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Chapter 4 - The Brain: Source of Mind and Self
An indepth look at cause and function of brain activity
70
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
11/01/2010

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Term
Action Potential
Definition
A brief change in electrical voltage that occurs between the inside and the outside of an axon when a neuron is stimulated; it serves to produce an electrical impulse.
Term
Adrenal Hormones
Definition
Hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands and that are involved in emotion and stress
Term
Amygdala
Definition
A brain structure involved in the arousal and regulation of emotion and the initial emotional response to sensory information
Term
Auditory Cortex
Definition
The part of the brain that processes sound
Term
Axon Terminals
Definition
Branches into which axons commonly divide at their ends
Term
Automatic Nervous System
Definition
The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates the internal organs and glands
Term
Axon
Definition
A neuron's extending fiber that conducts impulses away from the cell body and transmits them to other neurons
Term
Brain Stem
Definition
The part of the brain at the top of the spinal cord, consisting of the medulla and the pons
Term
Broca's area
Definition
The part of the brain that handles speech production
Term
Central Nervous Systen (CNS)
Definition
The portion of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord
Term
Cell Body
Definition
The part of the neuron that keeps it alive and determines whether it will fire
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
A brain structure that regulates movement and balance and is involved in the learning of certain kinds of simple responses
Term
Cerebral Cortex
Definition
A collection of several thin layers of cells covering the cerebrum; it is largely responsible for higher mental functions. Cortex is Latin for "bark" or "rind"
Term
Cerebral Hemispheres
Definition
The two halves of the cerebrum
Term
Cerebrum
Definition
The largest brain structure,consisting of the upper part of the brain; divided into two hemispheres, it is in charge of most sensory, motor, and cognitive processes. From Latin word for "Brain"
Term
Corpus Calosum
Definition
The bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres
Term
Dendrites
Definition
A neuron's branches that receive information from other neurons and transmit it toward the cell body
Term
Electrodes
Definition
Devices that detect the electrical activity of millions of neurons in particular regions of the brain and are widely used in research and medical diagnosis
Term
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Definition
A recording of neural activity detected by electrodes
Term
Endocrine Glands
Definition
Internal organs that produce hormones and release them into the bloodstream
Term
Endorphones
Definition
Chemical substances in the nervous sysstem that are similar in structure and action to opiates; they are involved in pain reduction, pleasure, and memory and are known technically and endogenous opioid peptides
Term
Frontal Lobes
Definition
Lobes at the front of the brain's cerebral cortex, they contain areas involved in short-term memory, higher-order thinking, initiative, social judgment, and (in the left lobe, typically)speech production
Term
Glia
Definition
Cells that support, nurture, and insulate neurons, remove debris when neurons die, enhance the formation and maintenance of neural connections, and modify neural functioning
Term
Hippocampus
Definition
A brain structure involved in the storage of new information in memory
Term
Hormones
Definition
Chemical substances, secreted by organs called glands, that affect the functioning of organs
Term
Hypothalamus
Definition
A brain structure involved in emotions and drives vital to survival, such as fear, hunger, thirst, and reproduction; it regulates the autonomic nervous system
Term
Lateralization
Definition
Specialization of the two cerebral hemispheres for particular operations
Term
Lesion Method
Definition
An approach to studying the brain that involves damaging or removing sections of the brain in animals and observing the effects
Term
Limbic System
Definition
A group of brain areas involved in emotional reactions and motivated behavior
Term
Localization of Function
Definition
Specialization of particular brain areas for particular functions
Term
Medulla
Definition
A structure in the brain stem responsible for certain automatic functions, such as breathing and heart rate
Term
Melatonin
Definition
A hormone, secreted by the pinal gland, that is involved in the regulation of daily biological (circadian) rhythms
Term
Motor Cortex
Definition
The part of the brain that issues orders to the 600 muscles of the body that produce voluntary movement
Term
Motor Nerves
Definition
Nerves in the peripheral nerouvs system that carry orders from the central nervous system to muscles, glands, and internal organs; they enable us to moves, and they cause glands to contract and to secrete substances, including hormones
Term
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Definition
A method for studying body and brain tissue, using magnetic fields and special radio receivers
Term
Myelin Sheath
Definition
A fatty insulation that may surround the axon of a neuron
Term
Nerve
Definition
