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85 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Neuron |
Nerve cell specialised for communication |
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Dendrite |
Portion of neuron that receives signals |
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Axon |
Portion of neuron that sends signals |
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Synaptic vesicle |
Spherical sac containing neurotransmitters |
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Neurotransmitter |
Chemical messenger specialised for communication from neuron to neuron |
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Synapse |
Space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically |
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Synaptic cleft |
A gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal |
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Glial cell |
Cell in nervous system that plays a role in the formation of myelin and the blood-brain barrier, responds to injury, removes debris, and enhanced learning and memory |
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Myelin sheath |
Glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of the neuron's signal |
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Resting potential |
Electrical charge difference (-60 mV) across the neuronal membrane, when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited |
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Threshold |
Membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential |
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Action potential |
Electric impulse that travels down the axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters |
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Absolute refractory period |
Time during which another potential is impossible; limits maximal firing rate |
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Receptor site |
Location that uniquely recognises a neurotransmitter |
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Reuptake |
Means of recycling neurotransmitters |
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Endorphin |
Chemical in the brain that plays a specialised role in pain reduction |
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Plasticity |
Ability of the nervous system to change, e.g. growth of dendrites and axons, synaptogenesis, pruning and myelination |
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Synaptogenesis |
The formation of new synapses |
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Pruning |
The death of certain neurons and the retraction of axons to remove connections that aren't useful |
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Myelination |
The insulation of axons with a myelin sheath |
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Less is more |
Our brains can often process information more efficiently with fewer neurons |
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Neurogenesis |
Creation of new neurons in the adult brain |
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Stem cell |
A cell, often originating in embryos, having the capacity to differentiate into a more specialised cell |
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Central nervous system (CSN) |
Part of nervous containing brain and spinal cord that controls the mind and behaviour |
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Peripheral nervous system (PNS) |
Nerves on the body that extend outside the central nervous system |
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Cerebral ventricles |
Pockets in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which provide the brain with nutrients and cushion against injury |
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Cerebral cortex |
Outermost part of forebrain, responsible for analysing sensory processing and higher brain functions |
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Forebrain (Cerebrum) |
Forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities |
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Cerebral hemispheres |
Two halves of the cerebral cortex, each of which serves distinct get highly integrated functions |
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Corpus callosum |
Large band of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres |
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Frontal lobe |
Forward part of cerebral cortex responsible for motor function, language, memory and planning |
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Motor cortex |
Part of frontal lobe responsible for body movement |
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Prefrontal cortex |
Part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning and language |
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Broca's area |
Language area in the prefrontal cortex that helps to control speech production |
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Parietal lobe |
Upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe that is specialised for touch and perception |
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Temporal lobe |
Lower part of cerebral cortex that plays roles in hearing, understanding language and memory. Separated from the rest of the cortex by a horizontal groove called the lateral fissure. |
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Wernicke's area |
Part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech |
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Occipital lobe |
Back part of cerebral cortex specialised for vision |
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Primary sensory cortex |
Regions of the cerebral cortex that initially process information from the senses |
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Association cortex |
Regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions |
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Basal ganglia |
Structures in the forebrain that help to control movement |
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Limbic system |
Emotional center of brain that also plays roles in smell, motivation, and memory |
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Thalamus |
Gateway from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex |
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Hypothalamus |
Part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state |
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Amygdala |
Part of limbic system that plays roles in fear, excitement, and arousal |
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Hippocampus |
Part of the brain that pays a role in spatial memory |
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Cerebellum |
Brain structure responsible for our sense of balance |
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Brain stem |
Part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the midbrain, pons, and medulla |
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Midbrain |
Part of the brain stem that contributes to movement, tracking of visual stimuli, and reflexes triggered by sound |
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Reticulated activating system (RAS) |
Brain area that pays a key role in arousal |
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Hindbrain |
Region below the midbrain that contains the cerebellum, pons and medulla |
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Pons |
Part of the brain stem that connects the cortex with the cerebellum |
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Medulla |
Part of brain stem involved in basic functions, such as heartbeat and breathing |
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Spinal cord |
Thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between the brain and the body |
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Interneuron |
Neuron that sends messages to other neurons nearby |
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Reflex |
An automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus |
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Somatic nervous system |
Part of the nervous system that conveys information between the CNS and the body, controlling and coordinating voluntary movement |
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Autonomic nervous system |
Part of the nervous system controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands, which (along with the limbic system) participates in emotion regulation |
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Sympathetic nervous system |
Division of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight |
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Parasympathetic nervous system |
Division of autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion |
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Endocrine system |
System of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood-borne chemical messengers |
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Hormone |
Chemical released into the blood stream that influences particular organs and glands |
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Pituitary gland |
Master gland that, under the control of the hypothalamus, directs the other glands of the body |
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Adrenal gland |
Tissue locates on top of the kidneys that releases adrenaline and cortisol during states of emotional arousal |
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Electroencephalograph (EEG) |
Recording of brain's electrical activity at the surface of the skull |
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Computer tomography (CT) |
A scanning technique using multiple X-ray to construct three-dimensional images |
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) |
Technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualise brain structure |
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Position emission tomography (PET) |
Imaging technique that measures consumption of glucose-like molecules, yielding a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brain |
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Functional MRI (fMRI) |
Technique that uses magnetic fields to visualise brain activity using changes in blood oxygen level |
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Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) |
Technique that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface if the skull that can either enhance or interrupt brain function. The only noninvasive brain imaging technique that allows us to infer causation. |
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Magnetoencephalography (MEG) |
Technique that measures brain activity by detecting tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain |
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Neuro-seduction |
Placing unwarranted confidence in evidence derived from brain imaging studies |
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Lateralisation |
Cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other |
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Split-brain surgery |
Procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures |
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Chromosome |
Slender thread inside a cell's nucleus that carries genes |
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Gene |
Genetic material, composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) |
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Genotype |
Our genetic makeup |
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Phenotype |
Our observable traits |
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Dominant gene |
Gene that masks other genes' effects |
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Recessive gene |
Gene that is expressed only in the absence of a dominant gene |
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Fitness |
Organisms' capacity to pass on their genes |
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Heritability |
Percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is due to genes |
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Family study |
Analysis of how characteristics run in intact families |
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Twin study |
Analysis of how traits differ in identical versus fraternal twins |
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Adoption study |
Analysis of how traits vary in individuals raised apart from their biological relatives |