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Psychology Ch.3
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| neuron | nerve cell specialized for communication |
| dendrite | portion of neuron that receives signals |
| synaptic vesicle | spherical sac containing neurotransmitters |
| neurotransmitter | chemical messenger specialized for communication from neuron to neuron |
| synapse | space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically |
| synaptic cleft | a gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal |
| 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 enhances learning and memory |
| myelin sheath | glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of the neuron's signal |
| resting potential | electrical charge difference across the neuronal membrane, when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited |
| threshold | membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential |
| action potential | electrical impulse that travels down the axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters |
| absolute refractory period | time during which another action potential is impossible; limits maximal firing rate |
| receptor site | location that uniquely recognizes a neurotransmitter |
| reuptake | means of recycling neurotransmitters |
| endorphin | chemical in the brain that plays a specialized role in pain reduction |
| plasticity | ability of the nervous system to change |
| stem cell | a cell, often originating in embryos, having the capacity to differentiate into a more specialized cell |
| neurogenesis | creation of new neurons in the adult brain |
| central nervous system (CNS) | part of nervous system containing brain and spinal cord that controls the mind and behavior |
| peripheral nervous system (PNS) | nerves in the body that extend outside the central nervous system |
| cerebral ventricles | pockets in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid, which provide the brain with nutrients and cushion against injury |
| forebrain (cerebrum) | forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual activities |
| cerebral hemispheres | two halves of the cerebral cortex, each of which serve distinct yet highly integrated functions |
| corpus callosum | large band of fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres |
| cerebral cortex | outermost part of the forebrain, it's responsible for analyzing sensory processing and higher brain functions |
| frontal lobe | forward part of the cerebral cortex responsible for motor function, language, memory, and planning |
| motor cortex | part of frontal lobe responsible for body movement |
| prefrontal cortex | part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, and language |
| Broca's area | language area in the prefrontal cortex that helps to control speech production |
| parietal lobe | upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe that is specialized for touch and perception |
| temporal lobe | lower part of cerebral cortex that plays roles in hearing, understanding language, and memory |
| Wernicke's area | part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech |
| occipital lobe | back part of cerebral cortex specialized for vision |
| primary sensory cortex | regions of the cerebral cortex that initially process information from the senses |
| association cortex | regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions |
| basal ganglia | structures in the forebrain that help to control movement |
| limbic system | emotional center of brain that also plays roles in smell, motivation, and memory |
| thalamus | gateway from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex |
| hypothalamus | part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state |
| amygdala | part of limbic system that plays key roles in fear, excitement, and arousal |
| hippocampus | part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory |
| brain stem | part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the midbrain, pons, and medulla |
| midbrain | part of the brain stem that contributes to movement, tracking of visual stimuli, and reflexes triggered by sound |
| reticular activating system (RAS) | brain area that plays a key role in arousal |
| hindbrain | region below the midbrain that contains the cerebellum, pons, and medulla |
| cerebellum | brain structure responsible for our sense of balance |
| pons | part of brain stem that connects the cortex with the cerebellum |
| medulla | part of brain stem involved in basic functions such as heartbeat and breathing |
| spinal cord | thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between the brain and the body |
| interneuron | neuron that sends messages to other neurons nearby |
| reflex | an automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus |
| somatic nervous system | part of the nervous system that conveys information between the CNS and the body, controlling and coordinating voluntary movement |
| autonomic nervous system | part of the nervous system controlling involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands, which (along with limbic system) participates in emotion regulation |
| sympathetic nervous system | division of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight |
| parasympathetic nervous system | division of autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion |
| endocrine system | system of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood-borne chemical messengers |
| hormone | chemical released into the bloodstream that influences particular organs and glands |
| pituitary gland | master gland that, under the control of the hypothalamus, directs the other glands of the body |
| EEG | recording of brain's electrical activity at the surface of the skull |
| CT | a scanning technique using multiple X-rays to construct three-dimensional images |
| MRI | technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure |
| PET | imaging technique that measures consumption of glucose-like molecules, yielding a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brain |
| fMRI | technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using the BOLD response (blood oxygenation) |
| TMS | technique that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull that can either enhance or interrupt brain function |
| MEG | technique that measures brain activity by detecting tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain |
| lateralization | cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other |
| chromosome | slender thread inside a cell's nucleus that carries genes |
| gene | genetic material composed of deoxyribonucleic acid |
| genotype | our genetic makeup |
| phenotype | our observable traits |
| heritability | percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is due to genes |
Created by:
rlhaas
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