons sensory neurons nerons that carry incoming info from the sense receptors to the central nervous system motor neurons neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nercous system to the muscles and glands interneurons central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs somatic nervous system the division of the peripheral nercous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles automatic nervous system part of peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs sympathetic nervous system the division of the automatic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations parasympathetic nervous system the division of the automtic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy neural networks interconnected neural cells endocrine system the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream hormones chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands adrenal glands pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) which help arouse body pituitary gland endocine system's most influential gland, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands lesion tissue destruction electroelcephalogram (EEG) an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surgace PET (position emission tomography) visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes whilr the brain performs a given task MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of tissue, allowing to see different structures fMRI a technique for revealing blood flow, and therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans brainstem oldeest part and central core of brain, responsible for automatic survival functions medulla oblongata base of brainstem, heartbeat and breathing reticular formation nerve network in brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal thalamus brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla cerebellum little brain - attached to the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance limbic system doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex amgdala two lima bean-sized neural clusters that are components of the limbic system ans are linked to emotion hypothalamus neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintanence activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion cerebral cotex the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center glial cells cells in the nervous system that suport, nourish, and protect neurons frontal lobes the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements parietal lobes the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; recieves sensory input for touch and body position occipital lobes portion of cerebral cortex lying at back of head, includes visual areas, which recieve visual information from opposite visual field temporal lobes portion of cerebral cotex lying roughly below ears; includes auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information primarily from opposite ear motor cortex an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements sensory cortex area at front of parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations association areas areas of the central cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as leaning, remembering, thinking, and speaking