Psychology Chapter 3

Front 1

Nerons

Back 1

nerve cells specialized for communication

Front 2

Dendrites

Back 2

Portion of neuron that receives signal

Front 3

Axon

Back 3

Portion go a neuron that sends signals

Front 4

synaptic vesicle

Back 4

spherical sac containing neurotransmitters

Front 5

neurotransmitters

Back 5

chemical messenger specialized for communication from neuron to neuron

Front 6

Synapse

Back 6

space between two connecting neurones through which messages are transmitted

Front 7

synaptic cleft

Back 7

a gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal

Front 8

glial cell

Back 8

cell in nervous system that plays a role in the formation of myelin and the blood brain barrier, responds to injury, removes debris, and enhances learning and memory.

Front 9

myelin sheath

Back 9

glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of the neuron signals

Front 10

resting potential

Back 10

electrical charge difference (-60 millivolts) across the neuronal membrane. when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited

Front 11

threshold

Back 11

membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential

Front 12

action potential

Back 12

electrical impulse that travels down the axon, triggering the release of neurotransmitters

Front 13

absolute refractory period

Back 13

time during which another action potential is impossible; limits maximal firing rate

Front 14

graded potentials

Back 14

postsynaptic potentials that can be excitatory or inhibitory depending on whether positively or negatively charged particles flow across the neuronal membrane and in which directions they flow

Front 15

Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

Back 15

graded potential in a dendrite that is caused by excitatory synaptic transmissions

Front 16

inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

Back 16

graded potential in a a dendrite that is caused by inhibitory synaptic transmission

Front 17

receptor site

Back 17

location that uniquely recognizes a neurotransmitter

Front 18

reuptake

Back 18

means of recycling neurotransmitters

Front 19

Endorphins

Back 19

chemical in the brain that plays a specialized role in pain reduction

Front 20

plasticity

Back 20

ability of the nervous system to change

Front 21

stem cells

Back 21

a cell, often originating in embryos, having the capacity to differentiate into a more specialized cell

Front 22

neurogenesis

Back 22

creation of new neurone in the adult brain

Front 23

central nervous system (CNS)

Back 23

part of the nervous system that contains brain and spinal cord that controls the mind and behaviour

Front 24

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Back 24

nerves in the body that extends outside the central nervous system (CNS)

Front 25

Cerebral ventricles

Back 25

pockets in the brain that contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which provides the brain with nutrients and cushions against injury

Front 26

forebrain (cerebrum)

Back 26

forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities

Front 27

cerebral hemispheres

Back 27

two halves of the cerebral cortex, each of which serves district yet highly integrated functions

Front 28

corpus callosum

Back 28

large band of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

Front 29

cerebral cortex

Back 29

outermost part of forebrain, responsible for analyzing sensory processing and higher brain function

Front 30

Frontal lobe

Back 30

forward part of cerebral cortex responsible for motor function, language, memory and planning

Front 31

motor cortex

Back 31

part of frontal lobe responsible for body movement

Front 32

prefrontal cortex

Back 32

part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning and language

Front 33

Brocas area

Back 33

language area in the prefrontal cortex that helps to control speech production

Front 34

parietal lobe

Back 34

upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe that is specialized for touch and perception

Front 35

temporal lobe

Back 35

lower part of cerebral cortex that plays roles in hearing, understanding language, and memory

Front 36

wernickes area

Back 36

part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech

Front 37

occipital lobe

Back 37

back part of cerebral cortex specialized for vison

Front 38

primary sensory cortex

Back 38

regions of the cerebral cortex that initially process information from the senses

Front 39

association cortex

Back 39

regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions

Front 40

basal ganglia

Back 40

structures in the forebrain that helps to control movement

Front 41

limbic system

Back 41

emotional centre of brain that also plays roles in smell, motivation and memory

Front 42

thalamus

Back 42

gateway from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex

Front 43

hypothalamus

Back 43

part of the brain responsible for maintaining a contestant internal state

Front 44

amygdala

Back 44

part of the limbic system that places key roles in fear, excitement and arousal

Front 45

hippocampus

Back 45

part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory

Front 46

bain stem

Back 46

part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex tha contains the midbrain, pons and medulla

Front 47

midbrain

Back 47

part of the brain stem that contributes to movement, tracking of visual stimuli and reflexes triggered by sound

Front 48

reticular activating system (RAS)

Back 48

brain area that plays a key role in arousal

Front 49

hindbrain

Back 49

region below the midbrain that contains the cerebellum, pons and medulla

Front 50

cerebellum

Back 50

brain structure responsible for our sense of balance

Front 51

pons

Back 51

part of brain stem that connects the cortex with the cerebellum

Front 52

medulla

Back 52

part of the brain stem involved in basic functions, such as heartbeat and breathing

Front 53

spinal cord

Back 53

thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between the brain and the body

Front 54

interneuron

Back 54

neuron that sends messages to other neurons nerby

Front 55

reflex

Back 55

automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus