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Ch 3Biological Bases
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| neuron | the basic cell that makes up the nervous system and that receives and sends messages within that system |
| dendrites | branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons |
| soma | the cell body of the neuron responsible for maintaining the life of the cell |
| axon | tubelike structures that carries the neural message to other cells |
| glial cells | supportive cells of the nervous system that provide nutrients to developing neurons; they also help form an insulating sheath around neurons that speeds conduction |
| myelin | fatty substances produced by glial cells that coat the axons of neurons to insulate, protect, and speed up the neural impulse |
| nerves | bundles of axons coated in myelin that travel through the body |
| resting potential | the state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse |
| action potential | also called an impulse, the "firing" of a neuron bundles of axons coated in myelin that travel through the body resting potential the state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse |
| all-or-none principle | referring to the fact that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all |
| Nodes of Ranvier | spaces between segments of myelin on the axons of neurons |
| agonists | chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell |
| antagonists | chemical subtances that block or reducea cell's response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitter |
| reuptake | process by which neurontransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles |
| afferent (sensory) neuron | a neuron that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system |
| efferent (motor) neuron | a neuron that carries messages from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body |
| Broca's Area | located in the left frontal lobe, controls production of speech |
| Wernicke's Area | located in the left temporal lobe, plays a role in understanding language |
| Aphasia | impairment of the ability to understand or use language |
| Medulla oblongata | part of the brain responsible for life sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing and heart rate |
| pons | part of the brain that plays a role in sleep and dreaming |
| reticular formation | Part of the brain that plays a role in general arousal and alertness |
| cerebellum | part of the lower brain that controls and coordinated involuntary, rapid, fine motor movement |
| Thalamus | Part of the brain that relays information from sensory organs to the cerebral cortex |
| Amygdala | part of the brain that influences emotions such as aggression, fear |
| Hypothalamus | part of the brain that controls feeding, behavior, drinking, body temperature, etc. |
| Hippocampus | part of the brain responsible for the formation of long-term memories |
| Refractory Period | After a neuron fires, it passes through an absolute refractory phase-no amount of stimulation can cause the neuron to fire again (waiting for the toilet bowl to fill before you can flush again) |
| Sodium Potassium Pump | The exchange of sodium and potassium resulting in an action potential |
| Neurotransmitters | chemical messengers that are released by the terminal buttons-they bind to receptors of neighboring dendrites |
| Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) | Comprised of all nerves EXCEPT the brain and spinal cord. It contains the somatic, autonomic and the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems |
| Central Nervous System | Consists of the brain and spinal cord |
| Autonomic Nervous system | Involuntary Control (heart rate, digestion, etc)-it is further divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system |
| Sympathetic Nervous System | Responsible for physiological arousal: "Fight or Flight" |
| Parasympathetic nervous system | Responsible for calming you down; returns you to balance |
| Adrenal Glands | Gland responsible for responding to stressful situations-results in our "fight-or-flight reactions |
| Pituitary Gland | The "master Gland"-it releases hormones that control hormone release from the other glands Primarily responsible or Growth |
| Thyroid | Gland that specializes in metabolism |
| EEG | Measures subtle brain electrical activity through electrodes placed on the head |
| CAT scan | Computerized Axial Tomography-Generates cross sectional images of the brain through an X-Ray like technique that allows you to examine brain tissue without surgery |
| PET Scan | Positron Emission tomography-captures the brain as it is working-images are provided through the diffusion of radioactive glucose in the brain-the more glucose used in an area of the brain-the more active the area is |
| MRI | Uses Magnetic Resonance to generate highly detailed pictures of the brain (only captures a "snapshot") |
| Frontal Lobes | Responsible for higher level thought and reasoning |
| Parietal Lobes | Handles somatosensory information-receives information of temperature, pressure, texture, pain |
| Occipital Lobes | Processes visual information |
| Temporal Lobes | Processes auditory (hearing) information |
| Corpus Callosum | Band of nerves that allows the two hemispheres to communicate with each other |
| Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga | Known for their work with "split brain" patients |
| Phineas Gage | Topic of important case study whose personality was significantly altered after an injury to his frontal lobe |
| "Split brain" operation | When the corpus callosum is severed and the two brain hemispheres become isolated from one another |
| Motor Cortex | Area on top of the brain associated with control of voluntary movements |
| Sensory Cortex | Part of brain that mediates the sense of touch-Receives input from receptors in the body |
| Acetycholine | Neurotranmitter that activates muscles that helps the body move. In the brain, it is associated with memory and attention |
| Dopamine | Neurotransmitter that produces sensation of pleasure and reward |
| Lack of Dopamine | A lack of dopamine is associated with Parkinson's disease |
| Excess Dopamine | An overabundance of dopamine is associated with schizophrenia |
| Endorphins | The body's naturally made pain killers! Endorphins help us deal with pain as well as producing pleasurable sensations |
| Noraepinephrine | is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter. As a hormone, secreted by the adrenal gland, it works alongside epinephrine / adrenaline to give the body sudden energy in times of stress, known as the "fight or flight" response |
| Serotonin | Neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep and dreaming. Not enough serotonin will result in depression |
| Brain Plasticity | Brain plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to CHANGE and ADAPT throughout life. Plasticity helps the brain compensate after injury. |
| Pancreas | responsible for insulin production; helps regulate glucose (sugar) levels |
| L-Dopa | Drug that serves as an agonist (mimics the effect of dopamine) for people who have Parkinson's. Parkinson's is a lack of dopamine. |
| Prozac | Drug that serves as an agonist for those who suffer from depression |
| Neural networks | memory circuits in the brain that consist of complicated networks of nerve cells |
| innate | "hard-wired" or "built-in" behavior; ie: reflexes, instincts, language |
| Down's Syndrome | A genetic condition in which a person has an extra #21 chromosome |
| Phenotype | an organism's observable characteristics (ex: eye color) |
| Genotype | The genetic makeup of an organism |
| Withdrawal reflex | is a spinal reflex intended to protect the body from damaging stimuli. |
| Synaptic pruning | refers to the process by which extra neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated in order to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmission; "if you don't use it, you lose it!" |
| Brain Lateralization | refers to how some functions, or cognitive processes tend be more dominant in one hemisphere than the other. |
| Cerebral Dominance | the normal tendency for one side of the brain to control particular functions; The Left hemisphere is responsible for mathematical ability, logic, and language. The right hemisphere is responsible for spatial reasoning, creativity, etc. |
| Threshold | the critical level to which the membrane potential must be depolarized in order to initiate an action potential. |
| Mirror Neurons | a special class of brain cells that fire not only when an individual performs an action, but also when the individual observes someone else make the same movement. |
| Depolarization | this occurs when positive ions enter the neuron, making it susceptible to fire an action potential |
Created by:
Jeffers
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