Terms And Concepts To Remember

Question 0

Neuron

Answer 0

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

Question 1

Biological psychology

Answer 1

A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior

Question 2

Sensory neurons

Answer 2

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Question 3

Motor neurons

Answer 3

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

Question 4

Interneurons

Answer 4

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

Question 5

Dendrite

Answer 5

The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Question 6

Axon

Answer 6

The extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers,through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Question 7

Myelin sheath

Answer 7

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next

Question 8

Action potential

Answer 8

A neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Question 9

Threshold

Answer 9

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Question 10

Synapse

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Neurotransmitters

Answer 11

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

Question 12

Reuptake

Answer 12

A neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

Question 13

Endorphins

Answer 13

Morphine within, natural opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

Question 14

Nervous system

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Central nervous system

Answer 15

The brain and spinal cord

Question 16

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 16

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system the rest of the body

Question 17

Nerves

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Somatic nervous system

Answer 18

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles
Also called the skeletal nervous system

Question 19

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 19

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

Question 20

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 20

The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body,mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

Question 21

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 21

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Question 22

Reflex

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Endocrine system

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Hormones

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Lesion

Answer 25

Tissue destruction, a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

Question 26

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Answer 26

An amplified the recording the of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

Question 27

PET (positron emission tomography) Scan

Answer 27

A visual display of brain activity thy detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

Question 28

MRI ( magnetic resonance imaging)

Answer 28

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain activity

Question 29

fMRI (functional MRI)

Answer 29

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans, fMRI scans show brain function

Question 30

Brainstem

Answer 30

The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull, the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival instructions

Question 31

Medulla

Answer 31

The base of the brainstem controls heartbeat and breathing

Question 32

Reticular formation

Answer 32

A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

Question 33

Thalamus

Answer 33

The brains sensory switchboard located on top of the brainstem, it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Question 34

Cerebellum

Answer 34

The "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem, functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

Question 35

Limbic system

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Amygdala

Answer 36

two lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system

Question 37

Hypothalamus

Answer 37

A neural structure lying below the thalamus, it directs several maintenance activities, (eating,drinking, body temperature)

Question 38

Cerebral cortex

Answer 38

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres, the body's ultimates control and information processing center

Question 39

Glial cells (glia)

Answer 39

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Question 40

Frontal lobes

Answer 40

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead, involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements

Question 41

Parietal lobes

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Occipital lobes

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Temporal lobes

Answer 43

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears, includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

Question 44

Motor cortex

Answer 44

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Question 45

Sensory cortex

Answer 45

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

Question 46

Association areas

Answer 46

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions

Question 47

Plasticity

Answer 47

The brains ability to change especially during childhood by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Question 48

Corpus callosum

Answer 48

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

Question 49

Split brain

Answer 49

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them