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149 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
Afferent
Nerves that carry sensory signals to the central nervous system; sensory nerves.
Amygdala
A structure in the anterior temporal lobe, just anterior to the hippocampus; plays a role in emotion.
Anterior
Toward the nose end of a vertebrate.
Applied Research
Research intended to bring about some direct benefit humankind.
Arachnoid mater
The meninx that is located between the dura mater and the pia mater and has the appearance of a gauzelike spiderweb.
Astroglia
Largest glial cell. Once thought to not do ****. Have been shown to send and receive signals from neurons and other glial cells, to control the establishment and maintenance of synapses between neurons, to modulate neural activity, maintain the function of axons, and to participate in glial circuits.
Atsrocytes
Large, star-shaped glial cells that play a role in the passage of chemicals from the blood into CNS neurons and perform several other important functions that are not yet well understood.
Autonomic Nervous System
The part of the peripheral nervous system participates in the regulation of the body's internal environment.
Axon Hillock
The conical structure at the junction between axon and the cell body.
Basal Ganglia
The collection of subcortical nuclei (Striatum, Pallidum, Substantia nigra, Subthalamic nucleus,) that have important motor functions
Brain stem
The part of the brain on which the cerebral hemispheres rest; in general, it regulates reflex activities that are critical for survival (e.g. heart rate and respiration)
Caudal
Same as posterior (back)
Caudate
The tail like structure that is part of the striatum.
Cell Body
The metabolic center of the neuron; also called the soma.
Cell Membrane
The semipermeable membrane that encloses the neuron. Composed of a lipid bilayer.
Central Canal
The small CSF-filled channel that runs the length of the spinal cord.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The portion of the nervous system within the skull and spine.
Cerebellum
The metencephalitic structure that has been shown to many mediate the retention of Pavlovian eyeblink conditioning.
cerebral aqueduct
The duct connecting the 3rd and 4th ventricles. Of interest due to its role in mediating the analgesic effects of opiate drugs.
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
The colorless fluid that fills the subarachnoid space, the central canal, and the cerebral ventricles.
Choroid Plexus
The networks of capillaries that protrude into the ventricles from the pia mater and continuously produce cerebrospinal fluid.
Cingulate Cortex
The cortex of the cingulate gyri, which are located on the medial surfaces of the frontal lobes.
Cognitive Neuroscience
Studies neural bases of cognition, a term that generally refers to higher intellectual processes such as thought, memory, attention, and complex perceptual processes.
Commisures
The connections between the brain hemispheres.
Comparative Psychology
The study of evolution, genetics, and adaptiveness of behavior, largely through the use of the comparative method.
Converging Operations
The use of several research approaches to solve a single problem.
Corpus Callosum
The largest cerebral commissure.
Cytoplasm
The clear internal fluid of the cell.
Decussate
To cross over to the other side of the brain.
Dendrites
The short process emanating from the cell body, which receive most of the synaptic contacts from other neurons.
Dependent Variable
The variable that is measured by the experimenter to assess the affect of the variable that was manipulated.
Diencephalon
One of the five major divisions of the brain; composed of the thalamus and hypothalamus; Sensory relays and endocrine function feedback loop.
Dizygotic
Fraternal twins; twins the developing from two zygotes and thus tend to be as genetically similar as any pair of siblings.
Dorsal
Toward the surface of the back of a vertebrate or toward the top of the head.
Dorsal Horns
The two dorsal arms of the spinal gray matter.
Dorsal Root Ganglia
Structures just outside the spinal cord that are composed of the cell bodies of dorsal root axons
Dorsal Roots
The spinal root containing unipolar sensory (afferent) neurons with cell bodies grouped together just outside the spinal cord.
Dura mater
The tough outer meninx.
Efferent
Nerves that carry motor signals from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles or internal organs.
Electron Microscopy
A neuroanatomical technique used to study the fine details of cellular structure.
