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Definition
| area in the left frontal lobe that controls production of speech; when damaged, will result in loss of the ability to speak, known as expressive aphasia |
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| area in the left temporal lobe that is responsible for understanding language and making meaningful sentences; when damaged, results in loss of the ability to comprehend written and spoken language, known as receptive aphasia |
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| interruptions in brain tissue that result from destruction of tissue by injury, tumors, scarring; enables more systematic study of the loss of function when tissue loss results from ablation or destruction by chemical applications |
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| the surgical cutting or removal neural connections |
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| broad band of nervous tissue that connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres transmitting information from one side of the brain to the other, may be surgically cut (split brain) in order to relieve epilepsy |
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| the fact that the left and right hemispheres do not perform exactly the same functions |
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| Functions of the left cerebral hemisphere |
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Definition
| specialized for verbal, mathematical, and analytical functions |
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| Functions of the nonverbal right hemisphere |
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Definition
| specialized for spatial, musical, and holistic functions such as identifying faces and recognizing emotional facial expressions |
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| Computerized axial tomography scan (CAT or CT scan) |
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Definition
| creates a computerized image using x-rays passed through various angles of the brain showing two-dimensional "slices" that can be arranged to show the extent of lesion and structure |
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| Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) |
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Definition
| detailed computerized images using a magnetic field and pulses of radio waves that cause emission of signals that depend upon the density of tissue, shows the structure of the brain |
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| Electroencephalogram (EEG) |
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Definition
| an amplified tracing of brain activity produced when electrodes positioned over the scalp transmit signals about the brain's electrical activity (brain waves) to an electroencephalograph machine; used to study the brain during states of arousal such as sleeping and dreaming, to detect abnormalities and to study cognition |
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Definition
| amplified tracings in the electroencephalogram, resulting from a response to a specific stimulus presented to a subject |
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| Positron emission tomography (PET) |
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| shows brain activity when radioactively tagged glucose rushes to active neurons and emits positrons by producing color computer graphics |
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| shows brain activity at higher resolution than the PET scan when changes in oxygen concentration near active neurons alter magnetic qualities |
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Definition
major subdivision of the nervous system, consists of the brain and the spinal cord
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| Peripheral nervous system |
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Definition
| major subdivision of the nervous system, lies outside the brain and spinal cord, includes all of the sensory and motor neurons and subdivisions called the autonomic and somatic nervous systems; responsible for carrying out sensory information to and motor information away from the central nervous system via spinal and cranial nerves |
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| part of the peripheral nervous system; includes motor neurons that stimulate skeletal, or voluntary muscle |
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| part of the peripheral nervous system, which includes motor neurons that stimulate smooth, or involuntary and heart muscles; subdivided into the agnostic sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system |
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| Sympathetic nervous system |
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Definition
| subdivision of the peripheral nervous system and autonomic nervous system whose stimulation results in responses that help the body deal with stressful events (dialated pupils, release of glucose from the liver, dilation of bronchi, inhibition of digestive functions, acceleration of heart rate, secretion of adrenalin from adrenal glands, acceleration of breathing rate, and inhibition of secretion of tear glands) |
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| Parasympathetic nervous system |
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Definition
| subdivision of the peripheral nervous system and autonomic nervous system whose stimulation calms the body following sympathetic stimulation by restoring digestive processes, returning pupils to normal size, stimulating tear glands, and restoring normal bladder contractions |
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| portion of the central nervous system below the medulla oblongata that starts at the base of the back and extends upward to the base of the skull where it joins the brain; is composed of interneurons and glial cells, which are bathed by cerebrospinal fluid produced by glial cells; spinal cord is protected by membranes called meninges and spinal column of bony vertebrae |
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Definition
| portion of the central nervous system above the spinal cord that has the consistency of soft-serve yogurt; it is covered by protective membranes called meninges and is housed in the skull |
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| peaks or folding-out portions of convolutions of the cerebral cortex |
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| valleys or folding-in portions of convolutions of the cerebral cortex |
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| the folding in and out of the cerebral cortex that increases the surface area of the brain |
