Physio Psych Test 1

Front 1

Corpus callosum

Back 1

a large bundle of nerve fibers that connect corresponding parts of one side of the brain to those on the other

Front 2

split-brain operation

Back 2

brain surgery that is occasionally preformed to treat a form of epilepsy; the surgeon cuts the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres of the brain

Front 3

cerebral hemispheres

Back 3

the two symmetrical halves of the brain; consistute the major part of brain

Front 4

generalization

Back 4

type of scientific explanation; a general conclusion based on man observations of similar phenomena

Front 5

reduction

Back 5

a type of scientific explanation; a phenomenon is described in terms of the more elementary processes that underlie it

Front 6

reflex

Back 6

an automatic, stereotyped movement produced as the direct result of a stimulus

Front 7

model

Back 7

a mathematical or physical analogy for a physiological process; for example, computers have been used as models for various functions of the brain

Front 8

doctrine of specific nerve energies

Back 8

Mullers conclusion that because all nerve fibers carry the same type of message, sensory info must be specified by the particular nerve fibers that are active

Front 9

experimental ablation

Back 9

The research method in which the function of the brain is inferred by observing the behaviors an animal can no longer perform after that part is damaged

Front 10

functionalism

Back 10

the principle that the best way to understand a biological phenomenon is to try to understand its useful functions for the organism

Front 11

natural selection

Back 11

the process by which inherited traits that confer a selective advantage (increase animals likelihood to live an reproduce) become more prevalent

Front 12

mutation

Back 12

a change in the genetic information contained in the chromosomes of eggs or sperm which can be passed on to an organism's offspring; provides genetic variability

Front 13

selective advantage

Back 13

A characteristic of an organism that permits it to reproduce more than average

Front 14

evolution

Back 14

a gradual change in the structure and physiology of plan and animal species -- generally producing more complex organisms--as a result of natural selection

Front 15

neoteny

Back 15

a slowing of the process of maturation, allowing more time for growth; an important factor in the development of large brains

Front 16

behavioral neuroscientist

Back 16

A scientist who studies the physiology of behavior, primarily by experimenting with animals

Front 17

sensory neuron

Back 17

a neuron that detects changes in the external or internal environment and sends info about these changes to the CNS

Front 18

motor neuron

Back 18

a neuron located in the CNS that controls the contraction of a muscle or secretion of a gland

Front 19

interneuron

Back 19

a neuron located entirely within the cns

Front 20

dendrite

Back 20

a branched, treelike structure attached to the soma of a neuron; receives info from the terminal buttons of other neurons

Front 21

synapse

Back 21

a junction between the terminal button of an axon and the membrane of another neuron

Front 22

axon

Back 22

the long, thin, cylindrical structure that conveys information from the soma of a neuron to its terminal buttons

Front 23

terminal button

Back 23

the bud at the end of a branch of an axon; forms synapses with another neuron and sends info to that neuron

Front 24

neurotransmitter

Back 24

a chemical released by a terminal button; has excitatory or inhibitory effects on another neuron

Front 25

cytoskeleton

Back 25

formed of microtubules and other protein fibers, linked to each other and forming a cohesive mass that gives the cell its shape

Front 26

axoplasmic transport

Back 26

an active process by which substances are propelled along microtubules that run the length of an axon

Front 27

microtubule

Back 27

a long strand of bundles of protein filaments arranged around a hallow core; part of the cytoskeleton and involved in transporting substances from place to place within cell

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glia

Back 28

the supporting cells of the CNS

Front 29

Astrocyte

Back 29

a glial cell that provides support for neurons of the CNS, provides nutrients and other substances, and regulates the chemical comp of the extracellular fluid

Front 30

oligodendrocyte

Back 30

a type of glial cell in the CNS that forms the myelin sheath

Front 31

myelin sheath

Back 31

a sheath that surrounds axons and insulates them, preventing messages from spreading between adjacent axons

Front 32

Node of Ranvier

Back 32

a naked portion of a myelinated axon, between adjacient oligodendria or Schwann Cells

Front 33

Microglia

Back 33

the smallest of glial cells; act as phagocytes and protect brain from invading microorganisms

Front 34

Blood-brain barrier

Back 34

semipermeable barrier between the blood and the brain produced by the cells in the walls of the brain's capilaries

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Area postrema

Back 35

A region of the medulla where the blood-brain barrier is wear; poisons can be detected there and can initiate vomiting

