organ system continaing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal & transmit signals btwn different parts of its body. 

- 2 parts: central (brain, spinal cord, retina) & peripheral 

application of principles of biology to the study of physiological, genetic & developmental mechanisms of behavior in human & non-human animals;

investigates: nerves, neurotransmitters, brain cicuitry & basic bio processes that underlie normal & abnormal behavior 

wide, flat bundle of neural fibers beneath the cortex in the eutherian brain at the longitudinal fissure;

connects L & R cerebral hemispheres & facilitates interhemispheric communication;

largest white-matter structure of the brain

multipolar neuron which connects afferent neurons & efferent neurons in neural pathways;

always in the CNS

electrically excitable cell that processes & transmits info by electrical & chemical signaling - occurs via synapses, specialized connections w/ other cells;

neurons connect to ea. other to form networks;

core components of the nervous system;

specialized neurons: sensory, motor, interneurons (connect neurons within the same region of the brain/spinal cord)

short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises & falls, following a consistent trajectory; 

action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, called excitable cells, which include neurons, muscle cells & endocrine cells, as well as some plant cells;

in neurons they play a central role in cell-to-cell communication

branched, tree-like structure attached to the soma of a neuron; 

receives info from the terminal buttons of other neurons

gray matter located around the cerebral aqueduct within the tegmentum of the midbrain; 

plays a role in the descending modulation of pain & in defensive behavior;

pain & temperature fibers of the spinothalamic tract also send info to the PAG

a chemical that is released by a terminal button;

has an excitatory or inhibitory effect on another neuron

A long strand of bundles of protein filaments arranged around a hollow core;

part of the cytoskeleton & involved in transporting substances from place-to-place within the cell

Acetylcholinesterase

a neuron w/ 1 axon attached to its soma;

the axon divides, one branch receiving sensory info & the other sending info into the CNS

the bud at the end of a branch of an axon; 

forms synapses w/ another neuron; 

sends info to that neuron

a molecule of prime importance to cellular energy metabolism;

its breakdown liberates energy

the smallest of glial cells; 

act as phagocytes & protect the brain from invading organisms

the electical charge across a cell membrane; 

the difference in electrical potential inside & outside of the cell

the membrane potential of a neuron when it is not being altered by excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials;

approximately -70mV in the giant squid axon

a layer of cells that line the inside of the neural tube;

contains progenitor cells that divide & give rise to cells of the CNS

a narrow tube interconnecting the 3rd & 4th ventricles of the brain; 

located in the center of the mesencephalon

the midbrain;

a region of the brain that surrounds the cerebral aqueduct;

includes the tectum & tegmentum

a hollow tube, close at the rostral end, the forms from ectodermal tissue early in embryonic development; 

serves as the origin of the CNS

a group of subcortical nuclei in the telencephalon, the caudate nucleus, the globus pallidus, and the putamen;

important parts of the motor system

a major part of the brain located dorsal to the pons, containing the 2 cerebellar hemispheres, covered w/ the cerebellar cortex;

an important component of the motor system

the group of nuclei of the diencephalon situated beneath the thalamus;

involved in regulation of the autonomic nervous system, control of the anterior & posterior pituitary glands and integration of species-typical behaviors

the most caudal portion of the brain;

located in the myelencephalon, immediately rostral to the spinal cord

the ventral part of the midbrain;

includes the periaqueductal gray matter, reticular formation, red nucleus & substantia nigra

special glia w/ fibers that grow radially outward from the ventricular zone to the surface of the cortex;

provide guidance for neurons migrating outward during brain development

a forebrain strucutre of the temporal lobe, constituting an important part of the limbic system;

includes the hippocampus proper (Ammon's horn), dentate gyrus & subiculum

the protrusion at the end of the olfactory nerve;

receives input from the olfactory receptors

a fissure located in the occipital lobe on the medial surface of the brain;

most of the primary visual cortex is located along its upper & lower banks

a structure in the interior of the rostral temporal lobe, containing a set of nuclei;

part of the limbic system

a group of cell bodies within the medial geniculate body of the thalamus;

receives fibers from the auditory system & projects fibers to the primary auditory cortex

the anterior part of the pituitary gland;

an endocrine gland whose secretions are controlled by the hypothalamic hormones

nuclei located within the cerebellar hemispheres;

receive projections form the cerebellar cortex & send projections out of the cerebellum to other parts of the brain

(ANS);

the portion fo the PNS that controls the body's vegetative functions 

an inert substance that is given to an organism in lieu of a physiologically active drug;

used experimentally to control for the effects of mere administration of a drug

division of a progenitor cell that gives rise to 2 identical progenitor cells;

increases the size of the ventricular zone & hence the brain that develops from it

the region of the frontal lobe rostral to the primary motor cortex; 

also known as the premotor cortex

phylogenetically old cortex, located at the medial edge ("limbus") of the cerebral hemispheres;

part of the limbic system

the posterior part of the pituitary gland;

an endocrine gland that contains hormone-secreting terminal buttons of axons whose cell bodies lie within the hypothalamus

intravenous injection (IV) - directly into a vein;

intraperitoneal injection (IP) - into the peritoneal cavity, the space that surrounds the stomach, intestines, liver & other abdominal organs;

intramuscular injection (IM) - into a muscle;

subcutaneous injection (SC) - into the space beneath the skin

oral - by mouth;

sublingual - placed beneath the tongue;

intrarectal - into the rectum;

inhalation - inhaling into the lungs;

topical - onto the skin or mucus membrane;

intracerebral - directly into the brain;

intracerebroventricular (ICV) - into one of the cerebral ventricles