Psychology: Chapter 3

Front 1

Nervous System

Back 1

The interacting network of nerve cells that underlies all psychological activity

Front 2

Neuron

Back 2

Cell in the nervous system

Front 3

Sensory Neurons

Back 3

Neurons that transmit information from sensory cells in the body, called receptors to the brain.

Front 4

Motor Neurons

Back 4

Neurons that transmit commands from the brain to the glands or musculature of the body, typically through the spinal cord

Front 5

Interneurons

Back 5

Neurons that connect other neurons to each other, found only in the brain and spinal cord

Front 6

Dendrites

Back 6

Branchlike extensions of the neuron that receive information from other cells

Front 7

Cell Body

Back 7

The part of the neuron that includes a nucleus containing the genetic material of the cell (the chromosomes) as well as other microstructures vital to cell functioning

Front 8

Axon

Back 8

the long extension from the cell body of a neuron through which electrical impulses pass

Front 9

Myelin Sheath

Back 9

A tight coat of cells composed primarily of lipids, which serves to isolate the axon from chemical or physical stimuli that might interfere with the transmission of nerve impulses and speeds neural transmission.

Front 10

Glial Cells

Back 10

Origin of the myelin sheath

Front 11

Terminal buttons

Back 11

Structures at the end of the neuron that receive nerve impulses from the axon and transmit signals to adjacent cells

Front 12

Synapse

Back 12

The place at which transmission of information between neurons occurs.

Front 13

Resting Potential

Back 13

Condition in which the neuron is not firing

Front 14

Graded Potentials

Back 14

A spreading voltage change that occurs when the neuron membrane receives a signal from another cell`

Front 15

Action Potential

Back 15

A temporary shift in the polarity of the cell membrane, which leads to the firing of a neuron

Front 16

Neurotransmitters

Back 16

Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another

Front 17

Receptors

Back 17

Protein molecules in the postsynaptic membrane that pick up neurotransmitters

Front 18

Glutamate

Back 18

One of the most widespread neurotransmitters in the nervous system, which largely plays an excitatory role

Front 19

GABA

Back 19

One of the most widespread neurotransmitters in the nervous system, which largely plays an inhibitory role in the brain

Front 20

Dopamine

Back 20

A neurotransmitter with wide ranging effects in the nervous system involved in thought, feeling, motivation, and behavior.

Front 21

Serotonin

Back 21

A neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of mood, sleep, eating, arousal and pain.

Front 22

SSRI's

Back 22

A class of antidepressant medications, including prozac, that block the presynaptic membrane from taking back serotonin and hence leave it acting longer in the synapse.

Front 23

Acetylcholine

Back 23

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle contraction, learning and memory.

Front 24

Endorphins

Back 24

Chemicals in the brain similar to morphine that elevate mood and reduce pain

Front 25

Central Nervous System

Back 25

The brain and spinal cord

Front 26

Peripheral Nervous system

Back 26

A component of the nervous system that includes neurons that travel to and from the central nervous system

Front 27

Somatic Nervous System

Back 27

The division of the peripheral nervous system that consists of sensory and motor neurons that transmit sensory information and control intentional actions

Front 28

Autonomic Nervous System

Back 28

The part of the peripheral nervous system that serves visceral or internal bodily structures connected with basic life processes such as the beating of the heart and breathing: Consists of two parts: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

Front 29

Sympathetic Nervous System

Back 29

A branch of the autonomic nervous system, typically activated in response to threats to the organism, which readies the body for fight or flight reactions.

Front 30

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Back 30

The part of the autonomic nervous system involved in conserving and maintaining the body's energy sources.

Front 31

Electoencephalogram

Back 31

A record of the electrical activity toward the service of the brain, used especially in sleep research and diagnoses epilepsy

Front 32

Neuroimaging Techniques

Back 32

Methods for studying the brain that use computer programs to convert the data taken from brain scanning devices into visual images.

