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63 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Neurons |
Cells in the nervous system that communicate with one another to perform information-processing tasks |
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Cell Body (or Soma) |
The part of a neuron that coordinates information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive |
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Dendrite |
The part of a neuron that receives information from other neurons and relays it to the cell body |
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Axon |
The part of a neuron that carries information to other neurons, muscles, or glands |
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Myelin Sheath |
An insulating layer of fatty material |
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Glial Cells |
Support cells found in the nervous system |
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Synapse |
The junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another |
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Sensory Neurons |
Neurons that receive information from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord |
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Motor Neurons |
Neurons that receive information from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord |
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Interneurons |
Neurons that connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons |
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Resting Potential |
the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neurons's cell membrane |
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Action Potential |
An electric signal that is conducted along a neuron's axon to a synapse |
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Refractory Period |
The time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated |
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Terminal Buttons |
Knoblike structures that branch out from an axon |
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Neurotransmitters |
Chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neuron's dendrites |
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Receptors |
Parts of the cell membrane that receive the neurotransmitter and initiate or prevent a new electric signal |
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Acetylcholine (ACh) |
A neurotransmitter involved in a number of functions, including voluntary motor control |
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Dopamine |
a neurotransmitter that regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal |
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Glutamate |
The major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain |
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GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) |
The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain |
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norepinephrine |
A neurotransmitter that is particularly involved in states of vigilance, or heightened awareness of dangers in the environment |
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Serotonin |
A neurotransmitter that is involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating, and aggressive behavior |
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endorphins |
Chemicals that act within the pain pathways and emotion centers of the brain |
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Agonists |
Drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter |
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Antagonists |
Drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter |
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Nervous System |
An interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical information throughout the body |
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Central Nervous System (CNS) |
The part of the nervous system that is composed of the brain and spinal cord |
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Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) |
The part of the nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the body's organs and muscles |
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Somatic Nervous System |
A set of nerves that conveys information between voluntary muscles and the central nervous system |
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Autonomic Nervous System |
A set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs, and glands |
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Sympathetic Nervous System |
A set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations |
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Spinal Reflexes |
Simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions |
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Hindbrain |
An area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out fo the spinal cord |
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Medulla |
An extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration |
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Reticular Formation |
A brain structure that regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal |
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Cerebellum |
A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills |
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Pons |
A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain |
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Tectum |
A part of the midbrain that orients an organism in the environment |
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Tegmentum |
A part of the midbrain that is involved in movement and arousal |
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Cerebral Cortex |
The outermost layer of the brain, visible to the naked eye and divided into two hemispheres |
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Subcortical Structures |
Areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the very center of the brain |
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Thalamus |
A subcortical structure that relays and filters information from the senses and transmits the information to the cerebral cortex |
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Hypothalamus |
A subcortical structure that regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior |
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Pituitary Gland |
the "master gland" of the body's hormone-producing system, which releases hormones that direct the functions of many other glands in the body |
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Limbic System |
A group of forebrain structures including the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, and the amygdala, which are involved in motivation, emotion, learning, and memory |
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Hippocampus |
A structure critical for creating new memories and integrating them into a network of knowledge so that they can be stored indefinitely in other parts of the cerebral cortex |
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Amygdala |
A part of the limbic system that plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of emotional memories |
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Basal Ganglia |
A set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements |
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Corpus Callosum |
A thick band of nerve fibers that connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemispheres |
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Occipital Lobe |
A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information |
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Parietal Lobe |
a region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch |
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Temporal Lobe |
a region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language |
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Frontal Lobe |
a region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgment |
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Association Areas |
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cortex |
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Mirror Neurons |
Neurons that are active when an animal performs a behavior, such as reaching for or manipulating an object, and are also activated when another animal observes that animal performing the same behavior |
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Gene |
The major unit of hereditary transmission |
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Chromosomes |
Strands of DNA wound around each other in a double-helix configuration |
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Epigenetics |
Environmental influences that determine whether or not genes are expressed, or the degree to which they are expressed, without altering the basic DNA sequences that constitute the genes themselves |
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Epigenetic Marks |
Chemical modifications to DNA that can turn genes on or off |
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DNA methylation |
Adding a methyl group to DNA |
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Histone Modification |
Adding chemical modifications to proteins called histones that are involved in packaging DNA |
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Heritability |
A measure of the variability of behavioral traits among individuals tat can be accounted for by genetic factors |
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Electroencephalograph (EEG) |
A device used to record electrical activity in the brain |
