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67 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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acetylcholine (AChl) |
a neurotransmitter that controls muscle contractions |
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action potential |
the electrical impulse that provides the basis for the conduction of a neural impulse along with an axon of a neuron |
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afferent neurons |
neurons that transmit messages from sensory receptors to the spinal cord and brain; also called sensory neurons |
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all - or - none principle |
the fact that a neuron fires an impulse of the same strength whenever its action potential is triggered |
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amygdala |
a part of the limbic system that apparently facilitates stereotypical aggressive responses |
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aphasia |
a disruption in the ability to understand or produce language |
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autonomic nervous system (ANS) |
the division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates glands and activities such as heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and dilation of the pupils |
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axon |
a long, thin part of a neuron that transmits impulses to other neurons, an organ, or muscle from branching structures called terminal buttons |
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behavioral genetics |
the area of biology and psychology that focuses on the transmission of traits that give rise to behavior |
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Broca's aphasia |
a language disorder characterized by slow, laborious speech |
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central nervous system |
the brain and spinal cord |
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cerebellum |
a part of the hindbrain involved in muscle coordination and balance |
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cerebral cortex |
the wrinkled surface area (gray matter) of the cerebrum |
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cerebrum |
the large mass of the forebrain, which consists of two hemispheres |
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chromosome |
a microscopic rod-shaped body in the cell nucleus carrying genes that transmit hereditary traits from generation to generation |
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corpus callosum |
a thick fiber bundle that connects the hemisphere of the cortex |
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dendrites |
root-like structures, attached to the cell body of a neuron, that receive impulses from other neurons |
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depolarize |
to reduce the resting potential of a cell membrane from about –70 millivolts toward zero |
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dizygotic (DZ) twins |
twins that develop from two fertilized ova and who are thus as closely related as brothers and sisters in general; also called fraternal twins |
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deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) |
the substance that forms the basic material of chromosomes; takes the form of a double helix and contains the genetic code |
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dopamine |
a neurotransmitter that is involved in Parkinson's disease and that appears to play a role in schizophrenia |
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Down syndrome |
a condition caused by an extra chromosome on the 21st pair and characterized by mental deficiency, a broad face, and slanting eyes |
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efferent neurons |
neurons that transmit messages from the brain or spinal cord to muscles and glands; also called motor neurons |
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endocrine system |
the body's system of ductless glands that secrete hormones and release them directly into the bloodstream |
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endorphins |
neurotransmitters that are composed of amino acids and that are functionally similar to morphine |
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epigenesis |
the fact that children's development reflects continuing bidirectional exchanges between their genetic heritage and the environments in which they find themselves or place themselves |
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epilepsy |
temporary disturbances of brain functions that involve sudden neural discharges |
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evolutionary psychology |
the branch of psychology that studies the ways adaptation and natural selection are connected with mental processes and behavior |
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frontal lobe |
the lobe of the cerebral cortex that lies in front of the central fissure |
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gamma - aminobutyric acid (GABA) |
an inhibitory neurotransmitter that apparently helps calm anxiety |
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gene |
a basic unit of heredity, which is found at a specific point on a chromosome |
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genetics |
the area of biology that focuses on heredity |
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genotype |
one's genetic makeup based on the sequencing of the nucleotides we term A, C, G, and T |
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gland |
an organ that secretes one or more chemical substances such as hormones, saliva, or milk |
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glia |
cells that nourish neurons, remove waste products from the nervous system, and help synchronize the messages sent by neurons |
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gray matter |
in the spinal cord, the grayish neurons and neural segments that are involved in spinal reflexes |
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heredity |
the transmission of traits from parents to offspring by means of genes |
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hippocampus |
a part of the limbic system of the brain that is involved in memory formation |
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hormone |
a substance secreted by an endocrine gland that regulates various body functions |
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hypothalamus |
a bundle of nuclei below the thalamus involved in body temperature, motivation, and emotion |
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instinct |
a stereotyped pattern of behavior triggered by a particular stimulus and nearly identical among members of a species, even when reared in isolation |
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interneuron |
a neuron that transmits a neural impulse from a sensory neuron to a motor neuron |
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lesioning |
an injury that results in impaired behavior or loss of a function |
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limbic system |
a group of structures involved in memory, motivation, and emotion that forms a fringe along the inner edge of the cerebrum |
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medulla |
an oblong area of the hindbrain involved in regulation of heartbeat and respiration |
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monozygotic (MZ) twins |
twins that develop from a single fertilized ovum that divides in two early in prenatal development; share the same genetic code; also called identical twins |
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motor cortex |
the section of cortex that lies in the frontal lobe, just across the central fissure from the sensory cortex; neural impulses in this are linked to muscular responses throughout the body |
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mutation |
a sudden variation in an inheritable characteristic as distinguished from a variation that results from generations of gradual selection |
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myelin |
a fatty substance that encases and insulates axons, facilitating transmission of neural impulses |
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natural selection |
a core concept of the theory of evolution that holds the adaptive genetic variations among members of a species enable individuals with those variations to survive and reproduce; as a result, such variations tend to be preserved, whereas non-adaptive variations tend to drop out |
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nature |
the inborn, innate character of an organism |
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nerve |
a bundle of axons from many neurons |
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neural impulse |
the electrochemical discharge of a nerve cell, or neuron |
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neuron |
a specialized cell of the nervous system that transmits messages |
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neurotrasmitters |
chemical substances involved in the transmission of neural impulses from one neuron to another |
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norepinephrine |
a neurotransmitter whose action is similar to that of the hormone epinephrine and that may play a role in depression |
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nurture |
the sum total of the environmental factors that affect an organism from conception onwards |
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occipital lobe |
the lobe that lies behind and below the parietal lobe and behind the temporal lobe |
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parasympathetic |
the branch of the ANS that is most active during processes such as digestion that restore the body's reserves of energy |
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parietal lobe |
the lobe that lies just behind the central fissure |
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peripheral nervous system |
the part of the nervous system consisting of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system |
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phenotype |
one's actual development and appearance based on one's genotype and environmental influences |
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pituitary gland |
the gland that secretes growth hormone, prolactin, antidiuretic hormone, and other hormones |
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polarize |
to ready a neuron for firing by creating an internal negative charge in relation to the body fluid outside the cell membrane |
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polygenic |
referring to traits that are influenced by combinations of genes |
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pons |
a structure of the hindbrain involved in breathing, attention, sleep, and dreams |
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receptor site |
a location on a dendrite of a receiving neuron tailored to receive a neurotransmitter |
