Flashcards in Unit 3-Bases of Behavior Deck (53):
1
neuron
• nerve cell
• basic building block of nervous system
• receive, carries and passes information to the next neuron
2
nervous system
• sends messages from the brain to the body for movement
• brings information to the brain from the senses
3
action potential
• a neural impulse
• A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron
4
refractory period
• 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
resting potential
• 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
synapse
• 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
excitatory effect
• 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
all or nothing principle
• 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
Neurotransmitters
• 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
inhibitory effect
• 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
receptor cells
• 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
interneurons
• nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for processing information
• related to sensory inputs and motor outputs
13
Central nervous system
• 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
sensory nerves
• 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
Motor nerves
• 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
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Peripheral nervous system
• 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
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somatic nervous system
• The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body skeletal muscles
• contains the motor nerves needed for the voluntary muscles
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sympathetic nervous system
• The part of the automatic nervous system that arouses the body to deal with perceived threats
• fight or flight response
19
automatic nervous system
• 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
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parasympathetic nervous system
• The part of the automatic nervous system that calms the body
• brings the body back down to a relaxed state
21
endocrine system
• One of the bodies two communication systems
• A set of glands that produce hormones, chemical messengers the circulate in the blood
22
hormone
• 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
hypothalamus
• The brain region controlling the pituitary gland
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adrenal gland
• 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