Chapter 2

Front 1

Neuroscience

Back 1

The study of the brain and nervous system.

Front 2

Biological Psychology

Back 2

The branch of psychology that focuses on how the brain and other biological systems influence human behavior.

Front 3

Phrenology

Back 3

An early approach to explaining the functions of the brain by trying to link the physical structure of the skull with a variety of characteristics.

Front 4

Neurons

Back 4

The building blocks of the nervous system that transmit electrical and chemical signals in the body.

Front 5

Cell Body

Back 5

The region of the neuron that includes protein-producing mechanisms, structures that nourish the cell, and a nucleus containing DNA.

Front 6

Dendrites

Back 6

Tiny, branchlike fibers extending from the cell body that receive messages from other neurons and send information in the direction of the cell body.

Front 7

Axon

Back 7

Skinny tubelike structure of a neuron that extends from the cell body, and which sends messages to other neurons.

Front 8

Myelin Sheath

Back 8

Fatty substance that insulates the axon and speeds the transmission of neural messages.Licht, Deborah; Hull, Misty; Ballantyne, Coco. Scientific American: Presenting Psychology (Page 53). Worth Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Front 9

Synapse

Back 9

The tiny gap between a terminal bud of one axon and a neighboring dendrite of the next neuron; junction between neurons where communication occurs.

Front 10

Glial Cells

Back 10

Cells that support, nourish, and protect neurons; produce myelin that covers axons.

Front 11

Resting Potential

Back 11

The electrical potential of a cell “at rest”; the state of a cell when it is not activated.

Front 12

Action Potential

Back 12

The spike in electrical energy that passes through the axon of a neuron, the purpose of which is to convey information.

Front 13

All-Or-None

Back 13

A neuron either fires or does not fire; action potentials are always the same strength.

Front 14

Neurotransmitters

Back 14

Chemical messengers that neurons use to communicate at the synapse.

Front 15

Receptor Sites

Back 15

The location where neurotransmitters attach on the receiving side of the synaptic gap.

Front 16

Reuptake

Back 16

Process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending terminal bud.

Front 17

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Back 17

A major component of the human nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

Front 18

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Back 18

The part of the nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

Front 19

Spinal Cord

Back 19

The bundle of neurons that allows communication between the brain and the peripheral nervous system, connecting with the body’s muscles, glands, and organs.

Front 20

Sensory Neurons

Back 20

Neurons specialized for receiving information about the environment from the sensory systems and transmitting this information to the brain for further processing.

Front 21

Motor Neurons

Back 21

Neurons specialized for transmitting information from the central nervous system to other parts of the body, such as muscles and glands.

Front 22

Interneurons

Back 22

Neurons that reside exclusively in the brain and spinal cord; act as a bridge connecting sensory and motor neurons.

Front 23

Reflex Arc

Back 23

An automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the “kneejerk” reaction; a simple pathway of communication from sensory neurons through interneurons in the spinal cord back out through motor neurons.

Front 24

Nerves

Back 24

Bundles of neurons that carry information to and from the central nervous system; provide communication between the central nervous system and the muscles, glands, and sensory receptors.

Front 25

Somatic Nervous System

Back 25

The branch of the peripheral nervous system that includes sensory nerves and motor nerves; gathers information from sensory receptors and controls the skeletal muscles responsible for voluntary movement.

Front 26

Automatic Nervous System

Back 26

The branch of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary processes within the body, such as contractions in the digestive tract and activity of glands.

Front 27

Sympathetic Nervous System

Back 27

The division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the “fight-or-flight” response to stressful or crisis situations.

Front 28

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Back 28

The division of the autonomic nervous system that orchestrates the “rest-anddigest” response to bring the body back to a noncrisis mode.

Front 29

Endocrine System

Back 29

The communication system that uses glands to convey messages by releasing hormones into the bloodstream.

Front 30

Hormones

Back 30

Chemical messengers released into the bloodstream that influence mood, cognition, appetite, and many other processes and behaviors.

Front 31

Pituitary Gland

Back 31

The pea-sized gland located in the center of the brain just under the hypothalamus; known as the master gland.