Front 33

Computerized Axial tomography (CT scan)

Back 33

A brain scanning technique used to detect lesions

Front 34

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Back 34

brain scanning technique

Front 35

Positron Emission Tomography(PET)

Back 35

A computerized brain scanning technique that allows observation of the brain in action

Front 36

Functional Magnetic Resonance imaging

Back 36

A brain scanning technique used as an individual carries out tasks

Front 37

Spinal Cord

Back 37

The part of the central nervous system that transmits information from sensory neurons to the brain and from the brain to motor neurons that initiate movement; It is also capable of reflex actions

Front 38

Hindbrain

Back 38

The part of the brain above the spinal cord that includes the medulla, cerebellum, and parts of the reticular formation

Front 39

Medulla Oblongata (medulla)

Back 39

An extension of the spinal cord, essential to life, controlling such vital physiological functions as heartbeat, circulation, and respiration

Front 40

Reticular Formation

Back 40

A diffuse network of neurons that extends from the lowest parts of the medulla in the hindbrain to the upper end of the midbrain, serving to maintain consciousness, regulate arousal levels, and modulate the activity of neurons throughout the central nervous system

Front 41

Cerebellum

Back 41

A large bulge in the dorsal or back area of the brain, responsible for the coordination of smooth, well sequenced movements, as well as maintaining equilibrium and regulating postural reflexes.

Front 42

Midbrain

Back 42

The section of the brain above the hindbrain involved in some auditory and visual functions, movement, and conscious arousal and activation

Front 43

Tectum

Back 43

A midbrain structure involved in vision and hearing

Front 44

Tegmentum

Back 44

Midbrain structure that includes a variety of neural structures, related mostly to movement and conscious arousal and activation

Front 45

Hypothalamus

Back 45

The brain structure, situated directly below the thalamus, involved in the regulation of eating, sleeping, sexual activity, movement and emotion.

Front 46

Thalamus

Back 46

A structure located deep in the center of the brain that acts as a relay station for sensory information, processing it and transmitting to higher brain centers.

Front 47

Limbic System

Back 47

Subcortical structures responsible for emotional reactions, many motivational processes, learning, and aspects of memory

Front 48

Amygdala

Back 48

A brain structure associated with the expression of rage, fear, and calculation of the emotional significance of a stimulus

Front 49

Hippocampus

Back 49

A structure in the limbic system involved in the acquisition and consolidation of new information in memory

Front 50

Basal Ganglia

Back 50

A set of structures, located near the thalamus and hypothalamus, involved in the control of movement and in judgments that require minimal conscious thought.

Front 51

Cerebral Cortex

Back 51

the many layered surface of the cerebrum, which allows complex voluntary movements, permits subtle discriminations among complex sensory patterns, and makes possible symbolic thinking.

Front 52

Primary areas

Back 52

Areas of the cortex involved in sensory functions and in the direct control of motor movements

Front 53

Association Areas

Back 53

The areas of cortex involved in putting together perceptions, ideas and plans.

Front 54

Cerebral Hemispheres

Back 54

The two halves of the cerebrum

Front 55

Corpus Callosum

Back 55

A band of fibers that connect the two hemispheres of the brain

Front 56

Occipital Lobes

Back 56

Brain structures located in the rear portion of the cortex, involved in vision.

Front 57

Parietal Lobes

Back 57

Brain structures located in front of the occipital lobes, including a number of functions, including the sense of touch and the experience of one's own body in space and in movement

Front 58

Somatosensory Cortex

Back 58

The primary area of the parietal lobes, located behind the central fissure, which receives sensory information from different sections of the body

Front 59

Frontal lobes

Back 59

Brain structures involved in coordination of movement, attention, planning, social skills, conscience, abstract thinking, memory, and aspects of personality.

Front 60

Motor Cortex

Back 60

The primary zone of the frontal lobes responsible for control of motor behavior

Front 61

Broca's Area

Back 61

A brain structure located in the left frontal lobe at the base of the motor cortex, involved in the movements of the mouth and tongue necessary for speech production and in the use of grammar

Front 62

Temporal lobes

Back 62

Brain structures located in the lower side portion of the cortex that are important in audition (hearing) and language

Front 63

Wernicke's Area

Back 63

A brain structure, located in the left temporal lobe, involved in language comprehension

Front 64

Lateralized

Back 64

Localized on one or the other side of the brain

Front 65

Split Brain

Back 65

The condition that results when the corpus callosum has been surgically cut, blocking communication between the two cerebral hemispheres