Psychology

Front 1

Nervous System

Back 1

The body's electrochemical communication circuitry.

Front 2

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Back 2

The brain and spinal cord.

Front 3

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Back 3

The network of nerves that connects the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body.

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Somatic Nervous System

Back 4

The body system consisting of the sensory nerves, whose function is to convey information from the skin and muscles to the CNS about conditions such as pain and temperature, and the motor nerves, whose function is to tell muscles what to do.

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Autonomic Nervous System

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The body system that takes messages to and from the body's internal organs, monitoring such processes as breathing, heart rate and digestion.

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Sympathetic Nervous System

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The part of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body to mobilize it for action and thus is involved in the experience of stress.

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Parasympathetic Nervous System

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The part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body.

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Plasticity

Back 8

The brain's special capacity for change.

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Stress

Back 9

The response of individuals to environmental stressors.

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Stressors

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Circumstances and events that threaten individuals and tax their coping abilities and that cause physiological changes to ready the body to handle the assault of stress.

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Neurons

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One of two types of cells in the nervous system; these cells handle the information-processing function.

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Dendrites

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Treelike fibers projecting from the neuron, which receive information and orient it toward the neuron cell's body.

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Cell Body

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The part of the neuron that contains the nucleus, which directs the manufacture of substances that the neuron needs for growth and maintenance.

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Axon

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The part of the neuron that carries information away from the cell body toward other cells.

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Myelin

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A layer of fat cells that encases and insulates most axons.

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Action Potential

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The brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the axon.

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Synapse

Back 17

Tiny spaces between neurons.

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Neurotransmitter

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Chemical substances that are stored in very tiny sacs within the neuron's terminal buttons and involved in transmitting information across a synaptic gap to the next neuron.

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Agonist

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A drug that mimics or increases a neurotransmitter's effects.

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Antagonist

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A drug that blocks a neurotransmitters effects.

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Brain Stem

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The stemlike brain area that includes much of the hindbrain (excluding the cerebellum) and the midbrain; connects with the spinal cord at its lower end and then extends upward to encase the reticular formation in the midbrain.

Front 22

Limbic System

Back 22

A set of sub-cortical brain structures central to emotion, memory and reward processing.

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Amygdla

Back 23

An almond-shaped structure in the base of the temporal lobe that is involved in the discrimination of objects that are necessary for the organism's survival, such as appropriate food, mates and social rivals.

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Hippocampus

Back 24

The structure in the limbic system that has a special role in the storage of memories.

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Thalumus

Back 25

The forebrain structure that sits at the top of the brain stem in the brain's central core and serves as an important relay system.

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Hypothalumus

Back 26

A small forebrain structure, located just below the thalamus, that monitors three pleasurable activities; eating, drinking and sex; as well as emotion, stress and reward.

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Cerebral Cortex

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Part of the forebrain, the outer layer of the brain, responsible for the most complex mental functions, such as thinking and planning.

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Frontal Lobe

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The portion of the cerebral cortex behind the forehead, involved in personality, intelligence, and the control of voluntary muscles.

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Parietal Lobe

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Structures at the top and toward the rear of the head that are involved in registering spatial location, attention and motor control.

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Temporal Lobe

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Structures in the cerebral cortex that are located just above the ears and are involved in hearing, language processing and memory.

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Occipital Lobe

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Structures located at the back of the head that respond to visual stimuli.

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Motor Cortex

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A region in the cerebral cortex, located just behind the frontal lobes, that processes information about voluntary movement.

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Somatosensory Cortex

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A region in the cerebral cortex that processes information about body sensations, located at the front of the parietal lobe.

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Chromosomes

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In the human cell, threadlike structures that come in 23 pairs, one member of each pair originating from each parent, and that contain DNA.

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Genes

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The units of hereditary information, consisting of short segments of chromosomes composed of DNA.

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Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

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A complex molecule in the cell's chromosomes that carries genetic information.

Front 37

Acetylcholine

Back 37

Usually stimulates the firing of neurons and is involved in the action of muscles, learning and memory; found in CNS and PNS.

Front 38

GABA

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Found in CNS; believed to be the neurotransmitter in as many as 1/3 or the brain's synapses; keeps neurons from firing.

Front 39

Norepinephrine

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Is a chemical released from the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress. It is classified as a neurotransmitter, a chemical that is released from neurons; referred to as the stress hormone.

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Dopamine

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Is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers; helps regulate movement and emotional responses, and it enables us not only to see rewards, but to take action to move toward them.

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Serotonin

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Is an important chemical neurotransmitter in the human body. It is commonly regarded as a chemical that is responsible for maintaining mood balance.

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Endorphins

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Are neurotransmitters found in the brain that bind to opiate receptors and produce a feeling of pain relief also known as analgesia.

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Cerebellum

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Is a major structure of the hindbrain that is located near the brainstem. This part of the brain is responsible for a number of functions including motor skills such as balance, coordination, and posture; known as "little brain".

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Medulla

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Is a section of the brain located in the brainstem which is responsible for automatic functions like breathing, blood pressure, circulation and heart functions, and digestion. It is also the area responsible for many reflexes like swallowing, vomiting, coughing, and sneezing.

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Broca's Area

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An area of the cerebral motor cortex in the frontal lobe of the brain that is responsible for speech development. Damage can cause speech disorders, including apraxia and dyspraxia of speech.

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Wernicke's Area

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An area located in the rear of the left temporal lobe of the brain. It is associated with the ability to recognize and understand spoken language.

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Right Hemisphere

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The cerebral hemisphere to the right of the corpus callosum that controls theleft half of the body

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Left Hemisphere

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The cerebral hemisphere to the left of the corpus callosum that controlsthe right half of the body

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Corpus Callosum

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This area contains the largest bundle of nerve fibers in the brain and connects the two sides (hemispheres) of the brain. It is responsible for allowing the two hemispheres to communicate with each other and share information.