A bundle of nerve fibers (axons and sometimes dendrites) in the peripheral nervous system
Term
Neuroethics
Definition
A new interdisciplinary specialty addressing the legal, ethical, and scientific implications of brain research
Term
Neurogenisis
Definition
The production of new neurons from immature stem cells
Term
Neuron
Definition
A cell that conducts electrochemical signals; the basic unit of the nervous system; also called a nerve cell
Term
Neurotransmitter
Definition
A chemical substance that is released by a transmitting neuron at the synapse and that alters the activity of a receiving neuron
Term
Nodes
Definition
Constrictions in the myelin sheath that covers many axons
Term
Occipital Lobes
Definition
Lobes at the lower back part of the brain's cerebral cortex; they contain areas that receive visual information
Term
Olfactory Bulb
Definition
A brain structure that relays sensory messages involving the sense of smell; olfactory bulb lies near areas involved in emotion
Term
Oxytocin
Definition
A hormones, secrete by the pituitary gland, that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth, facilitates the ejection of milk during nursing, and seems to promote, in both sexes, the attachment and trust in relationships
Term
Visual Cortex
Definition
The part of the brain where visible signals are processed
Term
Wernicke's Area
Definition
The part of the brain that is involved in language comprehension
Term
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Definition
The subdivision of the automatic nervous system that operates during relaxed states and conserves energy
Term
Parential lobes
Definition
Lobes at the top of the brain's cerebral cortex; they contain areas that receive information on pressure, pain, touch and temperature
Term
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Definition
All portions of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord; includes sensory and motor nerves
Term
PET scan (position-emission tomography)
Definition
A method for analyzing biochemical activity in the brain, using injections of glucose-like substance containing a radioactive element
Term
Pituitary Gland
Definition
A small endocrine gland at the base of the brain, which releases many hormones and regulates other endocrine glands
Term
Plasticity
Definition
The brains ability to change and adapt in response to experience - for example, regrowing or reorganizing neuron connections
Term
Pons
Definition
A structure in the brain stem involved in, among other things, sleeping, waking, and dreaming
Term
Receptor Sites
Definition
Special molecules in the membrane of the receiving neuron's dendrites (or sometimes cell body)
Term
Reticular Activating System (RAS)
Definition
A dense network of neurons found in the core of the brain stem; it arouses the cortex and screens incoming information
Term
Sensory Nerves
Definition
Nerves in the peripheral nervous system that carry messages from special receptors in the skin, muscles, and other internal and external sense organs to the spinal cord, which sends them along to the brain
Term
Sex Hormones
Definition
Hormones that regulate the development and functioning of reproductive organs and that stimulate the development of male and female sexual characteristics; they include androgen, estrogen, and progesterone
Term
Somatic Nervous System
Definition
The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that connects to sensory receptors and to skeletal muscles; sometimes called the skeletal nervous system
Term
Somatosensory Cortex
Definition
The part of the brain that receives information about pressure, pain, touch, and temperature from all over the body
Term
Spinal Cord
Definition
A collection of neurons and supportive tissue running from the base of the brain down the center of the back, protected by a column of bones (the spinal column)
Term
Spinal Reflexes
Definition
Automatic behaviors produced by the spinal cord without help from the brain
Term
Stem Cells
Definition
Immature cells that renew themselves and have the potential to develop into mature cells; given encouraging environments, stem cells from early embryos can develop into any cell type
Term
Sympathetic Nervous System
Definition
The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the bodily resources and increases the output of energy during emotion and stress
Term
Synapse
Definition
The site where transmission of a nerve impulse from once ll to another occurs; including the axon terminal, the synaptic cleft, and receptor sites in the membrane of the receiving cell
Term
Synaptic Cleft
Definition
A minuscule space between neurons where the axon terminal of one neuron nearly touches a dendrite or the cell body of another
Term
Synaptic Vesicles
Definition
Tiny sacs in the tip of an axon terminal
Term
Temporal Lobes
Definition
Lobes at the sides of the brain's cerebral cortex; they contain areas involved in hearing, memory, perception, emotion, and (in the left lobe, typically) unnecessary words
Term
Thalmus
Definition
A brain structure that relays sensory messages to the cerebral cortex
Term
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Definition
A method of stimulating the brain cells. using a powerful magnetic field produced by a wire coil placed on a person's head; it can be used by researchers to temporarily inactivate neural circuits and is also being use dtherapeutically
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