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Learning and the Brain - LB Set 2

Terms in this set (34)

Dendrite
Branchlike extensions protruding from a cell body; receivers of the input that gets passed along from neurons to cells; sum of all the synaptic reactions determines whether that cell will fire.
Axons
Axon repeatedly subdivides itself and branches out; has two essential functions: conduct information in the form of electrical stimulation and to transport chemical substances; thicker the axon the faster it conducts electricity
Glia
Non-neural support cells of the nervous system
Diencephalon (hypothalamus & thalamus)
Lies between and under 2 hemispheres; subordinate to cortex, yet control all that happens inside the body; regulates all the endocrine glands, the autonomous nervous system, the turnover of fat and sugar; seat of primitive animal instincts and is relay station at which emotions are translated into bodily reactions
Association Pathways
Bundles of axons connecting neurons of different lobes within one hemisphere
Aphasia
Disturbance in language comprehension or production, often as a result of a stroke
Axon hillock
Area of the neuron where the axon begins and where action potential is generated
Acetylcholine (ACh)
A neurotransmitter found in the brain, spinal cord, neuromuscular junction and autonomic nervous system, involved in long term memory formation
Action potential
Electrical "all-or-none" inpulse that transmits information within the nervous system
Anterograde amnesia
When people cannot form new memories
Blood brain barrier
A system of astrocytes and apillaries in the brain that prevents the passage of specific substances
Cingulatef cortex
Part of the limbic system located directly above the corpus callosum. Important for emotional behavior
Corpus callosum
Large collection of axons that connect the left and right hemispheres (homotopic parts) of the brain
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter found in many areas of the brain; important for movement and other behavior; thought to regulate key emotional responses such as reward and plays a role in schizophrenia and drug use
Endorphin
Neurotransmitter with similar properties as opiates; important for pain reduction
Epinephrine
Hormone released by adrenal medulla and specialized sites in the brain that acts with norepinephrine to affect the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system; sometimes called adrenaline
Forebrain
Front part of the brain which includes cerebral cortex and basal ganglia; credited with the highest intellectual functions
Gyrus (plural is gyri)
Hills (crests) or bumps on the bain that are separated by fissures
Hard-wiring
Genetically determined development of long-axon pathways connecting nuclei with different systems
Inhibition
A synaptic message that prevents a recipient neuron from firing
Limbic system (or Limbic areas)
Interconnected areas of the brain important for emotional and other behaviors; includes the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, septum, basal ganglia and others that help regulate the expression of emotion and emotional memory
Long-axon neurons
Make up the associational, commissural, and projection pathways
Myelin sheath
Fatty substance that surounds and insulates the axons of some neurons; increases speed of conduction
Neuron
Nerve cel specialized for transmission information and characterized by long, fibrous projections called axons and shorter, branch link projections called dendrites
Neurotransmitters
Chemical that transmit information across the synapse to communicate from one neuron to another; released by the presynaptic terminals, diffuse across the synaptic cleft, & bind to receptors in the postsynaptic membrane
Norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline)
Common neurotransmitter, primarily involve in arousal states, regulation of sleep/wake cycles, attention, fight or flight, metabolic rate, blood pressure, emotions, and mood
Optic chasm
Crossing of the fibers from each retina
Oxytocin
Peptide also known as the "commitment molecule" released by the hypothalamus during sex and pregnancy and influences pair bonding
Pons
Area of the brainstem between the medulla and the midbrain; called the bridge because it connects the brain with the cerebellum
Reticular formation
Collection of neuronal groups in core of the brain, running from upper spinal cored to other parts of the brain controlling a number of vital functions
Serotonin
Common neurotransmitter, play role in inducing relaxation, sensory perception, regulating mood and onset of sleep. Antidepressants (like Prozac) usually suppress the absorption of serotonin, make it more active
Soma
The neuron cell body; contains the nucleus
Synapse
Physical gap, but functional connection geneally between a terminal of one neuron with a membrane (dendrite/spine) of another neuron; site of information transfer from one neuron to another
Ventricle
Hollow spavces within the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid
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