Unit 3-Bases of Behavior Flashcards
(53 cards)
1
Q
neuron
A
- nerve cell
- basic building block of nervous system
- receive, carries and passes information to the next neuron
2
Q
nervous system
A
- sends messages from the brain to the body for movement
* brings information to the brain from the senses
3
Q
action potential
A
- a neural impulse
* A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron
4
Q
refractory period
A
- The recharging phase during which a neuron, after firing, cannot generate another action potential
- once the refractory period is complete the neuron can fire
5
Q
resting potential
A
- The state of a neuron when it is at rest in capable of generating an action potential
- The neuron is set and ready to fire
6
Q
synapse
A
- The tiny, fluid filled gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of another
- The axon potential cannot jump the gap
7
Q
excitatory effect
A
- a neurotransmitter effect that makes it more likely that the receiving neuron will generate an action potential or fire
- the second neuron is more likely to fire
8
Q
all or nothing principle
A
- The principal stating that if a neuron fires, then it always fires are the same and intensity
- All action potentials have the same strength
9
Q
Neurotransmitters
A
• A chemical messenger that travels across the synapse from one neutron to the next and influences whether a neuron will generate an action potential
10
Q
inhibitory effect
A
- a neurotransmitter effect makes it less likely that the receiving neuron will generate an action potential or fire
- The second me around is less likely to fire
11
Q
receptor cells
A
- specialized cells in the sensory systems of the body that can turn other kinds of energy in the action potentials (neural impulses) that the brain can process
- receptor cells in the eye turn light into a nueral impulse the brain understands
12
Q
interneurons
A
- nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for processing information
- related to sensory inputs and motor outputs
13
Q
Central nervous system
A
- The brain and spinal cord
- The brain is the location of most information processing
- The spinal cord is the main pathway to and from the brain
14
Q
sensory nerves
A
- nerves that carry information from the sensory scepters to the spinal cord and brain
- Connect the sense organs to the brain and spinal cord
15
Q
Motor nerves
A
- nerves that carry information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
- carries messages from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of your body
16
Q
Peripheral nervous system
A
- The sensory and motor nerves that connects the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body
- Peripheral means outer region
- The system is subdivided into the somatic and automatic nervous system
17
Q
somatic nervous system
A
- The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body skeletal muscles
- contains the motor nerves needed for the voluntary muscles
18
Q
sympathetic nervous system
A
- The part of the automatic nervous system that arouses the body to deal with perceived threats
- fight or flight response
19
Q
automatic nervous system
A
- The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands in muscles of the internal organs
- it’s subdivisions are the sympathetic (arousing) division and the parasympathetic (calming) division
- Controls breathing, blood pressure, and digestive process
20
Q
parasympathetic nervous system
A
- The part of the automatic nervous system that calms the body
- brings the body back down to a relaxed state
21
Q
endocrine system
A
- One of the bodies two communication systems
* A set of glands that produce hormones, chemical messengers the circulate in the blood
22
Q
hormone
A
- A chemical messenger produced by the endocrine glands are circulating in the blood
- similar to neurotransmitters in that they are also messengers
- slower communication system, but with longer lasting effects
23
Q
hypothalamus
A
• The brain region controlling the pituitary gland
24
Q
adrenal gland
A
- endocrine glands that help to arouse the body in times of stress
- located just above the kidneys
- release epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
25
pituitary gland
* The endocrine systems master gland that
* in conjunction with address of the brain area, controls other endocrine glands
* located at the base of the brain and connects to the hypothalamus
26
thyroid gland
* endocrine gland that helps regulate the energy level in the body
* located in the neck
27
pancreatic gland
• regulates the level of blood sugar in the blood
28
computerized axial tomography
| CT or CAT
* A series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combine by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body
* reveals the brain structure
29
magnetic resonance imagery
* A technique that sues a magnetic field and radio waves to produce computer generated images that distinguish among types of soft tissue
* this allows us to see structures within the brain
30
Brainstem
* The oldest part and central core of the brain
* it begins where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull
* is responsible for automatic survival functions
31
recticular formation
* i'm nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling wakefulness and arousal
* extending up and down the spinal cord into the brain
* Controls an organisms alertness
* damage to this area can cause a coma
32
cerebellum
* The little brain attached to the rear of the brainstem
* it helps coordinate voluntary movements in balance
* if damage the person could perform basic movements but would lose find coordination skills
33
medulla
* located at the base of the brainstem
* it controls basic life supporting functions like heartbeat and breathing
* damage to this area can lead to death
34
thalamus
* The brain sensory switchboard, located on the top of the brainstem
* it direct messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex
* thalamus is Greek for inner chamber
35
limbic system
* A ring of structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral cortex
* it helps regulate functions such as memory, fear, aggression, hunger and thirst
* it includes the hypothalamus, hippo campus, and the amygdala
36
hypothalamus
* A neural structure lying below the thalamus
* it helps regulate the body's maintenance activities, such as eating, drinking, body temperature, and is linked to a motion
* plays a role in emotions, pleasure, and sexual function
37
amygdala
• in almond shaped cluster in the limbus system that controls emotional responses such as fear and anger
38
corpus callosum
* The large band of neural fibers that connects the two brain hemispheres
* allows them to communicate with each other
* is sometimes cut to prevent seizures
39
hippocampus
* A neural center located in the limbic system that wraps around the back of the thalamus
* it helps processing new memories for permanent storage
40
cerebral cortex
* The intricate fabric of interconnected neurons that form the bodies ultimate control and information processing center
* covers of the brains lower level structures
* contains in an estimated 30 billion nerve cells
* divided into four lobes
41
longitudinal fissure
* The long crevice that divides the cerebral cortex into left and right hemispheres
* this and other fissures on the brain create major divisions in the brain called lobes
42
frontal lobe's
* The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the four head that is involved in planning and judgment
* it includes the motor cortex
43
occipital lobe
* The portion of the cerebral cortex lying in the back of the head
* it includes the primary visual processing areas of the brain
44
Motor cortex
* A strip of brain tissue at the rear of the frontal lobe's that controls voluntary movement
* different parts of the cortex control different parts of the body
* The motor cortex in the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and vice versa
45
parietal lobes
* The portion of the cerebral cortex lying on the top of the head in towards the rear
* it includes the somatosensory cortex and general association areas used in processing information
* regions available for general processing, including mathematical reasoning
* design does the association lobes
46
temporal lobe's
* A portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears
* it includes the audiology (hearing) areas of the brain
47
somatosensory cortex
* The strip of the brain tissue at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensations
* soma is Greek for body
48
plasticity
• The brains ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or experience
49
The brains left hemisphere
* for most people, language functions are in the left hemisphere
* for a small percentage of people, language functions are in the right hemisphere
50
Wernickie's area
* A brains area of the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression
* our ability to understand what is said to us
* usually in the left temporal lobe
51
hemispheric differences
* left brain and right brained debunked
* Brain is divided into two hemispheres but works as a single entity
* both sides continually communicate via the corpus callosum, except in those with split brains
52
Broca's area
* The brain area of the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech
* if damage a person can form the ideas but cannot express them as speech
53
The brains right hemisphere
* houses the brain spacial abilities
* or spacial ability allows us to receive or organize things in a given space, judge distance
* helps in making connections between words
