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Definition
| compromise knowledge, beliefes and feelings |
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| sets of operations that wokr together to carry out a function, such as attention, perception, or memory |
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| a cell that receives signals from sense organs or other neurons, processes thesesignals, and sensthe signals to muscles, organs, or other neurons; the basic unit of the nervous system |
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Definition
| neuron that responds to signals from sensory organs and transmits those signals to the brain and spinal cord |
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| a neuron that sends signals to muscles in order to control movement (and also to bodily organs, such as glands). |
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Definition
| a neuron that is connected to other neurons, not to sense organs or muscles |
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| a set of neurons that work together to receive input, operate on it it in some way, and produce specific output. |
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Definition
| the central part of a neuron which contains the nucleus |
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| the skin that surrounds a cell |
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| the sending end of the neuron; the long cablelike structure extending from the cell body |
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| a structure at the end of the brand of an axon that can release chemicals into the space between neurons |
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| the reelike part of a neuron that receives messages from the axons of other neurons |
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Definition
| the negative charge within a neuron when it is at rest |
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Definition
| an atom that hsa a positive or negative charge |
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Definition
| the shifting change in charge that moves down the axon |
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Definition
| states that if the neuron is sufficiently stimulated, it fires, sending the action potential all the way down the axon and releasing chemicals from the terminal buttons; either the action potential occurs or it doesn't. |
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Definition
| a fatty substance that helps impulses efficiently travel down the axon |
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Definition
| the place where an axon of one neuron sends signals to the membrane of another neuron; the synapse includes the sending portions of an axon, the receiving portions of the receiving neuron, and the space inbetween them (synaptic cleft) |
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Definition
| the gap in the synapse between the axon of one neuron and the membrane of anohter across which communication occurs |
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Term
| neurotransmiter substance |
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Definition
| a chemical that carries a signal from the terminal button of one neuron to the dendrite or cell body of another; often referred to as a neurotransmitter |
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Term
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Definition
| neurotransmitter substances released by the receiving neuron that then influence the activity of the sending neuron |
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Definition
| a site on a dendrite or cell body where a neurotransmitter molecule attatches itself; like a lock that is opened by one key, a receptor receives only one type of neurotransmitter |
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Definition
| the process by which surplus neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft is reabsorbed back into the sending neuron so that the neuron can effectively fire again |
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Definition
| a chemical that mimics the effects of a neurotransmitter by activating a type of receptor |
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Term
| selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) |
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Definition
| a chemical that blocks the effect of a neurotransmitter |
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Definition
| a chemical that blocks the effect of a neurotransmitter |
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Definition
| a type of cell that helps neurons to form both synapses and connections when the brain is developing, influences the communication among neurons, and generall helps in the "care and feeding" of neurons |
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Term
| Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) |
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Definition
| the autonomic nervous system and the sensory-somatic nervous system. |
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| autonomic nervous system (ANS) |
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Definition
| controls the smooth muscles in the body, some glandular functions, and many of the body's self-regulating activities, such as digestion and circulation |
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Term
| sympathetic nervous system |
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Definition
| part of the autonomic nervous system that readies an animal to fight or to flee by speeding up the heart, increasing breathing rate to deliver more oxygen, dilating the pupils, producing sweat, decreasing salivation, inhibiting activity in the stomach, and relaxing the bladder |
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Term
| parasympathetic nervous system |
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Definition
| part of the autonomic nervous system that is "next to" the sympathetic nervous system and that tends to counteract its effects. |
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Term
| Sensory-somatic nervous system |
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Definition
| part of the peripheral nervous system that consists of neurons in the sensory organs that convey info to the brain as well as neurons that actually trigger muscles and glands |
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Definition
| consists of nerves that are attached to muscles that can be used voluntarily (striated muscles). |
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Definition
| the felxible rope of neurons and their connections that runs inside the backbone (spinal collumn). |
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| central nervous system (CNS) |
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Definition
| the spinal cord and the brain |
