Glossary

Question 1

Acetylcholine

Answer 1

A critical neurotransmitter that controls the functions such as memory, attention, sleep, heart rate, and muscular activity

Question 2

Action Potential

Answer 2

electrical charge that travels along the axon to the neuron’s terminal

Question 3

Addiction

Answer 3

loss of control over drug intake or compulsive seeking and taking of drugs

Question 4

Adenosine

Answer 4

inhibits wakefulness, serving the purpose of slowing down cellular activity

Question 5

What happens to adenosine levels during sleep?

Answer 5

they decrease during sleep

Question 6

Adrenal Gland

Answer 6

secretes hormones

Question 7

Outer layer of the adrenal gland

Answer 7

adrenal cortex

Question 8

Inner portion of the adrenal gland

Answer 8

adrenal medulla

Question 9

What does the adrenal medulla secrete?

Answer 9

epinephrine and norepinephrine

Question 10

Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 10

death of neurons in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and other brain regions

Question 11

Amnesia

Answer 11

memory impairment usually caused by brain damage

Question 12

Amygdala

Answer 12

structure in the forebrain that plays a central role in emotional learning

Question 13

Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Answer 13

loss of control of voluntary muscle movements

Question 14

Analgesic

Answer 14

drug that relieves pain without causing a loss of conciousness

Question 15

Anxiety

Answer 15

heightened arousal characterized by intense worry

Question 16

Aphasia

Answer 16

disturbance in language comprehension

Question 17

Apoptosis

Answer 17

programmed cell death

Question 18

Arousal

Answer 18

physiological state involving changes in the body and brain that motivate behaviour

Question 19

Astrocyte

Answer 19

A star-shaped glial cell in the cen-
tral nervous system that nourishes neurons;
regulates the formation, maintenance, and
pruning of synapses; and contributes to the
blood-brain barrier.

Question 20

Attention

Answer 20

A state of arousal in which the
brain’s sensory processing is directed at a
limited number of stimuli. Voluntary (en-
dogenous) attention is a conscious decision
to focus on a particular stimulus. Involuntary
(exogenous) attention is an unplanned focus
on a change in the environment, such as a
loud noise or sudden movement.

Question 21

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Answer 21

A condition characterized by
excessively inattentive, hyperactive, or
impulsive behaviors

Question 22

Auditory Nerve

Answer 22

A branch of the vestib-
ulocochlear nerve that transmits auditory
information from the cochlea of the ear to
the brain

Question 23

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 23

A set
of conditions characterized, in part, by
impaired social communication and inter-
action, and narrow, obsessive interests or
repetitive behaviors.

Question 24

Autonomic Nervous Sytem

Answer 24

A part of the
peripheral nervous system responsible for
regulating the activity of internal organs.
It includes the sympathetic and parasympa-
thetic nervous systems.

Question 25

Axon

Answer 25

The fiber-like extension of a neuron by
which it sends information to target cell

Question 26

Axon Terminal

Answer 26

The ends of axons where
neurotransmitters are released to target cells.

Question 27

Basal Ganglia

Answer 27

A group of interconnected
structures located deep in the brain that play
an important role in voluntary movement,
motor skill learning, and habits. These struc-
tures include the caudate nucleus, putamen,
nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, and
substantia nigra.

Question 28

Benzodiazapines

Answer 28

A class of drugs that en-
hance activity of the brain’s primary inhibitory
neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA), to produce sedative and anti-anxiety
effects. Benzodiazepines are often prescribed
to treat anxiety disorders and insomnia.

Question 29

Blood-Brain Barrier

Answer 29

A protective membrane
composed of tightly packed endothelial cells
lining the brain’s capillaries and highly special-
ized astrocytes, which controls the passage of
certain molecules into and out of the brain.

Question 30

Brain Waves

Answer 30

Oscillating patterns of brain
activity that can be detected and recorded
using electroencephalography (EEG)

Question 31

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Answer 31

A neurotrophic peptide that supports
the growth and survival of neurons

Question 32

Brainstem

Answer 32

The major route by which the
forebrain sends information to and receives
information from the spinal cord and pe-
ripheral nerves. The brainstem includes the
midbrain, pons, and medulla, and it controls,
among other things, respiration and the regu-
lation of heart rhythms

Question 33

Broca’s Area

Answer 33

A region of the frontal lobe —
usually the left hemisphere — that governs
speech production.

Question 34

Cell Body

Answer 34

Also called the soma, the part of a
neuron that contains the nucleus (with DNA)
and the organelles, but not the projections
such as the axon or dendrites

Question 35

Central Nervous System

Answer 35

the brain and spinal cord

Question 36

Cerebellum

Answer 36

A large structure located at the
roof of the hindbrain that helps to control the
coordination of movement by making connec-
tions to the pons, medulla, spinal cord, and
thalamus. It also may be involved in aspects of
motor learning.

Question 37

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 37

The wrinkled, outermost
layer of the cerebrum consisting primarily of
neuron cell bodies

Question 38

Cerebrum

Answer 38

The largest part of the human
brain associated with higher order function-
ing, such as thinking, perceiving, planning,
and understanding language, as well as the
control of voluntary behavior.

Question 39

Circadian Rhythm

Answer 39

A cycle of behavior or
physiological change lasting approximately
24 hours.

Question 40

Cochlea

Answer 40

A snail-shaped, fluid-filled organ
of the inner ear responsible for converting
sound into electrical potentials to produce an
auditory sensation.

Question 41

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Answer 41

A form
of counseling used to identify and change
negative thought patterns that can contribute
to anxiety and mood disorders.