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| regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have specific sensory of motor functions, but are involved in higher mental functions, such as thinking, planning, remembering, and communicating |
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| the control of one side of the body by the other side of the brain |
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| part of the brainstem that regulates heart rhythm, blood flow, breathing rate, digestion, and vomiting |
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| part of the brainstem that includes portion of the reticular activating system or reticular formation critical for arousal and wakefulness; sends information to and from medulla, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex; serves as a bridge between cerebral hemispheres and both medulla and cerebellum |
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| part of the brainstem that controls posture, equilibrium, and movement |
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| clusters of neurons deep in the brain (including the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidue, and substantia nigra) that regulate initiation of movements, balance, eye movements, and posture; links the thalamus with the motor cortex and other motor areas; is involved with reward/punishment learning and focus and some are involved in emotion |
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| part of the forebrain that relays visual, auditory, taste, somatosensory (skin sensation) information to and from appropriate areas of cerebral cortex, some are involved in emotion; involved in encoding sensory memory into STM |
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Definition
| part of the brain under the thalamus that controls feeding behaviour, drinking behavior, body temperature, sexual behavior, threshold for rage behavior, activation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, secretion of hormones of the pituitary, helps determine biological rhythms such as menstrual cycle |
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| part of the limbic system of the brain that influences emotions such as aggression, fear, and self-protective behaviors; is involved in the storage of emotional memories |
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| part of the limbic system of the brain that enables formation of new long-term memories for facts and personal experiences |
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Definition
| convoluted part of the forebrain that is the center for higher order processes such as thinking, planning, judgment; receives and processes sensory information and directs movement |
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| region in the back of the cerebral cortex that is the primary area for processing visual information; information from left half of visual field of both eyes is processed in right occipital lobe, from right visual field in left occipital lobe |
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Definition
| region on top of the cerebral cortex the front strip of which is the somatosensory cortex that processes sensory information including touch, temperature, and pain from body parts; association areas perceive objects |
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| front region of the cerebral cortex that interprets and controls emotional behaviors, makes decisions, carries out plans; contains motor cortex (strip just in front of somatosensory cortex) that initiates movements and integrates activities of skeletal muscles; produces speech and is contralateral |
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| side regions of cerebral cortex that are primary area for hearing (contralaterally), understanding language (left), understanding music/tonality (right), and processing smell (front) |
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| modifiability of neural connections that enables generation of new synapses which results in storing and retrieval of memories of one part of the brain taking over the function of another damaged region |
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| supportive cells of the nervous system that guide the growth of developing neurons, help provide nutrition for and get rid of wastes of neurons, and form an insulating sheath around neurons that speeds conduction |
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Definition
the basic unit of structure and function of the nervous system; perform three major functions: receive information, process it, and transmit it to the rest of the body
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Definition
| also called the cyton or soma, the part of the neuron that contains cytoplasm and the nucleus which directs synthesis of such substances as neurotransmitters |
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| branching tubular processes of a neuron that have receptor sites for receiving information |
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Definition
| a long, single conducting fiber covered in myelin, extending from the cell body of a neuron that transmits an action potential and that branches and ends in tips called terminal buttons (a.k.a terminals, or synaptic knobs) that secrete neurotransmitters |
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Definition
| tips at the end of axons which secrete neurotransmitters when stimulated by the action potential (a.k.a axon terminals, end bulbs, or synaptic knobs) |
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| a fatty covering of the axon made by glial cells which speeds up conduction of the action potential |
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| the growth of new neurons |
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Definition
| chemical messengers released by the terminal buttons of the presynaptic neuron into the synapse |
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| a neurotransmitter that causes contraction of skeletal muscles, helps regulate heart muscles, is involved in memory, and also transmits messages between the brain and spinal cord; lack of ACh is associated with Alzheimer's disease |
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| a neurotransmitter that stimulates the hypothalamus to synthesize hormones and affects alertness, attention, and movement; lack of dopamine is associated with Parkinson's disease; too much is associated with schizophrenia |
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| a major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in information processing throughout the cortex and especially memory formation in the hippocampus; both schizophrenia and Alzheimer's may involve glutamate receptors |
