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The Brain

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Term
Definition
Gilia   Support neurons  
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Neuron   Individual cells and the smallest unit of the nervous system  
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Cell body (soma)   Contains neuron's nucleus where metabolism takes place  
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Dendrites   Short fibers that extend from the soma and pick up incoming messages  
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Axon   Long fiber extending out from the soma. Carries out long messages.  
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Myelin Sheath   White fatty covering found on some axons that act as insulation  
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Terminal buttons   Small knobs that secrete neurotransmitters located on the axon terminal  
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Nerves   Group of axons bundled together - neurons that send messages to the brain  
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Afferent / sensory neurons   Neurons that send messages to the brain  
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Efferent or motor neurons   Neurons that send messages from the brain or spinal chord to muscles or glands  
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Interneurons   Neurons that carry messages from one neuron to another (99% of neurons)  
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Mirror neurons   Observation of an action that automatically triggers simulation of that action  
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2 ways neurons terminated   Broken down by other chemicals or recycled / reabsorbed into axon chemicals to be reused  
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Slowing / stop of release of neurotransmitter into synaptic space   Curare causing botulism prevents release of ACh and causes paralysis and death  
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Speeding up of release of neurotransmitter into synaptic space   Black widow toxin rises levels of ACh and causes spasms and tremors  
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Prevent reabsorption of neurotransmitters   Cocaine blocks the reusing of dopamine  
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Pre-synaptic   Sending neurotransmitters  
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Post-synaptic   Receiving neurotransmitters  
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ACh (Acetylcholine)   Enables muscle action (Excitatory). Alzheimer's disease (undersupply)  
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Dopamine   Influences movement, attention, emotion, pleasure (Inhibitory) Schizophrenia (Excess), Parkinson's and tremors (limited)  
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Serotonin   Affects mood, hunger, sleep onset, arousal (Inhibitory) Depression (undersupply) - Prozac / antidepressant drugs raise serotonin levels  
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Norepinephrine   Controls alertness and arousal (Excitatory) Depression and mood change (undersupply)  
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GABA   Decreases anxiety (Inhibitory) Seizures, tremors, insomnia (undersupply)  
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Glutamate   Involved in memory (Excitatory) Migraines - overstimulates brain (oversupply)  
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Endorphins   Inhibits transmissions of pain messages (can help lower pain if too much)  
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Peripheral   Nervous system - relating to rest of body (not brain / spinal chord)  
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Brain and spinal chord   Nervous system - its core  
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Somatic   Nervous system - voluntary movement, controls skeletal (striped or striated) muscles  
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Autonomic   Nervous system - involuntary movement  
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Sympathetic   Nervous system - threat - fight or flight response  
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Parasympathetic   Nervous system - no threat - calming  
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All or not law   Rule that says either neuron fires fully or it doesn't at all  
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Resting potential   Cell's negative charge when neuron is inactive (more Cl- ions than K+ / Na+) - cell is polarized  
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Action potential   A brief change in the neuron's electrical charge (depolarization) when cell reaches the threshold of excitation. Minimum # of impulses from neighboring neurons that cause cell to fire  
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Absolute refractory period   Minimum length of time after action potential before another can begin - takes 1/2 milliseconds before sodium gates can be reopened  
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Agonist   Binds directly on receptor site  
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Antagonist   Blocks the receptor site  
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Curare   Toxin used by South American natives to tip spears - blocks ACh receptors - causes paralysis / death  
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Resting potential   Cell's negative charge when neuron is inactive (more Cl- ions than K+ / Na+) - cell is polarized  
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Action potential   A brief change in the neuron's electrical charge (depolarization) when cell reaches the threshold of excitation. Minimum # of impulses from neighboring neurons that cause cell to fire  
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Absolute refractory period   Minimum length of time after action potential before another can begin - takes 1/2 milliseconds before sodium gates can be reopened  
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Agonist   Binds directly on receptor site  
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Antagonist   Blocks the receptor site  
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Curare   Toxin used by South American natives to tip spears - blocks ACh receptors - causes paralysis / death  
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Clinical observation   Oldest method of studying brain-mind connections is to observe effects of brain diseases and injuries  
