Psychology Chapter 3

Front 1

Neurons

Back 1

Cells in the nervous system that communicate with one another to preform formations-processing tasks

Front 2

Cell body

Back 2

coordinates the information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive

Front 3

Dendrites

Back 3

recieve information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body.

Front 4

Axon

Back 4

transmits information to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Front 5

Glial cell

Back 5

support cells found in the nervous system

Front 6

Myelin Sheath

Back 6

insulating layers of fatty material around the axons of some neurons.

Front 7

Synapse

Back 7

the junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another.

Front 8

Sensory Neurons

Back 8

receive information from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord

Front 9

Motor neurons

Back 9

carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement

Front 10

Interneurons

Back 10

connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons.

Front 11

Resting potential

Back 11

the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neuron's cell membrane

Front 12

action potential

Back 12

an electric signal that is conducted along the length of a neuron's axon to the synapse

Front 13

refactory period

Back 13

the time following an action potential during which a new action potential connot be initiated.

Front 14

terminal buttons

Back 14

which are knoblike structures that branch out from an axon

Front 15

neurotransmitters

Back 15

chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neuron's dendrites

Front 16

receptors

Back 16

parts of the cell membrane that receive neurotransmitters and initiate a new electric signal.

Front 17

nervous system

Back 17

an interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical information throughout the body.

Front 18

central nervous system

Back 18

composed of the brain and apinal cord

Front 19

peripheral nervous system

Back 19

connects the central nervous system to the body's organs and muscles

Front 20

somatic nervous system

Back 20

a set of nerves that conveys information into and out of the central nervous system

Front 21

autonomic nervous system

Back 21

a set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessles, body organs, and glands.

Front 22

Sympathetic nervous system

Back 22

a set of nerves that prepares the body for action in threatening situations

Front 23

Parasympathetic nervous system

Back 23

helps the body return to a normal resting state

Front 24

spinal reflexes

Back 24

simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions

Front 25

hindbrain

Back 25

an area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord

Front 26

medulla

Back 26

is an extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coodinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration

Front 27

Reticular formation

Back 27

which regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal.

Front 28

Cerebellum

Back 28

a large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.

Front 29

Pons

Back 29

a structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Front 30

Tectum

Back 30

orients an organism in the environment.

Front 31

Tegmentum

Back 31

is involved in movement and arousal; it also helps orient an organism toward sensory stimuli

Front 32

cerebral cortex

Back 32

is the outermost layer of the brain

Front 33

Subcortinal structures

Back 33

areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the very center of the brain.

Front 34

thalamus

Back 34

relays and filters information from the senses and transmits the information to the cerebral cortex.

Front 35

hypothalamus

Back 35

regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior.

Front 36

pituitary gland

Back 36

releases hormones that direct the functions of many other glands

Front 37

hippocampus

Back 37

is critical for the creation and storage of new memories

Front 38

Amygdala

Back 38

which plays a central role in many emotions processes

Front 39

corpus callosum

Back 39

connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports commmunication of information across the hemispheres

Front 40

occipital love

Back 40

processes visual information

Front 41

parietal lobe

Back 41

processes information about touch

Front 42

temporal lobe

Back 42

responsible for hearing and language

Front 43

frontal love

Back 43

a region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized ares for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement.

Front 44

association areas

Back 44

areas of the cerebral cortex that are composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cortex

Front 45

gene

Back 45

the unit of hereditary transmission

Front 46

chromosomes

Back 46

strands of DNA wound around each other in a double-helix configuration