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electrode

Back 36

a conductive medium that can be used to provide electrical stimulation or to record electrical potentials

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microelectrode

Back 37

a very fine electrode, generally used to record activity of individual neurons

Front 38

oscilloscope

Back 38

a lab instrument capable of displaying a graph of voltage as a function of time on the face of a cathode ray tube

Front 39

depolarization

Back 39

reduction (towards zero) of the membrane potential of a cell from its normal resting potential

Front 40

hyperpolarization

Back 40

an increase in the membrane potential of a cell, relative to the normal resting potential

Front 41

action potential

Back 41

the brief electrical impulse that provides the basis for conduction of info along an axon

Front 42

threshold of excitation

Back 42

the value of the membrane potential that must be reached to produce an action potential

Front 43

electrolyte

Back 43

an aqueous solution of a material that ionizes--namely a soluteble acid, base, or salt

Front 44

electrostatic pressure

Back 44

the attractive force between atomic particles charged with opposite signs or the repulsive force between atomic particles charged with same sign

Front 45

all-or-none law

Back 45

the principle that once an action potential is triggered in an axon, it is propagated, without decrement, to the end of the fiber

Front 46

rate law

Back 46

the principle that variations in the intensity of a stimulus or other info being transmitted in an axon are represented by variations in the rate at which the axon fires

Front 47

saltatory conduction

Back 47

conduction of action potentials by myelinated axons. The action potential appears to jump from one node of Ranvier to the next

Front 48

ligand

Back 48

a chemical that binds with the binding site of a receptor

Front 49

postsynaptic potential

Back 49

alterations in the membrane potential of a postsynaptic neuron, produced by the liberation of neurotransmitter at synapse

Front 50

synaptic vesicle

Back 50

a small hallow, beadlike structure found in terminal buttons, contains molecules of a neurotransmitter

Front 51

release zone

Back 51

a region of the interior of the presynaptic membrane of a synapse to which synaptic vesicles attach and release their neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft

Front 52

ionotropic receptor

Back 52

a receptor that contains a binding site for a neurotransmitter and an ion channel that opens when a molecule of the neurotransmitter attaches to the binding site

Front 53

Metabotropic receptors

Back 53

a receptor that contains a binding site for a neurotransmitter; activates an enzyme that begins a series of events that opens an ion channel elsewhere in the membrane of the cell when a molecule of the neurotransmitter attaches to the binding site

Front 54

G protein

Back 54

a protein coupled to the metobotropic receptor; conveys messages to other molecules when a ligand binds with an activates the receptor

Front 55

Second messenger

Back 55

A chemical produced when a G protein activates an enzyme; carries a signal that results in the opening of the ion channel or causes other events to occur in the cell

Front 56

Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

Back 56

an excitatory depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane of a synapse caused by the liberation of a neurotransmitter by the terminal button

Front 57

Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

Back 57

an inhibitory hyperpolerization of the post synaptic membrane caused by the liberation of a neurotransmitter by the terminal button

Front 58

reuptake

Back 58

the reentry of a neurotransmitter just liberated by a terminal button back through its membrane, thus terminating the postsynaptic potential

Front 59

enzymatic deactivation

Back 59

the destruction of a neurotransmitter by an enzyme after its release--for example, the destruction of ACh by acetylcholinesterase

Front 60

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Back 60

A neurotransmitter found in the brain, spinal chord, and parts of the PNS; responsible for muscular contraction

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neural integration

Back 61

the process by which excitatory and inhibitory post synaptic potentials summate and control firing rate

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autoreceptor

Back 62

neurotransmitter receptor on the neuron that releases said neurotransmitter [regulates release and synthesis]

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presynaptic inhibition/facilitation

Back 63

action of presynaptic terminal button in axoaxonic synapse; reduces/increases amount of neurotransmitter released

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neuromodulator

Back 64

like neurotransmitters but secreted in larger amounts and over larger areas, thus modulating many neurons in a particular part of brain; affect general behavioral states [ie vigilance, fearfulness, sensitivity to pain]

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hormone

Back 65

chemical substance released by endocrine gland that has effects on target cells in other organs

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endocrine gland

Back 66

gland that releases hormones into extracellular fluid around capillaries and hence into bloodstream

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neuraxis

Back 67

imaginary line drawn through center of length of CNS from bottom of spinal chord to front of forebrain

