Ch. 2

Question 1

The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Answer 1

Plasticity

Question 2

The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Answer 2

Biological psychology

Question 3

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, and language)

Answer 3

Cognitive neuroscience

Question 4

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nevous system

Answer 4

Neuron

Question 5

Neuron extensions that receive messages and conduct them toward the cell body

Answer 5

Dendrites

Question 6

The neuron extension that sends messages to other neurons or to muscles and glands

Answer 6

Axon

Question 7

A nerve impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Answer 7

Action potential

Question 8

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

Answer 8

Glial cells (glia)

Question 9

The junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of a receiving neuron

Answer 9

Synapse

Question 10

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Answer 10

Threshold

Question 11

In neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired

Answer 11

Refractory period

Question 12

A neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing

Answer 12

All-or-none response

Question 13

Neuron-produced chemicals that cross the synaptic gap to carry messages to other neurons or to muscles and glands

Answer 13

Neurotransmitter

Question 14

A neurotransmitter’s reabsorbtion by the sending neuron

Answer 14

Reuptake

Question 15

A chemical, such as opium, morphine, or heroin, that depresses neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Answer 15

Opiate

Question 16

“Morphine within” - natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

Answer 16

Endorphins

Question 17

The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems

Answer 17

Nervous system

Question 18

Composed of the brain and spinal chord

Answer 18

Central nervous system (CNS)

Question 19

The sensory and motor neurons connecting the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Answer 19

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Question 20

Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

Answer 20

Nerves

Question 21

Neuron that carries incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal chord

Answer 21

Sensory neuron

Question 22

Neuron that carries outgoing information from the brain and spinal chord to the muscles and glands

Answer 22

Motor neuron

Question 23

Neurons within the brain and spinal chord; communicate internally and process information between sensory inputs and motor outputs

Answer 23

Interneuron

Question 24

Peripheral nervous system division that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

Answer 24

Somatic nervous system

Question 25

Peripheral nervous system division that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

Answer 25

Autonomic nervous system

Question 26

Autonomic nervous system subdivision that arouses the body, mobilizing it’s energy

Answer 26

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 27

Autonomic nervous system subdivision that calms the body, conserving its energy

Answer 27

Parasympathetic nervous system

Question 28

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

Answer 28

Reflex

Question 29

The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Answer 29

Endocrine system

Question 30

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

Answer 30

Hormones

Question 31

A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress

Answer 31

Adrenal glands

Question 32

The most influential endocrine gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

Answer 32

Pituitary gland

Question 33

A device that uses electrodes placed on the scalp to record waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface

Answer 33

EEG (electroencephalograph)

Question 34

A view of brain activity showing where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

Answer 34

PET scan

Question 35

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. Shows brain anatomy

Answer 35

MRI

Question 36

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Shows brain function

Answer 36

fMRI

Question 37

The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal chord swells as it enters the skull

Answer 37

Brainstem

Question 38

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Answer 38

Medulla

Question 39

The brain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; directs sensory messages to the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Answer 39

Thalamus

Question 40

Nerve network running through the brainstem and into the thalamus; plays an important part in controlling arousal

Answer 40

Reticular formation

Question 41

The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

Answer 41

Cerebellum

Question 42

Neural system (including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

Answer 42

Limbic system

Question 43

Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

Answer 43

Amygdala

Question 44

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

Answer 44

Hypothalamus

Question 45

A neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events

Answer 45

Hippocampus

Question 46

A thin layer of interconnected neurons covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center

Answer 46

Cerebral cortex

Question 47

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

Answer 47

Frontal lobes

Question 48

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

Answer 48

Parietal lobes

Question 49

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

Answer 49

Occipital lobes

Question 50

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes areas that receive information from the ears

Answer 50

Temporal lobes

Question 51

The cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes; controls voluntary movements

Answer 51

Motor cortex

Question 52

The cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes; registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

Answer 52

Somatosensory cortex

Question 53

A false sensory experience, such as hearing something in the absence of an external auditory stimulus

Answer 53

Hallucination

Question 54

Cerebral cortex areas involved primarily in higher mental functions, such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

Answer 54

Association areas

Question 55

The formation of new neurons

Answer 55

Neurogenesis

Question 56

A large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Answer 56

Corpus callosum

Question 57

A condition in which the brain’s two hemispheres have been isolated by surgery that cut the fibers connecting them

Answer 57

Split brain

Question 58

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment

Answer 58

Consciousness

Question 59

The processing of one aspect of a problem at a time; used when we focus attention on new or complex tasks

Answer 59

Sequential processing

Question 60

The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s neural mode of information processing for many functions

Answer 60

Parallel processing

Question 61

Focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

Answer 61

Selective attention

Question 62

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

Answer 62

Inattentional blindness

Question 63

Failing to notice changes in the environment

Answer 63

Change blindness

Question 64

Our internal biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle

Answer 64

Circadian rhythm

Question 65

Rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. The muscles are relaxed but other body systems are active

Answer 65

REM sleep

Question 66

Relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

Answer 66

Alpha waves

Question 67

A periodic, natural loss of consciousness- as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma

Answer 67

Sleep

Question 68

Large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

Answer 68

Delta waves

Question 69

A pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, the, it adjusts melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness

Answer 69

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

Question 70

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

Answer 70

Insomnia

Question 71

A sleep disorder in which a person has uncontrollable sleep attacks, sometimes lapsing directly into REM sleep

Answer 71

Narcolepsy

Question 72

A sleep disorder in which a sleeping person repeatedly stops breathing until blood oxygen is so low the person awakens just long enough to draw a breath

Answer 72

Sleep apnea

Question 73

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind

Answer 73

Dream

Question 74

According to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream

Answer 74

Manifest content

Question 75

According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream

Answer 75

Latent content

Question 76

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation

Answer 76

REM rebound

Question 77

Part of the brainstem that helps coordinate movement and control sleep

Answer 77

Pons