Endoplasmic reticulum
A system of folded membranes in the cell body; rough portions (those with ribosomes) play a role in the synthesis of proteins; smooth portions (those without ribosomes) play a role in the synthesis of fats.
Ethology
The study of animal behavior in its natural environment.
Evolution
To undergo gradual orderly change.
Forebrain
Brain structure composed of the Telencephalon and Diencephalon
Forebrain (Telencephalon, Diencephalon); Midbrain (Mesencephalon); Hindbrain (Metencephalon, Myencephalon)
Name (in order) the 3 divisions and 5 major structures of the brain.
Fornix
The major tract of the limbic system; it connects the hippocampus with the septum and mammillary bodies.
Frontal Lobe
The most anterior of the cerebral lobes. Involved in motor function, inhibition of emotional response, and working memory.
Frontal Lobe (Anterior to the Central Fissure), Parietal Lobe (Posterior to the Central Fissure), Temporal Lobe (dorsal to the Lateral Fissure), and Occipital (furthest posterior)
Name and show the describe the locations of the 4 Cerebral Hemispheres
Ganglia
Clusters of cell bodies in the PNS
Glial Cells
Several classes of nonneural cells of the nervous system, whose important contributions to nervous system function are just starting to be understood.
Globus Pallidus
One of the basal ganglia; it is located between the putamen and the thalamus.
Golgi Complex
A connected system of membranes that packages molecules in vesicles.
Golgi Stain
A neural stain that completely darkens a few of the neurons in each slice of tissue, thereby revealing their silhouettes. Useful for visualizing structure of neurons.
Gray Matter
Portions of the nervous system that are gray because they are composed largely of neural cell bodies and unmyelinated interneurons.
Gyri
The cortical regions that are located between fissures.
Gyrus
Ridges of brain folds.
Heritability Estimate
Numerical estimate of the proportion of variability that occurred in a particular trait in a particular study and that resulted from the genetic variation among the subjects in that study.
Hindbrain
Brain structure composed of the Metencephalon and Myencaphalon.
Hippocampus
A structure of the medial temporal lobes and Limbic System that plays a role in memory for spatial location.
Hydrocephalus
“Water Head”, blocked drainage sinuses result in excess CSF.
Hypothalamus
The diencephalic structure that sits just below the anterior portion of the thalamus; it plays a role in motivated behaviors, in part by controlling the pituitary gland.
Independent Variable
This difference between the conditions in an experiment. It is what is being manipulated.
Inferior
Toward the bottom of the primate head or brain.
Inferior Colliculi
The structures of the tectum that receive auditory input from the superior olives.
Interneurons
Neurons with short axons or no axons at all, whose function is to integrate activity within a single brain structure - not to conduct from one structure to another.
Korsakoff’s Syndrome
A neuropsychological disorder that is common in alcoholics and whose primary symptom is severe memory loss.
Lateral
Away from the midline of the body of a vertebrate, toward the body's lateral surfaces.
Lateral Fissure
Fissure separating the Temporal lobe from the Frontal and Parietal Lobes.
Lateral Geniculate Nuclei
The six-layered thalamic structures that receive input from the retinas and transmit their output to the primary visual cortex.
Layer 4
The layer of densely packed cells in the neocortex that are a major sensory input point.
Limbic System
Contains Hippocampus (spacial), Amygdala (emotional learning (facial expressions, etc)), and Cingulate Cortex (emotional response to pain). Influences the endocrine system.
Longitudinal Fissure
The large fissure that separates the two cerebral hemispheres.
Mammillary Bodies
Pair of spherical nuclei that are located on the interior surface of the posterior hypothalamus. Directly involved with the formation of episodic memories. Destroy it and no more ep mems. (Korsikoff's syndrome and kid who got sworded).
Medial
Toward the midline of the body of a vertebrate.
Medial Geniculate Nuclei
The auditory thalamic nuclei that receive input from the inferior colliculi and project to primary auditory cortex.
Medulla
The myelencephalon
Meninges
The three protective coverings that encase the CNS.
