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Unfinished (Missing C)

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Term
Definition
Phrenology   Nineteenth century theory that bumps on the skull reveal a person's abilities and traits.  
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Franz Gall   Founder of phrenology  
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Biological Psychology   Study of links betw. biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes. Some are known as "behavioural neuroscientists", "neuropsychologists", "behaviors geneticists", "physiological psychologists" or "biopsychologists".  
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Neuron   Basic building block of the nervous system; Specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses. Electrical signals travel from dendrites > to cell body > to axon  
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Dendrite   Bushy, branching extensions receiving messages and conducting impulses towards the cell body. Receive incoming signals from other neurons.  
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Axon   Extension of a neuron carrying messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands. Longest part of the cell body.  
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Myelin Sheath   Fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing axons of neurons. Enables speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage-like node to the next  
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Multiple Sclerosis   Degeneration of the myelin sheath causing multiple sclerosis  
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Action Potential   Neural impulse; brief electrical charge traveling down the axon of a neuron. Caused by the depolarization of neural membrane  
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Depolarization   Movement of positively charge ions across the neuron membrane. Travels in one direction (toward axon terminal)  
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Threshold   Minimal level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse  
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All-Or-None Response   Neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing. Characteristic of the initiation of neural impulses. Increased excitatory signals do not affect intensity  
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Selective Permeability   Axon of a resting neuron has gates that do not allow positive sodium ions to pass through the cell membrane. (potassium + sodium)  
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Refractory Period   Time interval in which dendrites transmit more electrical signals to axons. Action potential not possible during this time.  
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Neurotransmitter   Chemical messengers crossing synaptic gaps between neurons. Released from vesicles on the end of the axon. They bind to receptor sites and influence the generation of neural impulses.  
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Reuptake   Absorption of excess neurotransmitter molecules by a sending neuron  
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Synapse   Junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite/cell body of the receiving neuron. Gap is known as synaptic gap/cleft  
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Acetylcholine (ACh)   Muscle movement, attention, arousal, memory, emotion  
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Dopamine   Voluntary movement, learning, memory, emotion  
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Seratonin   Sleep, wakefulness, appetite, mood, aggression, impulsivity, sensory perception, temperature regulation, pain suppression  
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Endorphins   Pain relief, pleasure  
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Norepinephrine (hormone functioning as a neurotransmitter)   Learning, memory, dreaming, awakening, emotion, stress-related increase in heart rate, stress-related slowing of digestive processes  
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GABA   Main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain  
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Glutamate   Main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain  
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Agonists   Molecules similar enough to neurotransmitters to bind to receptor sites on a dendrite and mimic the neurotransmitters effects  
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Antagonists   Molecules similar enough to neurotransmitters to bind to receptor sites on a dendrite and block the neurotransmitter's effects  
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Nervous System   Electrochemical information system + communication network. Consists of nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.  
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Nerves   Bundled axons forming neural "cables" connection nervous system + muscles, glands, and sense organs.  
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Central Nervous System (CNS)   Brain and spinal cord  
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Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)   Sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body  
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Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)   Part of the PNS; controlling the glands and muscles of the internal organs (e.g. heart)  
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Somatic Nervous System (SoNS)   Part of the PNS; controlling the body's skeletal muscles (skeletal nervous system)  
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Sympathetic Nervous System   Part of the ANS; arousing the body, mobilizing energy in stressful situations  
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Parasympathetic Nervous System   part of the ANS; calming the body, conserving energy.  
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Sensory Neuron (Afferent)   part of the SoNS; neurons carry incoming information from sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord. External stimuli is converted into electrical impulses  
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Motor Neuron (Efferent)   part of SoNS; neurons carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands  
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Interneuron   Neuron transmitting impulses betw. other neurons esp. as part of a reflex arc. Located exclusively withing brain and spinal cord  
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Reflex   Simple, automatic, inborn response to sensory stimulus (e.g. knee-jerk response) Enable us to respond to stimuli before it does harm  
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Neural Networks   Interconnecting clusters of neurons in the central nervous system. Formation facilitated by the strengthening of synaptic connections.  
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Endocrine System   Body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands secreting hormones into the bloodstream  
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Hormones   Chemical messengers o the endocrine system; influence growth, reproduction, metabolism, and mood.  
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Pituitary Gland   Endocrine system "master" gland. Influenced by the hypothalamus. Regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands  
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Brain Lesion   Tissue destruction; naturally or experimentally caused.  
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Electroencephalogram (EEG)   Amplified recording of electrical activity waves sweeping across the brain's surface. Measured with electrodes on the scalp.  