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Definition
| a neurotransmitter associated with arousal, sleep, appetite, moods, and emotions; lack of serotonin is associated with depression |
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Definition
| neurotransmitters similar to the opiate morphine that relieves pain, and may induce feelings of pleasure |
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| Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) |
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Definition
| a neurotransmitter that inhibits firing of postsynaptic neurons; Huntington's disease and seizures are associated with malfunctioning GABA systems |
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Definition
| may mimic a neurotransmitter and bind to its receptor site to produce the effect of the neurotransmitter |
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Definition
| block receptor site inhibiting the effect of the neurotransmitter or agonist |
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Definition
| also called impulse, the "firing" of a neuron; a net flow of sodium ions into the cell that causes a rapid change in potential across the membrane when stimulation reaches threshold |
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| the law that the neuron either generates an action potential when the stimulation reaches threshold or it doesn't fire when stimulation is below threshold; the strength of the action potential is constant whenever it occurs |
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Definition
rapid conduction of impulses when the axon is myelinated since depolarizations jump from node (of Ranvier) to node
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| region of communication between the transmitting presynaptic neuron and receiving postsynaptic neuron or muscle or gland, consisting of the presynaptic terminal buttons, a tiny space and receptor sites typically on the postsynaptic dendrites |
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| Excitatory neurotransmitter |
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Definition
| chemical secreted at terminal button that causes the neuron on the other side of the synapse to generate an action potential (to fire) |
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| Inhibitory neurotransmitter |
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Definition
| chemical secreted at terminal button that reduces or prevents neural impulses in the posysynaptic neuron |
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| the simplest form of behavior |
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| the path over which the reflex travels which typically includes a receptor, sensory or afferent neuron, interneuron, motor or efferent neuron, and effector |
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| also called sensory neuron, nerve cell in our peripheral nervous system that transmits impulses from receptors to the brain or spinal cord |
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| cell typically in sense organs that initiates action potentials which then travel along sensory/afferent neurons to the central nervous system |
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| nerve cell in the central nervous system that transmits impulses between sensory and motor neurons |
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| also called motor neuron; nerve cell in the peripheral nervous system that transmits impulses from sensory or interneurons to muscle cells that contract or gland cells that secrete |
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| muscle cell that contracts or gland cell that secrete |
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| ductless glands that typically secrete hormones directly into the blood which help regulate body and behavioral processes |
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| chemical messenger that travels through the blood to a receptor site on a target organ |
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| endocrine gland in the brain that produces melatonin that helps regulate circadian rhythms and is associated with seasonal affective disorder |
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| Seasonal affective disorder |
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Definition
| a mood disorder characterized by depression, lethargy, sleep disturbances, and craving for carbohydrates; generally occurs during the winter, when the amount of daylight is low, and is sometimes treated with exposure to bright lights |
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| a.k.a master gland; endocrine gland in brain that produces stimulating hormones which promote secretion by other glands, including TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone); ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), which stimulates the adrenal cortex; FSH, which stimulates egg or sperm production; ADH (antidiuretic hormone), to help retain water in the body, and HGH (human growth hormone( |
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| endocrine gland in neck that produces thyroxin which stimulates and maintains metabolic activities |
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| endocrine glands in neck that produce parathyroid hormone which helps maintain calcium ion level in blood necessary for normal functioning of neurons |
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| endocrine glands atop kidneys, Adrenal cortex, the outer layer, produces steroid hormones such as cortisol which is a stress hormones; Adrenal medulla, the core, secretes adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) which prepare the body for "fight or flight" like the sympathetic nervous system does |
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| gland near stomach that secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon that regulates blood sugar necessary for fueling all behavioral processes; imbalances result in diabetes and hypoglycemia |
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| Nature-nurture controversy |
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Definition
| deals with the extent to which heredity and the environment each influences behavior |
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| Evolutionary psychologists |
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Definition
| psychoanalysts who take a Darwinian approach to the study of human behavior |
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