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ipsilateral

Back 68

located on same side of body

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contralateral

Back 69

located on opposite side of body

Front 70

cross section

Back 70

with respect to CNS, slice taken at right angle to neuraxis; coronal plane

Front 71

meninges

Back 71

the three layers of tissue that encase the CNS: the dura matter, the arachnoid membrane and the pia matter

Front 72

subarachnoid space

Back 72

the fluid-filled space that cushions the brain; between the arachnoid membrane and the pia matter

Front 73

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Back 73

a clear fluid, similar to blood plasma, that fills the ventricular system of the brain and subarachnoid space surrounding the brain and spinal chord

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lateral ventricle

Back 74

one of the two ventricles located in the center of the telencephalon

Front 75

third ventricle

Back 75

the ventricle located in the center of the diencephalon

Front 76

cerebral aqueduct

Back 76

a narrow tube interconnecting the third and fourth ventricles of the brain, located in the center of the mesencephalon

Front 77

fourth ventricle

Back 77

the ventricle located between the cerebellum and the dorsal pons, in the center of the metencephalon

Front 78

choroid plexus

Back 78

the highly vascular tissue that protrudes into the ventricles and produces CSF

Front 79

neural tube

Back 79

a hallow tube, closed at the rostral end, that forms from ectodermal tissue early in embryonic development; serves as the origin of the CNS

Front 80

cerebral cortex

Back 80

the outermost layer of gray matter of the cerebral hemispheres

Front 81

ventricular zone

Back 81

a layer of cells that line the inside of the neural tube; contains progenitor cells that divide and give rise to cells of the CNS

Front 82

progenitor cells

Back 82

cells of the ventricular zone that divide and give rise to cells of the CNS

Front 83

symmetrical division

Back 83

division of a progenitor cells that gives rise to two identical progenitor cells, increases the size of the ventricular zone and hence the brain that develops from it

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asymmetrical division

Back 84

division of a progenitor cell into a neuron and another progenitor cell;

Front 85

radial glia

Back 85

special glia with fibers that grow radically outward from the ventricular zone to the surface of the cortez; provides guidance for neurons migrating outward during brain development

Front 86

Cajal-Retzius (C-R) cells

Back 86

specialized neurons that establish themselves during cortical development in a layer near the terminals of the radial glia, just inside the pia mater; secrete a chemical that controls the establishment of migrating neurons in the layers of the cortex

Front 87

apoptosis

Back 87

death of a cell caused by a chemical signal that activates a genetic mechanism inside the cell

Front 88

forebrain

Back 88

most rostral of the three major divisions of the brain; includes telencephalon and diencephalon

Front 89

cerebral hemisphere

Back 89

one of the two major portions of the forebrain, covered by cortex

Front 90

subcortical region

Back 90

the region located within the brain, beneath the cortical surface

Front 91

primary visual cortex

Back 91

the region of the posterior occipital lobe who primary input is from the visual system

Front 92

calcarine fissure

Back 92

a fissure located in the occipital lobe on the medial surface of the brain; most of the primary visual cortex is located along the upper and lower banks

Front 93

primary auditory cortex

Back 93

the region of the superior temporal lobe who's primary input is from the auditory system

Front 94

lateral fissure

Back 94

fissure that separates the temporal lobe from the overlying frontal and parietal lobes

Front 95

primary somatosensory cortex

Back 95

the region of the anterior parietal lobe who's primary input is from the somatosensory system

Front 96

central sulcus

Back 96

the sulcus that separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe

Front 97

primary motor cortex

Back 97

the region of the posterior frontal lobe that contains neurons that control movement of skeletal muscles

Front 98

sensory association cortex

Back 98

those regions of the cerebral cortex that receive info from the regions of primary sensory cortex

Front 99

motor association cortex

Back 99

the region of the frontal lobe rostral to the primary motor cortex; also known as the premotor cortex

Front 100

prefrontal cortex

Back 100

region of the frontal lobe rostral to the motor association cortex; known for formulating plans and strategies

Front 101

corpus callosum

Back 101

a large bundle of axons that interconnects corresponding regions of the associate cortex on each side of the brain

Front 102

neocortex

Back 102

the phylogenically newest cortex, including the primary sensory cortex, primary motor cortex and association cortex

Front 103

limbic cortex

Back 103

phylogenetically old cortex, located at the medial edge of the cerebral hemispheres

Front 104

cingulate gyrus

Back 104

a strip of the lymbic cortex lying long the lateral walls of the groove separating the cerebral hemispheres, just above the corpus callosum