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Lesioning   Destroys a piece of the brain with a stereotaxic instrument - device used to implant electrodes at precise areas in brain to determine brain-behavior relationships  
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Electrical stimulation   Involves sending weak current into brain structure to activate it, and can determine brain-behavior relationships  
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Electroencephalograph (EEG)   Monitors electrical activity of brain over time - records electrodes attached to surface of scalp, and can be used in clinical diagnosis of brain damage / neurological disorders and used in research  
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Computerized tomography (CAT)   Computer-enhanced X ray of brain that can be used to look for abnormalities in brain structure among people suffering specific types of mental illness  
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Positron Emission Topography (PET)   Monitors brain’s activity over time through radioactively labeled glucose that can pinpoint areas of brain that handle various activities, and study effect of specific neurotransmitters  
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)   Magnetic fields, radio waves, computer enhancement to view brain structure (best detail of soft tissues and fluid filled areas)  
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Functional MRI   Monitors blood and oxygen flow to brain to identify high activity - shows both structural and functional info in same image, monitors changes of brain in real time  
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Medulla   Used for unconscious functions - breathing, maintaining muscle tone, heartbeat and circulation  
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Reticular formation   Fibers carrying stimulation (sleep / arousal) through brainstem. Used for muscle reflex, breathing, and pain perception, and sleep/wakefulness - damage causes coma  
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Thalamus   Relays sensory information except smell  
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Cerebellum   Coordinates muscle movement, balance, sense of equilibrium  
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Limbic system   Regulates memory, emotion, and motivation  
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Amygdala   Used for emotions, especially fear and aggression  
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Hippocampus   Used for learning and memory  
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Hypothalamus   Regulates biological needs like hunger, thirst, and temp control. Controls the endocrine system by activating pituitary gland  
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Cerebrum   Used for thinking, learning, sensing, consciousness, and voluntary movement (newest in evolution)  
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Cerebral cortex   Convoluted outer layer of cerebrum  
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Corpus callosum   Used to pass information between two cerebral hemispheres through fibers  
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Pituitary gland   Regulates other endocrine glands by sending hormones stimulating actions in other glands, called master gland - controlled by hypothalamus  
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Pons   Regulates sleep and arousal  
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Spinal cord   Used to transmit information between brain and rest of body - handles reflexes  
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Frontal lobe   Lobe used as motor area, for reasoning, planning, organizing, and language (HIGHER THOUGHT)  
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Temporal lobe   Lobe used as auditory cortex (hearing, understanding language)  
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Parietal lobe   Lobe used as somatosensory (sense of touch) cortex  
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Occipital   Lobe used as visual cortex - sent and processed  
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Right side of brain   Hemisphere of brain used for visual and spatial tasks (controls left side of brain)  
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Left side of brain   Hemisphere of brain used for language process (controls right side of body)  
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Broca's area   Area of brain (left hemisphere) used for production of speech  
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Wernicke's area   Area of brain (left hemisphere) used for understanding language  
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Split brain studies   Procedure when corpus callosum is severed (object on left field of view sends signal to right side, not able to be described in words)  
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Endocrine system   Body system consisting of glands that send chemicals to bloodstream to control bodily functions  
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Hormones   Chemicals often released by endocrine glands (Ex: adrenaline, estrogen, testosterone)  
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Chromosomes   Consist of DNA and protein, regular humans have 23  
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Turner's syndrome   Disability formed by having no Y chromosome - sterile women with no ovaries, little development of sex characteristics  
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Klinefelter's syndrome   Disability formed by having a Y chromosome, and 2 or more X chromosomes - sterile men with female characteristics  
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Homozygous   When two genes in a pair are the same  
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Heterozygous   When two genes in a pair are different  
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Genotype   Consists of organism's genes, which never change  
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Phenotype   Consists of organism's characteristics, which can change as one ages  
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Plasticity   Idea that structure and function of brain are more malleable than we thought  
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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation   Procedure where magnetic coil sends magnetic field 2 cm deep which allows for virtual temporary lesions  
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