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CT Scan   Series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by a computer to represent a slice of the brain's structure  
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MRI   Uses magnetic fields and radio wakes to produce CGI of soft tissue; shows brain anatomy  
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PET   Visual display of brain activity detecting a radioactive form of glucose and where it goes when the brain performs tasks (e.g. movement and speech)  
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Structural MRI   Used to study brain anatomy. Measures glucose levels.  
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Functional MRI   Revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Studies brain structure and function. Measures oxygen levels in the brain.  
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Brainstem   Oldest part / central core of the brain. Begins where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull. Responsible for automatic survival functions (which we are least consciously aware of). Crossover point for nerves.  
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Medulla   Base of the brainstem controlling heartbeat and breathing  
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Pons   Above medulla; Helps coordinate movements  
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Reticular Formation   Nerve network travelling through the brainstem and thalamus. Plays a role in controlling arousal.  
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Thalamus   Top of brainstem; Brain's sensory control center. Receives info from all sense except smell. Directs messages to the sensory receiving areas of the cortex + transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla  
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Cerebellum   Back of brainstem; "little brain". Processes sensory input and coordinates movement output, balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.  
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Limbic System   Below the cerebral hemispheres; Invol. several areas near the edge of the cortex. Concerned w/ instinct and mood. Controls basic emotions (fear, pleasure, anger) and drives (hunger, sex, dominance, care of offspring)  
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Hippocampus   Processes memory of new information and recent events  
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Amygdala   Lima-bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system. Play a role in emotions (aggression and fear)  
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Hypothalamus   Neural structure below the thalamus. Directs maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp). Governs endocrine system via pituitary gland + linked to emotion and reward.  
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Cerebrum   Two large hemispheres contributing to 85% of the brains weight. Forms specialized work teams enabling perceiving, thinking, and speaking.  
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Cerebral Cortex   Thin surface layer of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebrum. Control and information-processing center  
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Gilal Cells   Cells in the nervous system supporting, nourishing, and protecting neurons. Play a role in learning and thinking.  
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Front Lobes   Portion of the cerebral cortex behind the forehead. Involved in speaking, muscle movements, planning, and judgement.  
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Parietal Lobes   Portion of the cerebral cortex on top of the the head toward the rear. Receives sensory input for touch and body position  
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Temporal Lobes   Portion of the cerebral cortex lying above the ears. Includes auditory areas. Each receive info from opposite ears  
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Occipital Lobes   Portion of the cerebral cortex at the back of the head. Visual processing center of the brain  
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Association Area   Areas not involved in primary motor or sensory functions. Involved in higher mental functions (learning, remembering, thinking and speaking)  
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Motor Cortex   Area at the rear of the frontal lobes controlling voluntary movement.  
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Somatosensory Cortex   Area at the front of the parietal loves registering and processing body touch and movement sensations.  
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Cortical Homunculus   Pictorial representation of primary motor cortex and primary somatosensory cortex divisions  
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Phineas Gage   Man with an injured frontal lobe.  
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Broca's Area   Brain area controlling speech  
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Angular Gyrus   Brain area involved in reading aloud  
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Wernicke's Area   Brain area involved in understanding and producing meaningful speech  
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Aphasia   Language impairment caused by damage to the left hemisphere in Broca's area (speech) or Wernicke's area (understanding).  
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Plasticity   Brain's ability to change by reorganizing after damage or building new pathways based on experience. Capacity of one brain area to take over the functions of another damaged brain area.  
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Neurogenesis   Process by which neurons are generated. Neurons are formed in the brain, and are stimulated by neurogenesis.  
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Lateralization   Localization of functions to right/left sides of the brain  
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Corpus Callosum   Band of neural fibers connection brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them  
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Left Hemisphere   Responsible for logic, analysis, sequencing, linear, mathematics, language, facts, thinking in works, words of songs, and computation. (MATH, LOGIC, SCIENCE, LANGUAGE)  
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Right Hemisphere   Responsible for creativity, imagination, holistic thinking, intuition, arts (motor skill), rhythm (beats), non-verbal, feelings, visualization, song tune, daydreaming. (ART, NON-VERBAL, EMOTIONS)  
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Split Brain   Condition resulting from a cut corpus callosum. Used to reduce epileptic seizures  
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Consciousness   Awareness of selves and our environment  
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Dual Processing   Information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks  
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Adrenal Glands   Endocrine glands sitting above the kidneys. They secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) to arouse the body during "fight or flight" response or times of stress  
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