Front 105

limbic system

Back 105

a group of brain regions including the anterior thalamic nuclei, amygdala, hippocampus, and parts of the hypothalamus, as well as their interconnecting fiber bundles

Front 106

hippocampus

Back 106

a forebrain structure of the temporal lobe, constituting an important part of the limbic system; includes the _____ proper, dentate gyrus and subiculum

Front 107

amygdala

Back 107

a structure in the interior of the rostral temporal lobe, containing a set of nuclei; part of lymbic system

Front 108

fornix

Back 108

a fiber bundle that connects the hippocampus with other parts of the brain, including the mammillary bodies of the hypothalamus; part of the lymbic system

Front 109

mammillary bodies

Back 109

a protrusion of the bottom of the brain at the posterior end of the hypothalamus, containing some hypothalamic nuclei; part of lymbic system

Front 110

basal ganglia

Back 110

a group of subcortical nuclei in the telencephalon, the caudate nucleus, the globus pallidus and the putamen; important parts of motor system

Front 111

nucleus

Back 111

an identifiable groups of neural cell bodies in the CNS

Front 112

diencephalon

Back 112

a region of the forebrain surrounding the third ventricle; includes thalamus and hypothalamus

Front 113

thalamus

Back 113

largest portion of the diencephalon; contain nuclei that project info to specific regions of the cerebral cortex and receive info from it

Front 114

projection fiber

Back 114

an axon of a neuron in one region of the brain who's terminals form synapses in another region

Front 115

lateral geniculate nucleus

Back 115

a group of cell bodies in the thalamus that receive fibers from the retina and projects fibers to the primary visual cortex

Front 116

medial geniculate nucleus

Back 116

a group of cell bodies in the thalamus that receive fibers from the auditory system and project fibers to the primary auditory cortex

Front 117

ventrolateral nucleus

Back 117

a nucleus of the thalamus that receives inputs from the cerebellum and sends axons to the primary motor cortex

Front 118

hypothalamus

Back 118

group of nuclei of the diencephalon involved in regulation of the autonomic nervous system, control of the anterior and posterior pituitary glands and integration of species-typical behaviors

Front 119

optic chiasm

Back 119

an X-shaped connection between the optic nerves, located below the base of the brain, just anterior to the pituitary gland

Front 120

neurosecretory cell

Back 120

a neuron that secretes a hormone or hormone-like substance

Front 121

midbrain

Back 121

the mesencephalon; one of the three major divisons of the brain

Front 122

mesencephalon

Back 122

the midbrain; a region of the brain that surrounds the cerebral aqueduct; includes the tectum and the tegmentum

Front 123

tectum

Back 123

the dorsal part of the midbrain; includes the superior and inferior colliculi

Front 124

superior colliculi

Back 124

protrusions on the top of the midbrain; part of the visual system

Front 125

inferior colliculi

Back 125

protrusions on top of the midbrain; part of auditory system

Front 126

brain stem

Back 126

part of brain from medulla to the diencephalon, excluding the cerebellum

Front 127

tegmentum

Back 127

ventral part of the midbrain; includes the periaqueductal gray matter, reticular formation, red nucleus, and substantia nigra

Front 128

resticular formation

Back 128

a large network of neural tissue located in the central region of the brainstem, from the medulla to the diencephalon

Front 129

periaqueductal gray matter

Back 129

the region of the midbrain surrounding the cerebral aqueduct; contains neural circuits involved in species-typical behaviors

Front 130

red nucleus

Back 130

a large nucleus of the midbrain that receives inputs from the cerebellum and motor cortex and sends axons to motor neurons in the spinal cord

Front 131

substantia nigra

Back 131

a darkly stained region of the tegmentum that contains neurons that communicate with the caudate nucleu and putamen in the basal ganglia

Front 132

hindbrain

Back 132

one of the three major divisions of the brain including the metencephalon and myelencephalon

Front 133

cerebellum

Back 133

a major part of the brain located dorsal to the pons, containing two hemispheres and covered with cortex; important part of motor system

Front 134

deep cerebellar nuclei

Back 134

nuclei that receive projections from the cerebellar cortex and send projectioins out of the cerebellum to other parts of the brain

Front 135

cerebellar peduncle

Back 135

one of the three bundles of axons that attach each cerebellar hemisphere to the dorsal pons

Front 136

pons

Back 136

region of the metencephalon rostral to the medulla, caudal to the midbrain and ventral to the cerebellum