Mesencephalon
One of the five major divisions of the brain; composed of the tectum and the tegmentum; low level auditory and visual sensory input reactions, movement initiation.
Metencephalon
One of the five major divisions of the brain; made up of the Pons and Cerebellum; houses many ascending and decending tracts (reticular formation) and neural bridges. Coordination, smooth movements, procedural (not conscious) memory.
Microglia
Class of glial cells that respond to injury or disease by multiplying, engulfing cellular debris, and triggering inflammatory responses.
Microtubules
Responsible for the rapid transport of material throughout neurons.
Midbrain
Brain structure composed of the Mesencephalon.
Monozygotic
Identical twins; twins they develop from the same zygote and are thus genetically identical.
Multipolar neurons
A neuron with more than two processes extending from its cell body. Most neurons are this type.
Myelencephalon
The most posterior of the five major divisions of the brain. Reflexes, breathing, heart rate, sleep, etcetera.
Myelin
The fatty insulation around many axons.
Myelin Sheath
Coverings on the axons of some CNS neurons that are rich in myelin and increase the speed and efficiency of axonal conduction.
Myelin Stain
Neuroanatomical view technique used to viewing where axons are. Stains the myelin in cells.
Nature-Nurture
The debate about the relative contributions of nature (genes) and nurture (experience) to the behavioral capacities of individuals.
Neocortex
Six-layered cerebral cortex of relatively recent evolution; it constitutes 90% of human cerebral cortex.
Nerves
bundles of axons in the PNS
Neural tube
The tube that is formed in the vertebrate embryo when the edges of the neural groove fuse and that develops into the central nervous system.
Neurons
Cells that are specialized for the reception, conduction, and transmission of electrochemical signals.
Neuropsychology
Study of the physiological effects of brain damage in human patients. Deals almost exclusively with case studies and quasiexperimental studies of patients with brain damage.
Neurotransmitters
Molecules that are released from active neurons and influence the activity of other cells.
Nissl Stain
A neural strain that has an affinity for structures in neuron cell bodies. Used for visualizing the number of neurons.
Nodes of Ranvier
The gaps between adjacent myelin segments on the axon.
Nuclei
Clusters of cell bodies in the CNS
Occipital Lobe (Primary Visual Cortex)
The most posterior of the 4 cerebral lobes; its function is primarily visual.
Oligodendroglia
Myelin-rich glial cells that myelinate axons of the CNS.
Optic Chiasm
The X-shaped structure on the inferior surface of the diencephalon; the point where the optic nerves decussate.
Parasympathetic
Those motor nerves of the autonomic nervous system that project from the brain (as components of cranial nerves) or from the sacral region of the spinal cord.
Parietal Lobe (Postcentral Cortex)
One of the four cerebral lobes; it is located just posterior to the central fissure. Involved in sensory recognition, physical self-awareness, and visual association. Damage can result in Contralateral neglect of the body and Alien Limb Syndrome.
Periaquaductal Gray
The gray matter situated around the the cerebral aqueduct
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The portion of the nervous system outside the skull and spine.
Physiological Psychology
The division of biopsychology that studies the neural mechanisms of behavior through the direct manipulation of the brain and controlled experiments - surgical and electrical methods of brain manipulation are most common. Subjects are almost always laboratory animals.
Pia mater
The delicate, innermost meninx.
Pons
The metencephalic structure that creates a bulge on the ventral surface of the brain stem.
Postcentral Gyrus
The gyrus located just posterior to the central fissure; its function is primarily somatosensory. Also called the primary somatosensory cortex.
Posterior
Toward the tail end of a vertebrate or toward the back of the head.
Precentral Gyrus
The gyrus located just anterior to the central fissure; its function is primarily motor. Also called the primary motor cortex.
Prefrontal cortex
The areas of frontal cortex that are anterior to the frontal motor areas. Involved in working memory (keeping track of lists dynamically), inhibition of emotional response. Thought to be the last part of the brain to be myelinated (late teens).
