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84 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
the brain
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- communicates by using neurons
- has approx. 100 billion neurons - 160 trillion neuron connections |
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neurons
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nerve cells specialized for communication
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central nervous system (CNS)
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contains brain and spinal cord that enables mind and behavior
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peripheral nervous system (PNS)
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nerves in the body outside the CNS
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cerebral cortex
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outermost part of the forebrain
- analyzes sensory processing - high brain functions |
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cerebrum (forebrain)
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gives us our advanced intellectual abilities
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corpus collosum
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connects two cerebral hemispheres; large band of fibers
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frontal lobe
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forward part of the cerebral cortex containing the motor cortex and the prefrontal cortex; responsible for motor function, language, and memory, decision making
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motor cortex
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responsible for body movement
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prefrontal cortex
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responsible for thinking, planning, and language
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Broca's area
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language area in the prefrontal cortex that helps to control speech production
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aphasia
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serious speech deficit that renders a person unable to communicate effectively
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4 lobes of cerebral cortex
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1. parietal: upper middle; specialized for touch and perception
2. temporal: lower part; hearing, understanding, language, and memory 3. Wernicke's area: part of temporal lobe involved in understanding speech 4. occipital: back; specialized for vision |
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sensory cortex
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regions of the cerebral cortex devoted to vision, touch, hearing, balance, taste, and smell
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association cortex
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regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions
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basal ganglia
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structures in the forebrain that help to control movement
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dopamine
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neurotransmitter that plays a key role in movement and reward
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basal forebrain
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region in forebrain containing acetylcholine neurons that affect activity of the cortex
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acetylcholine
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neurotransmitter used to control activity, including movement, memory, attention, and dreaming
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thalamus
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part of the brain that processes sensory information and serves as a gateway to the cerebral cortex
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brain stem
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- between spinal cord and cerebral cortex
- contains medulla, midbrain, and pons |
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midbrain
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part of the brain stem that lies between the forebrain and hindbrain. It helps to control head and neck reflexes and modulate motor activity
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reticular activating system (RAS)
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group of neurons in the brain stem that plays a key role in arousal
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hindbrain
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part of brain between spinal cord and midbrain, consisting of the pons, cerebellum, and medulla
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cerebellum
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small cerebrum in hindbrain, responsible for our sense of balance
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pons
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part of hindbrain that connects the cerebral cortex with cerebellum
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medulla
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part of brain stem involved in vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing
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cerebral ventricles
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internal waterways of the CNS that carry cerebrospinal fluid, which provides the brain with nutrients and cushioning against injury
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interneurons
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neurons that send messages to other neurons nearby and stimulate neurons
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reflex
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an automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus like muscle stretch
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somatic nervous system
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part of the peripheral nervous system carrying messages from the CNS through the body to control movement
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limbic system
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emotional center of the brain that also plays roles in smell, motivation, and memory
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hypothalamus
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part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state
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amygdala
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part of limbic system that plays key roles in fear, excitement, and arousal
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hippocampus
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part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory
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autonomic nervous system
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part of the peripheral nervous system controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands, which participates in emotion
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sympathetic division
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part of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis, or after actions requiring fight or flight
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endocrine system
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system of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood-borne chemical messengers
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hormones
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blood-borne chemical that influences target tissues and glands
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pituitary gland
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master gland, which, under the control of the hypothalamus, directs the other glands of body
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adrenal gland
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tissue located on top of the kidneys that releases adrenaline and cortisol during states of emotional arousal
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neurons
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nerve cells specialized for communication
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dendrites
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portions of neurons that receive signals
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synaptic cleft
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space between two connecting neurons where neurotransmitters are released
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axons
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portions of neurons that send signals
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synaptic vesicles
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spherical sacs containing neurotransmitters
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neurotransmitters
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chemical messengers specialized for communication and released at the synapse
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glial cells
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support cells in nervous system that play roles in the formation of myelin and blood-brain barrier, respond to injury, and remove debris
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blood-brain barrier
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glial cells forming a fatty coating that prevents certain substances from entering the brain
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myelin sheath
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glial cell wrappers around axons that act as insulators of the neurons signal
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resting potential
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electrical charge difference (-70 millivolts) across the neuronal membrane, when the neuron is not being stimulated
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threshold
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membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential
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action potential
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regenerative electrical impulse that travels down the axon and allows neurons to communicate
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absolute refractory period
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time during which another action potential is impossible, limits maximal firing rate
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neurotransmitters
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intercellular communication among neurons
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receptor sites
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locations uniquely recognize a specific neurotransmitter
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reuptake
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recycling of neurotransmitters
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Types of Neurotransmitters
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1. glutamate
2. gamma-aminobutyric acid 3. aceytlcholine 4. norepinephrine 5. dopamine 6. serotonin 7. endorphins 8. anandamide |
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lesions
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area of damage due to surgery, injury, or disease
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electroengephalography
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recording of brains electrical activity at the surface of the skull
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computed tomography (CT)
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a scanning technique using multiple x-rays to construct 3-d images
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magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
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technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure
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positron emission tomography (PET)
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imaging technique that measures uptake of glucoselike molecules, yielding a picture of regional metabolic activity in brain in different regions
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functional MRI (fMRI)
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technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity
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transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
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Technique that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull and that can either enhance or interrupt brain function
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magnetoencephalography (MEG)
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measure of brain activity using magnotometers that sense tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain
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lateralization
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cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other
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left hemisphere
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fine-tuned language skills
- speech comprehension - speech production - phonology - syntax - reading - writing Actions - facial expressions - motion detection |
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Right hemisphere
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Coarse language skill
- simple speech - simple writing - tone of voice Visuospatial skills - perceptual grouping - face perception |
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chromosomes
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slender threads inside a cell's nucleus that carry genes
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genes
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genetic material, composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
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genotype
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our genetic make-up
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phenotype
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our observable traits
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dominant genes
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genes that mask other genes' effects
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recessive genes
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genes that are expressed only in the absence of a dominant gene
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natural selection
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principle that organisms that possess adaptations survive and reproduce at a higher rate than other organisms
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fitness
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organisms' capacity to pass on their genes
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heritability
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percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is due to genes
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family studies
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analyses of how traits run in families
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twin studies
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analyses of how traits differ in identical versus fraternal twins
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adoption studies
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analyses of how traits vary in individuals raised apart from their biological relatives
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plasticity
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ability of the nervous system to change
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stem cells
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unspecialized cells that retain the ability to become wide variety of specialized cells
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neurogensis
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creation of new neurons in adult brain
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