Brain Flashcards
(17 cards)
Whats the space between a neuron and dendrite of another?
Synapse
What is the master gland of endocrine system?
Pituitary gland; releases hormones and triggers endocrine glands to secrete hormones
What helps the brain form new neural pathways?
Plasticity; brain adapting to new changes
What are the parts of a neuron?
- Cell body; cells life support center and contains the nucleus
- Dendrites; recirve messages and conduct towards cell body
- Axon; sends messages to other neurons, muscles, or glands
- Glial cells; support and protect neurons; plays role in learning, thinking and memory
- Myelin sheath; helps speed neural impulses
What is the relationship between the left and right hemisphere?
- Left hemisphere; controls the bodys right side
- Right hemisphere; controls the bodys left side
What is action potential?
Electrical charge; travels down an axon
What is the amygdala?
limbic system
Bean sized neural clusters; linked to **emotion **
Aggression and fear
What is a hemispherectomy?
One side of the brains hemisphere gets removed
What is the corpus collosum?
A band of neural fibers; carries messages between the 2 hemispheres
What is neurogenisis?
The formation of new neurons
What is lateralization?
Functions are performed by different regions of the brain
What is the brain stem?
Controls automatic survival functions
ex. heartbeat & breathing
What is the thalamus?
- Top of the brain stem
- directs sensory messages to cortex
What is the medulla?
- Base of brain stem
- Controls heart beat & breathing
What age group is the brain most flexible to damage?
During childhood
What is the hypothalamus?
limbic system
- several maintenance functions
- linked to emotion and rewards
- helps govern endocrine system
What is the hippocampus?
limbic system
process for storage, conscious memories of facts and events