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Definition
| an automatic behavioral response to an event |
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Definition
| three protective layred membranes that cover the brain |
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Definition
| a left or right halfbrain, shaped roughly like a half a sphere |
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Definition
| the four major parts of each cerebral hemisphere--occiptal, temporal, parietal, and frontal; each lobe is present in each hemisphere |
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Definition
| the large bundle of axons that connects the two halves of the brain |
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Definition
| the convoluted pinkish-gray outer layer of the brain where most mentral processes arise |
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Definition
| parts of the brain located under the cerebral cortex |
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Definition
| a crease in the cerebral cortex |
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Definition
| a buldge between the sulci in the cerebral cortex |
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Definition
| a set of brain circuits that work together to accomplish a particular task |
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Definition
| the brain loves at the back of the head; concerned entirely with different aspects of vision |
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Definition
| the brain loves under the temples, in front of the ears; among its many functions are processing sound, entering new information into memory, storing visual memories, and comprehending language. |
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Definition
| the brain lobes at the top, rear of the brain; among their functions are attention, arithmetic, touch and registering spatial location |
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Definition
| the gyrus immediately behind the central sulcus; it registers sensations on the body and is organized by body part |
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Definition
| the brain loves located behind the forehead; critically involved in planning,memory search, motor control, speech control, reasoning, and emotions |
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Definition
| the gyrus immediately in front of the central sulcus; it controls fine movements and is organized by body part. it is also called primary motor cortex |
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Definition
| a person whose corpus callosum has been severed for medical reasons, so that nerual signals no longer pass from one cerebral hemisphere to the other |
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Definition
| according to a historical way of organizing brain structures, a unit of the brain that includes the cortex, thalamus, limbic system, and basal ganglia |
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Definition
| a subortical structure that receives signals from sensory and motor systems and plays a crucial role in attention, sleep, and other functions critical to daily life; often thought of as a switching center |
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Definition
| a brain structure that sits under the thalamus and plays a central role in controlling eating and drinking an din refulating the body's temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, sexual behavior, and hormones |
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Definition
| a subcoritcal structure that plays a key role in allowing new info to be stored in the brain's memory banks |
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Definition
| a subcortical structure that plays a special role in fear and is involved in other types of strong emotions, such as anger. |
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Definition
| a set of brain areas, including the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and other areas, that has long been thought of as being involved inkey aspects of emotion and motivation,namely those underlying fighting, fleeing, feeding, and sex |
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Definition
| subcortical structures that play a role in planning, learning new habits, and producing movement. |
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Definition
| the set of structures at the base of the brain--including the midbrain, medulla, and pons-- that feed into and recieve info from the spinal cord |
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Definition
| the lowest part of the lower brainstem, which plays a central role in automatic control of breathing, swallowing, and blood circulation. |
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Definition
| a collection of small structures in the brainstem, organized into two main parts: the reticular activating system and another part that is important in producing autonomic nervous system reactions |
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Definition
| a bridge between the medulla and midbrain, which also connects the upper parts of the brain to the cerebellum |
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Definition
| a large structure at the base of the brain that is concerned in part with phsycial coordination, estimating time, and paying attention |
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Term
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Definition
| according to a historical way of organizing brain structures, a unit of the brain that includes the medulla, pons, cerebellum, and partsof the reticular formation |
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Term
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Definition
| according to a historical way of organizing brain structures, a unit of the brain that includes parts of the reticular formation as well as the brainstem structures that lie between forebrain and hindbrain |
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Definition
| a chemical that is produced by a gland and can act as a neurotransmitter substance |
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Definition
| the system that makes hormones that affect many bodily functions and that also provides the CNS with information. |
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Definition
| the hormone that causes males to develop facial hair and other external sexual characteristics, and to build up muscle volume |
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Definition
| the hormone that causes girls to develop breats and is involved in the menstrual cycle |
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Definition
| a hormone produced by the outer layer of the adrenal glands that helps the body cope with the extra energy demands of stress |
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Definition
