Set: Chapter 2 - Neuroscience

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All 53 Terms

Term Definition
nueron a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
dendrite bushy, branching recievers of the neuron
axon extension of neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
myelin sheath a layer of fatty tissue that makes the message transfer more efficient
action potential a neural impulse; a brief eletrictal charge that travels down an axon. The action potential is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the
threshold the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
synapse the junction between the axon tip and the dendrite or cell body of the recieving neuron
neurotransmitters chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, nourotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the recieving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse
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 speedy, electrochemical communication networ, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
nerves neural cables containing many axons. These bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
sensory neurons neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system
motor neurons neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands
interneurons central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and outputs
somatic nervous system the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system
autonomic nervous system the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls thet glands and the muscles of the internal organs
sympathetic nervous system the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
parasympathetic nervous system the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving the body
reflex a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus
neural networks interconnected neural cells. With experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results
endocrine the body's slow chemical communication systema; a set of glands that sectrete hormones into the bloodstream
hormones chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another
adrenal glands a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. The adrenals secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) which help to arouse the body in times of stress
pituitary gland the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
lesion tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
EEG eletroencephalogram; an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
PET positron emission tomography scan; a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
MRI magnetic resonance imaging; a technique that usus magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft-tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain
fMRI reveals blood flow and brain activity
brainstem automatic survival functions
medulla heartbeat and breathing
reticular formation controls arousal
thalamus sensory switchboard
cerebellum movement and balance, and sensory input
limbic system emotions, agression, food and sex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus
amygdala emotion
hypothalamus maintenence activities, emotion, and endocrine system
cerebral cortex the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the bod's ultimate control and information-processing center
glial cells cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
frontal lobes the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the 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; recieving sensory input for touch and body position
occipital lobes the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which recieve visual information from the opposite visual field
temporal lobes the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which recieves auditory information primarily from the opposite ear
motor cortex an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
sensory cortex the area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
association areas areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
aphasia impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or Wernicke's area (impairing understanding)
Broca's area controls language expression -- an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.
Wernicke's area controls language reception -- a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe
plasticity the brain's capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain developement
corpus callosum the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
split brain a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them
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Terms 53
Creator crabezoid
Created October 3, 2007
Groups None
Tags psych, neuroscience, brain, ap, psychology
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From Chapter 2 of Myers Psychology 8th Edition.

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crabezoid : There should be plenty of typos, watch out
att159 : believe me, there is
att159 : the first term
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