Neurosciene And Behavior

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Biological Psychology

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a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior

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Neuron

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a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

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Dendrite

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The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the body cell

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Axon

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the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons

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Myelin Sheath

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A layer of fatty tissue segment ally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enable vastly greater transmission speed neural impulses as the impulses hops from one node to the next

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Action potential

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a breif electrical charge that travels down n axon. the action potential is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane

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Threshold

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the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulses

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synapse

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the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.

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neurotransmitters

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chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by sending neurons. When released by sending neurons, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on receiving, thereby influencing weather a neuron will generate a neural impulse

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Acetylcholine

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A neurotransmitter that, among its functions, triggers muscle contraction

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Endorphins

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"Morphine within" natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

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Nervous system

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the body's speedy, electrochemical communication system, consisting of all new nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system

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Central nervous system

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the brain and spinal cord

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peripheral nervous system

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the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body

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nerves

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neural "cables" containing many axons. these bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the nervous system with muscles, glands and sense organs

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Sensory neurons

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neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system.

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interneurons

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central nervous system that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

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Motor neurons

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neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to muscle glands

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Somatic nervous system

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the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's muscles

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autonomic nervous system

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the part of the peripheral nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

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sympathetic nervous system

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the division of the automatic nervous systems that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

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parasympathetic nervous system

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the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

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Reflex

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A simple, automic, inborn responses to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.

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Lesion

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tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a natural or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.

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electroencephalogram (EEG)

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An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. The waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

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CT(compound tomography) scan

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A series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into composite represents representation of a slice through the body.

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PET (position emission tomography) scan

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A visual display of brain activity that deflects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

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MRI

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a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures of the brain

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brainstem

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The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning with the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brain stem is responsible for automatic survival functions

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medualla

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the base of the brain-stem; controls heartbeat and breathing

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reticular formation

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a nerve rework in the brain stem that plays an important role is controlling arousal

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thalamus

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the brain;s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brain-stem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

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cerebellum

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the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; it helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance

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Limbic system

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A doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brain stem and cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex

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amygdala

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two almond-shaped neural-clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion

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Hypothalamus

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a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs maintenance activities. (eating, drinking, body temperature)

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cerebral

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the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres ; the body's ultimate control and information -processing center.

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frontal lobes

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the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just before behind the forehead; involving speaking and muscle movement

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Glial cells

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cells in the nervous system that support nourish, and protect neurons.

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occipital lobes

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the portion of cerebal cortex lying at the top of the head; includes visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field

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parietal lobes

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the portion of cerebal cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; including sensory cortex.

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temporal lobe

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the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; including the auditory areas

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Motor cortex

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an area at rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

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Sensory cortex

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the area at the the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensations

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Association areas

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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

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Aphasia

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impairment of larguage, usually caused by left hemisphere damaged either to Broca's area or to Wernick's

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Broca's area

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controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movement involved in speech

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Wernicke's area

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controls language reception -a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in left temporal lobe.

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plasticity

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the brain's capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage and in experiments on the effects

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Corpus Callosum

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the large band of neural fibers connecting two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

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Split Brain

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a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers mainly those of corpse.

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endocrine system

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the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones in the bloodstream

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Hormones

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Hormones chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by endocrine glands that are produced in one tissue and affect another