| the "master gland" that regulates other glands but is itself controlled by the brain, primarily via connections from the hypothalamus |
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Term
| hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) |
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Definition
| the system of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands that is activated by stress, injury, and infection and that works to fight off infection. |
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Term
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Definition
| a region of impaired brain tissue |
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Definition
| a cause of brain dmage that occurs when blood (with its life-giving nutrients and oxygen) fails to reach part of the brain, and thus neurons in that area die. |
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Term
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Definition
| a machine that records electrical activity in the brain |
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Term
| electroencephalogram (EEG) |
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Definition
| a tracing of brain waves of electrical fluctuation over time |
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Term
| magnetoencephalography (MEG) |
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Definition
| a technique for assessing brain activity that relies on recording magnetic waves produced by nerual activity |
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Term
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Definition
| the technique in which tiny probes called microelectrodes are placed in the brain and used to record neural firing rates |
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Definition
| brain-scanning techniques that produce a picture of the structure orfunctioning regions of the brain. |
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Term
| computer-assisted tomography |
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Definition
| a neuroimaging technique that produces a three-dimensional image of brain structures using Xrays |
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Term
| magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) |
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Definition
| a technique that uses magnetic properties of atoms to take pictures of the three-dimensional structure of the brain |
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Term
| positron emission tomography (PET) |
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Definition
| a neuroimaging technique that uses small amounts of a radioactive substance to track bloodflow or energy consumption in the brain |
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Term
| functional magnetic resonsance imaging (fMRI) |
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Definition
| a type of magnetic resonance imaging that detects the amount of oxygen being brought to particular places in the brain, which indicated how active those neurons are. |
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Term
| transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) |
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Definition
| a technique in which the brain is stimulated from outside by putting a coil on a person's head and delivering a magnetic pulse (or series of magnetic pulses); the magnetic fields are so strong that they make neurons under the coil fire. |
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Definition
| the transmission of charateristics by individual elements of inheritance (now known to be genes), each acting separately |
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Definition
| a stretch of the DNA molecule that produces a specific protein |
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Definition
| the genetic code within an organism |
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Definition
| the observable structure and behavio of an organism |
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Definition
| the transmission of characteristics by the joint action of combinations of genes working together; also called polygenetic inheritance |
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Definition
| a process whereby certain connections among neurons are eliminated. |
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Definition
| the brain's ability to changeas a result of experience |
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Definition
| occurs when genetically shaped behavioral tendencies of parents or siblings produce an enviornment that is passively received by the child |
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| evocative (or reactive) interaction |
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Definition
| occurs when genetically influenced characteristics (both behavioral and phsycial) induce other peopleto behave in particular ways. |
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Definition
| occurs when people choose, partly based on genetic tendencies, to put themselves in specific situations and to avoid others. |
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Definition
| the field in which researchers attempt to determine th extent to which the differences among peoples behaviors and psychological characteristcs are due to their different genes or to differences in thei environments |
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Definition
| the degree to which the variability of a characteristic or ability in a population is due to genetics--given a specific enviornment. |
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Definition
| a study that compares identical and fraternal twins to determine the relatiive contribution of genes to variability in a characteristic or ability |
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Definition
| from the same egg, and having virtually identical genes |
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Definition
| from different eggs and sharing only as many genes as any pair of siblins--on average, half. |
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Definition
| a study in which characteristics of children adopted at birth are compared to those of their adoptive parents of siblings versus their bioligical parents or siblings |
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Definition
| gene-based changes in the characteristics or abilities of members of a species ober successive generations |
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Definition
| occurs when individuals with inherited characteristics that contribute to survival have more offspring, and over time those characteristics come to be widespread in a population |
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Definition
| an inherited characterisitc that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce successfully |
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