Front 137

medulla ablongata

Back 137

most caudal portion of the brain located in the myelencephalon, immediately rostral to the spinal cord

Front 138

spinal cord

Back 138

cord of nervous tissue that extends caudally from the medulla

Front 139

spinal root

Back 139

bundle of axons surrounded by connective tissue that occurs in pairs, which fuse and form a spinal nerve

Front 140

cauda equina

Back 140

a bundle of spinal roots located caudal to the end of the spinal cord

Front 141

caudal block

Back 141

the anesthesia and paralysis of the lower part of the body produced by injection of a local anesthetic into the CSF surrounding the cauda equina

Front 142

dorsal root

Back 142

the spinal root that contains incoming (afferent) sensory fibers

Front 143

ventral root

Back 143

spinal root that contains outgoing (efferent) motor fibers

Front 144

spinal nerve

Back 144

peripheral nerve attached to the spinal chord

Front 145

afferent axon

Back 145

axon directed toward the CNS conveying sensory info

Front 146

dorsal root ganglion

Back 146

nodule on a dorsal root that contains cell bodies of afferent spinal nerve neurons

Front 147

efferent axon

Back 147

axon directed way from CNS conveying motor commands to muscles and glands

Front 148

cranial nerve

Back 148

peripheral nerve attached directly to brain

Front 149

vagas nerve

Back 149

largest of the cranial nerves, conveying efferent fibers of the parasmpathetic division of the autonomic nervous system to organs of the thoracic and abdominal cavaties

Front 150

olfactory bulb

Back 150

the protrusion at the end of a nerve that receives input from smell receptors

Front 151

somatic nervous system

Back 151

part of the PNS that controls skeletal muscles or transmits somatosensory info to the CNS

Front 152

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Back 152

portion of the PNS that controls body's vegetative functions

Front 153

sympathetic division

Back 153

portion of the PNS that controls functions that accompany arousal and expenditure of energy

Front 154

sympathetic ganglia

Back 154

nodules that contain synapses between preganglionic and postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system

Front 155

preganglionic neuron

Back 155

efferent neuron of the autonomic nervous system whose cell body is located in a cranial nerve nucleus or in the intermediate horn of the spinal gray matter

Front 156

postganglionic neuron

Back 156

neurons of the autonomic nervous system that form synapses directly with their target organ

Front 157

parasympathetic division

Back 157

portion of the ANS that controls function that occur during a relaxed state

Front 158

psychopharmacology

Back 158

the study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system and on behavior

Front 159

site of action

Back 159

a location at which molecules of drugs interact with molecules located on or in cells of the body thus affecting some biochemical processes of these cells

Front 160

pharmokinetics

Back 160

the process by which drugs are absorbed, distributed within the body, metabolized and excreted

Front 161

intraperitoneal (IP) injection

Back 161

injection of a substance into the peritoneal cavity--the space that surrounds the stomach, intestines, liver and other abdominal organs

Front 162

subcutaneous (SC) injection

Back 162

injection of substance into the space beneath the skin

Front 163

sublingual administration

Back 163

administration of a substance by placing it beneath the tongue

Front 164

intracerebral administration

Back 164

administration of a substance directly into the brain

Front 165

intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration

Back 165

administration of a substance into one of the cerebral ventricles

Front 166

dose-response curve

Back 166

a graph of the magnitude of an effect of a drug as a function of the amount of drug administered

Front 167

therapeutic index

Back 167

the ratio between the dose that produces the desired effect in 50% of the animals and the dose that produces toxic effects in 50% of the animals

Front 168

affinity

Back 168

the readiness with which two molecules join together

Front 169

antagonist

Back 169

a drug that opposes or inhibits the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell

Front 170

agonist

Back 170

a drug that facilitates the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell

Front 171

direct agonist

Back 171

a drug that binds with and activates a receptor

Front 172

receptor blocker or direct antagonist

Back 172

a drug that binds with a receptor but does not activate it; prevents the natural ligand from binding with the receptor

Front 173

noncompetitive binding

Back 173

binding of a drug to a site on a receptor; does not interfere with the binding site for the principal ligand

Front 174

indirect antagonist

Back 174

a drug that attaches to a binding site on a receptor and interferes with the action of the receptor; does not interfere with the binding site for the principal ligand

Front 175

indirect agonist

Back 175

a drug that attaches to a binding site on a receptor and facilitates the action of the receptor; does not interfere with the binding site for the principal ligand