Front 32

Thyroid Gland

Back 32

Gland of the endocrine system that regulates the rate of metabolism by secreting thyroxin.

Front 33

Adrenal Glands

Back 33

Part of the endocrine system involved in responses to stress as well as the regulation of salt balance.

Front 34

Cerebrum

Back 34

The largest part of the brain, includes virtually all parts of the brain except primitive structures; has two distinct hemispheres.

Front 35

Split-Brain Operation

Back 35

A rare procedure used to disconnect the right and left hemispheres by cutting the corpus callosum.

Front 36

Corpus Callosum

Back 36

The thick band of nerve fibers connecting the right and left cerebral hemispheres; principal structure for information shared between the two hemispheres.

Front 37

Lateralization

Back 37

The idea that each cerebral hemisphere processes certain types of information and excels in certain activities.

Front 38

Broca's Area

Back 38

A region of the cortex that is critical for speech production.

Front 39

Wernicke's Area

Back 39

A region of the cortex that plays a pivotal role in language comprehension.

Front 40

Neuroplasticity

Back 40

The brain’s ability to heal, grow new connections, and reorganize in order to adapt to the environment.

Front 41

Neurogenesis

Back 41

The generation of new neurons in the brain.

Front 42

Stem Cells

Back 42

Cells responsible for producing new neurons.

Front 43

Cerebral Cortex

Back 43

The wrinkled outermost layer of the cerebrum, responsible for higher mental functions, such as decision-making, planning, and processing visual information.

Front 44

Frontal Lobes

Back 44

The area of the cortex that organizes information among the other lobes of the brain and is responsible for higher-level cognitive functions and behavior.

Front 45

Parietal Lobes

Back 45

The area of the cortex that receives and processes sensory information such as touch, pressure, temperature, and spatial orientation.

Front 46

Occipital Lobes

Back 46

The area of the cortex in the back of the head that processes visual information.

Front 47

Temporal Lobes

Back 47

The area of the cortex that processes auditory stimuli and language.

Front 48

Motor Cortex

Back 48

A band of tissue toward the rear of the frontal lobes that works with other brain regions to plan and execute voluntary movements.

Front 49

Somatosensory Cortex

Back 49

A band of tissue running parallel to the motor cortex that receives and integrates sensory information from all over the body.

Front 50

Association Areas

Back 50

Regions of the cortex that integrate information from all over the brain, allowing us to learn, think in abstract terms, and carry out other intellectual tasks.

Front 51

Limbic System

Back 51

A collection of structures that regulates emotions and basic drives like hunger, and aids in the creation of memories.

Front 52

Hippocampus

Back 52

A pair of structures located in the limbic system; primarily responsible for creating new memories.

Front 53

Amygdala

Back 53

A pair of almondshaped structures in the limbic system that processes basic emotions, such as fear and aggression, as well as associated memories. ]

Front 54

Thalamus

Back 54

A pair of almondshaped structures in the limbic system that processes basic emotions, such as fear and aggression, as well as associated memories.

Front 55

Hypothalamus

Back 55

A small structure located below the thalamus that maintains a constant internal environment within a healthy range; helps regulate sleep–wake cycles, sexual behavior, and appetite.

Front 56

Forebrain

Back 56

Largest part of the brain; includes the cerebral cortex and the limbic system.

Front 57

Midbrain

Back 57

The part of the brainstem involved in levels of arousal; responsible for generating movement patterns in response to sensory input.

Front 58

Reticular Formation

Back 58

A network of neurons running through the midbrain that controls levels of arousal and quickly analyzes sensory information on its way to the cortex.

Front 59

Hindbrain

Back 59

Includes areas of the brain responsible for fundamental life-sustaining processes.

Front 60

Pons

Back 60

A hindbrain structure that helps regulate sleep–wake cycles and coordinate movement between the right and left sides of the body.

Front 61

Medulla

Back 61

A structure that oversees vital functions, including breathing, digestion, and heart rate.

Front 62

Cerebellum

Back 62

Structure located behind the brainstem that is responsible for muscle coordination and balance; Latin for “little brain.”