Psychopharmacology
Similar to physiological psychology, except that it focuses on the manipulation of neural activity and behavior with drugs.
Psychophysiology
The division of biopsychology that studies the relation between physiological activity and psychological processes in human subjects. Because the subjects of this type of research are human, recording procedures are typically noninvasive.
Pure Research
Research motivated primarily by the curiosity of the researcher-done solely for the purpose acquiring knowledge.
Putamen
Structure that is joined the caudate by a series of fiber bridges; together with the caudate, they compose the striatum.
Quasi Experimental Studies
Studies of groups of subjects who have been exposed to conditions of interest in the real world. These studies have the appearance of experiments but are not true experiments because potential confounded variables have not been controlled - for example by random assignment of subjects to conditions.
Red Nucleus
A motor structure that is located in the tegmentum of the mesencephalon.
Reticular Activating System
The hypothetical arousal system in the reticular formation.
Reticular Formation
A complex network of nuclei in the core of the brain stem that contains, among other things, motor programs that regulate complex species-common movement such as walking and swimming.
Ribosomes
Internal cellular structures on which proteins are synthesized; they are located on the endoplasmic reticulum.
Rostral
Same as anterior (front)
Satellite Cells
PNS Glial cells similar to Schwann cells. They supply nutrients to the surrounding neurons and also have some structural function.
Scanning Electron Microscope
Used to image neural structure in three dimensions, but lacks as much magnification.
Schwann Cells
A type of glial cell only located in the PNS that constitutes one myelin segment and can guide axonal regeneration after damage. (the reason that effective axonal regeneration is restricted to the PNS.
Sensory Relay Nuclei
Those nuclei of the thalamus whose main function is to relay sensory signals to the appropriate areas of the cortex.
Sociobiology
Evolutionary biology and how it relates to humans.
Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
The part of the peripheral nervous system that interacts with the external environment.
Subarachnoid Space
The space beneath the arachnoid membrane, which contains many large blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid.
Substantia Nigra
The membrane nucleus whose neurons project via the nigrostriatal pathway to the striatum of the basal ganglia; it is part of the mesotelencephalic dopamine system and degenerates in cases of Parkinson's disease.
Superior
Toward the top of the primate head.
Superior Colliculi
Two of the four nuclei they compose the tectum; they receive major visual input.
Sympathetic
Those motor nerves of the autonomic nervous system the project from the CNS in the lumbar and thoracic areas of the spinal cord.
Synaptic vesicles
Spherical membrane packages that store neurotransmitter molecules ready for release near synapses.
Tectum
"The ""roof"", or dorsal surface, of the mesencephalon; it includes the superior and inferior colliculi."
Tegmentum
The ventral division of the mesencephalon; it includes part of the reticular system, substantia nigra, and red nucleus.
Telencephalon
One of the brain's five major divisions; mediates the brain's most complex functions.
Temporal Lobe
One of the four major cerebral lobes; it lies adjacent to the temples and contains the hippocampus and amygdala. Involved in memory (STM to LTM), speech in left hemisphere, auditor, and object recognition.
Terminal Buttons
the end of the axon.
Thalamus
The large two-lobed diencephalic structure that constitutes the anterior end of the brain stem; many of its nuclei are sensory relay nuclei that project to the cortex.
Thiamine
The cause of Korsakoff's syndrome is largely caused by the brain damage associated with the deficiency of this vitamin.
Tracts
bundles of axons in the CNS
Unipolar neurons
A neuron with the one process extending from its cell body.
Ventral
Toward the chest surface of vertebrate or twoard the bottom of the head.
Ventral Horns
The two ventral arms of the spinal gray matter.
Ventral Posterior Nuclei
A thalamic relay nucleus in both the somatosensory and gustatory systems.
Ventral Roots
The spinal root containing multipolar motor (efferent) neurons with cell bodies grouped together within the spinal cord.
Ventricular System
is a set of structures containing cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. It is continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord.
White Matter
Portions of the nervous system that are white because they are composed largely of myelinated axons.